Keeping Quiet

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POEM: KEEPING QUIET

INTRODUCTION: The poem “Keeping Quiet” written by Pablo Neruda discusses the need of
maintaining peace and silence. He stresses upon being quiet and harmless to the human beings,
animals and environment. He suggests that in order to maintain peace and harmony, it is required to
stop and introspect ourselves.

THEME: This poem is about the necessity of quiet introspection and creating a feeling of mutual
understanding among human beings.

MESSAGE: The poem is an appeal to understand the world, to seek peace and harmony in the world
and to seek brotherhood for the betterment of all.

QUESTIONS FROM TEXTBOOK SOLVED

Q1. What will counting up to twelve and keeping still help us achieve?
Ans: Counting up to twelve takes very short time. Keeping still for this brief interval of time gives us a
momentary pause to introspect and review the course of action. It is generally observed that most of
the ills and troubles of the world are caused by our rush or hurry. Violence is caused by anger.
Keeping quiet and still will give us necessary respite and ensure peace.

Q2. Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death?
Ans: No, he doesn’t advocate either total inactivity or death. He makes it quite clear that ‘stillness’
should not be confused with “total inactivity or equated to it. Total inactivity brings death. But
Neruda has ‘no truck with death’. His stillness means halting of harmful and hostile human activities.

Q3. What is the ‘sadness’ that the poet refers to in the poem? [All India 2014]
Ans: Man’s sadness is formed out of his own actions and thoughts. It is quite ironical that man who
understands so much fails to understand himself and his action. Rash actions prove harmful and
disastruous. Man is the creator of all disasters. He is always threatening himself with death because of
his thoughts and actions. This is the tragedy of his life.

Q4. What symbol from Nature does the poet invoke to say that there can be life under
apparent stillness?
Ans: The poet wants to prove that there can be life under apparent stillness. The poet invokes the
earth as a living symbol to prove his point. The earth never attains total inactivity. Nature remains at
work all the time even under apparent stillness. It keeps earth alive. This idea is beautifully illustrated
by the following lines:“as when everything seems dead and later proves to he alive.”

Q1. Why does Pablo Neruda urge us to keep still?


Ans: Stillness is essential for calm reflection and quiet introspection. We hear the voice of conscience
in moments of silence. The poet is convinced that most of human ills and miseries are caused by
man’s hurry and rush to do things. The poet wishes that we may withdraw ourselves from our
undesirable actions and keep still for a moment.

Q2. Why shouldn’t we “speak in any language” and “not move our arms so much”?
Ans: People of the world speak in different languages. They indulge in unnecessary debates and
disputes. Most of these arguments lead to destructive wars. The poet urges people to stop speaking in
any language. They must speak through their hearts. So far men have moved their arms only to harm
others. Therefore, the poet wants that they should not move their arms so much. Let these arms rest
for once. Let a feeling of mutual understanding , be created among human beings.

Q3. Pablo Neruda says:“we would all be together in a sudden strangeness.”


When can we experience such a moment? Why will that be an exotic moment?
Ans: Non-stop activity, unnecessary rush and noise have made our lives unpleasant and full of
misery, pain and troubles. We must stop rushing, hurrying, worrying and running. Even the noise of
engines and machines must stop for once. Then all of us will enjoy the sudden strangeness of that
moment. It will be a unique moment. In that exotic or fascinating moment we shall feel totally
relaxed, physically as well as mentally.

Q4. What does the poet ask the fisherman and the man collecting salt to dot What docs In-
exactly want to convey by this?
Ans: Pablo Neruda is against any kind of violence. He addresses the fishermen and asks them not to
harm whales living in the cold seas of the polar regions. He is also against any kind of self torturing.
The man who is gathering salt has hint his hands. He asks this man to look after himself and take care
of his injured hands.

Q5. How does the poet distinguish ‘stillness’ from ‘total inactivity’? Why does Neruda saw I
want no truck with death?
Ans: Pablo Neruda is in favour of stillness or silence. We remain still and quiet for sometime. On the
other hand, total inactivity is a permanent suspension of work. It is just like death. ‘Stillness’ should
not be Confused with ‘total inactivity’. Life goes on as usual. There can’t be anything like total
inactivity. The poet refuses to associate with death or deal with it.

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