Keeping Quiet by Pablo Neruda for class 12 English (Flamingo) CBSE, poetic devices, detailed summary, word meaning and question-answer
KEEPING QUIET
By Pablo Neruda
(12 July1904 - 23 September 1973)
Detailed summary, extract-based questions with their answer and very short questions and their answer and word meaning
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ABOUT THE POET
Pablo Neruda was a famous poet who wrote beautiful poems about love, nature, and social justice. He was from Chile. He won the Nobel Prize in 1971 for his contribution in the field of literature. His poetry reflects the struggles of ordinary people and his love for his homeland, Chile. He wrote on political and social themes. The use of metaphor and symbolism has been the hallmark of his poetry.
INTRODUCTION
The poem 'Keeping Quiet' by Pablo Neruda is a commentary on war. The poet appeals to humans to observe silence for some time and introspect. This introspection will finally give birth to peace and harmony.
Theme of the Poem “Keeping Quiet” by Pablo Neruda
The poem “Keeping Quiet” is about peace, self-introspection, and unity. Pablo Neruda encourages us to observe silence, not to be idle, but to reflect on our lives and actions. In today’s fast-moving and noisy world, we are so busy in competing, fighting, and running after success that we have forgotten to look inside ourselves.
The poet believes that by observing silence for just a short period of time, we may experience a sense of togetherness. This silence can help us understand ourselves better, realise the harm we are doing to nature and one another, and allow us to live more peacefully. It is a gentle reminder that we need to stop for a bit and think about what really matters.
Pablo Neruda also expresses that the period of silence will bring us closer to nature and make us more thoughtful and kind.
Summary of the Poem “Keeping Quiet” by Pablo Neruda
The poem “Keeping Quiet” begins with advice to the people across the world to count up to twelve and then keep quiet. The poet does not advocate silence for a long time, but for a short while. According to the poet, during the period of silence, people will forget all their differences based on language, nationality, etc., and begin to live together peacefully.
The poet gives various examples to prove his point. According to Pablo Neruda, fishermen who have been harming the sea for a long time, and salt gatherers who get injuries, will take a break and introspect. The war mongers who are responsible for the destruction will also stop their activities. Neruda believes that this moment of silence will make people understand the value of life, the mistakes they have been making, and the importance of living peacefully with others and with nature.
The poet makes it clear that he doesn’t want complete inactivity. He is not promoting death. Instead, he wants a break to give our minds a chance to think clearly and calmly. Just like the Earth, which appears still but is alive inside, we too can be silent but thoughtful.
Towards the end, Neruda reminds us that everything comes to an end one day. He compares this pause to the calmness of the Earth during winter when everything rests, and then life begins again. In the same way, a moment of silence can help us restart with fresh energy, better thoughts, and a more caring attitude.
In conclusion, Pablo Neruda’s poem advocates for peace, mindfulness, and unity. He gently asks the world to slow down for just a few seconds to understand life, reflect on our actions, and become better human beings.
DIFFICULT WORDS AND THEIR MEANINGS:
Exotic: unfamiliar
Truck: Link/connection
POETIC DEVICES
ANAPHORA
let's not……... and let's stop……(stanza-2)
ALLITERATION
We will.,..(stanza 1)
We would….(stanza 3)
Sudden strangeness…(stanza 3)
His hurt hands…….(stanza 4)
Clean clothes….(stanza 5)
War with…..(stanza 5)
We were……(stanza 6)
PUN
arms (stanza 2) Here 'arms' has been used to describe a part of the body as well as weapons.
SYMBOLS
Count to twelve' symbolises a measure of time
'Brothers' symbolises mankind
'Earth' symbolises perseverance and a new beginning from seeming stillness.
METAPHOR
Put on clean clothes
In the shade doing nothing
PERSONIFICATION
Earth can teach us.
ENJAMBMENT
Stanza1- line 1
Stanza 2 - Line 1
Stanza 3 - Line 1 and 3
Stanza 4 - Line 1, 2 and 3
Stanza 5 - Line 4 and 5
Stanza 6 - Line 1, 5,7,8 and 9
Stanza 8 - Line 1 and 2
DETAILED SUMMARY AND VERY SHORT QUESTIONS AND THEIR ANSWER
Text:
Now we will count to twelve
and we will all keep still.
In the first two lines, the poet requests the people to count to twelve and then observe silence. The poet has used 12 because it is a digit on the clock from where there is a new beginning. A new day begins after midnight (12 o'clock). A new year starts after 12 months. In a nutshell, the poet is trying to convey that it is time to start afresh.
Q. Name the poem and its poet.
Ans. The name of the poem is ‘Keeping Quiet’ and the poet is Pablo Neruda.
Q. What does the poet request/ appeal?
Ans. The poet appeals to the people to count to twelve and observe silence.
Q. What is the significance of 12?
Ans. 12 is the counting number and the biggest on the clock. When it is 12 o'clock there is a new beginning. In the same way, after 12 months there is a new year. So, the poet wants to message the people to stop the activities that cause damage and destruction on the earth. He appeals to the people to create a new world where there is peace; where there is harmony; where there is understanding.
Text:
For once on the face of the Earth
let’s not speak in any language,
let’s stop for one second,
and not move our arms so much.
The poet urges people not to use language that creates differences. Then the poet appeals to stop just for a little while, and not to make use of arms because these are used to harm others. Here, the word 'arms' has a double meaning, which means the part of the body as well as the weapon.
Q. Which two things does Pablo Neruda suggest people not to do?
Ans. The poet, Pablo Neruda, asks the people not to speak the language as it creates differences and not to make movements of their arms because these arms are used to harm others. In fact, the poet here wants people to use the language of love, not the language of differences.
Q. Which poetic device has been used in the second and third lines of the stanza?
Ans. The poetic device is anaphora.
Q. Which poetic device has been used in the last line of the stanza?
Ans. Pun has been used. Here, the word 'arms' has a double meaning.
Q. Why does the poet want people not to speak in any language and move their arms so much?
Ans. To maintain peace and harmony on this earth.
Text:
It would be an exotic moment
without rush, without engines,
we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness.
In this stanza, the poet expresses that the period of silence will be a unique and exotic moment because people will experience no rush and no noise. As a result, a feeling of togetherness and harmony will develop.
Q. What does 'it' refer to in the first line of the stanza?
Ans. 'It' refers to the period of silence.
Q. What would be the exotic moment?
Ans. The period of silence.
Q. How will the period of silence affect our life?
Ans. If there is a period of silence, there won't be any rush; there won't be any noisy atmosphere at all. People would develop a feeling of harmony and togetherness.
Q. Which poetic device has been used in the last two lines of the stanza?
Ans. Alliteration.
Text:
Fishermen in the cold sea
would not harm whales
and the man gathering salt
would look at his hurt hands
If there is a suspension of activities, fishermen who have waged a kind of war against the fish (whales) would also stop their activities. The people who are unable to take care of their injured hands because they are forced to work or because they have no time will also start looking after their injured hands. Here, fishermen are the symbol of violence also.
Here ‘fishermen’ symbolises the oppressors and ‘fish’ is the symbol of the oppressed. Moreover, ‘man gathering salt’ symbolises humanity.
Q. How will the suspension of activities affect the fishermen?
Ans. The fishermen will stop harming whales.
Q. How will keeping quiet help the man gathering salt?
Ans. If people keep quiet, the man gathering salt will find time to look after his injured or hurt hands.
Text:
Those who prepare green wars,
wars with gas, wars with fire,
victory with no survivors,
would put on clean clothes
and walk about with their brothers
in the shade, doing nothing.
In this stanza, the poet is talking about the warmongers ( those who are responsible for war and violence on this earth). The poet expresses that man has waged different wars, such as war with gas, fire, green war, etc. War with gas means the emission of poisonous gases by vehicles and industries as well as atomic and nuclear weapons. Green wars mean war against greenery. War with fire means a war in which firearms are used.
According to the poet, people have started different types of wars, and as a result, the existence of the entire living being is at stake. Further, the poet questions the purpose behind these words if it is not in the interest of mankind. The poet says if there is a period of silence, these warmongers will also stop their activities. They will have clean hearts, and they will not have ill will for one another. They will start behaving with one another like brothers and come in the shade and feel relaxed. Here “clean clothes” is the symbol of peace and tranquility.
Q. What are the different types of wars that the poet has mentioned in this stanza?
Ans. Green war, war with gas, and war with fire
Q. Which poetic device has been used in the line "victory with no survivors"?
Ans. Irony has been used.
Q. What will be the result of waging different types of wars?
Ans. If all these types of war continue it will finally result in large-scale damage and destruction and few will survive to celebrate the victory.
Q. What does ‘clean clothes’ refer to?
Ans.’ Clean clothes’ refers to a clean heart or having no ill will for others.
Q. Which poetic device has been used in the line I would put on "clean clothes"?
Ans. Alliteration
Q. Which poetic device has been used in the line "in the shade doing nothing"?
Ans. Image or imagery.
Q. How will keeping quiet or suspension of activities affect the warmongers?
Ans. The warmongers or all those who are responsible for different types of war will stop their activities, start behaving with one another like brothers and also live a relaxed and peaceful life.
Text:
What I want should not be
confused
with total inactivity.
Life is what it is about;
I want no truck with death.
The poet cautions that people must not mistake that he is talking about total inactivity as it means death and he does not want to have any connection with death. According to the poet, life is what it is about. It means life is another name for activities. There will be activities, till life exists. The poet emphasises that he wants life on this earth, not death.
Q. What does the poet want that the people should not be confused with?
Ans. The poet wants to make it clear that keeping quiet does not mean complete stillness because complete stillness means death and he does not want to have any connection with death.
Q. What does the expression ‘life is what it is about’ mean?
Ans. It means till there is life, there will be activities.
Q. What does total activity mean here?
Ans. Total inactivity means death.
Text:
If we were not so single-minded
about keeping our lives moving,
and for once could do nothing,
perhaps a huge silence
might interrupt this sadness
of never understanding ourselves
and of threatening ourselves with death.
The poet explicitly says that modern man has become single-minded. He focuses only on one aspect of life and that is materialism. He has put himself in danger by waging so many types of wars. He is not able to understand what he has to do on this earth. His sole motto has been to get victory and amass materialistic things. The feeling of insecurity has encompassed him. Life has become full of trouble, full of sadness, and full of sorrow. The sadness in life can be eradicated only by a huge silence.
Q. Why is there sadness in our life?
Ans. We have become single-minded. We have adopted only one aspect of life and that is materialism. That's why we are suffering and there is sadness in our life.
Q. How have we threatened ourselves with death?
Ans. We have become single-minded or materialistic as well as we have waged different types of wars. As a result, we have put ourselves in danger.
Q. How can we remove the sadness which has covered us?
Ans. We can remove the sadness by observing silence for a long time. In other words by stopping all those wrong activities which cause damage and destruction on this earth.
Q. Which poetic device has been used in the line "if we were not so single-minded"?
Ans. Alliteration ( we were)
Text:
Perhaps the Earth can teach us
as when everything seems dead
and later proves to be alive.
Now I’ll count up to twelve
and you keep quiet and I will go.
In this stanza, the poet talks about nature.
Earth is an example of nature. The poet expresses that nature is permanent. Sometimes, it appears that the earth is dead, but later we find it is alive. A lot of generations appeared and then disappeared from this earth. But again life sprang up. Here the poet wants to say that nature continues its activities but in a peaceful manner. Thus nature or earth gives us a message on how to continue our activities silently.
In the end, once again the poet urges the people to keep quiet for some time and introspect and then he will go. In other words, he will stop asking the people till they do not completely put a break on their wrong and violent activities which cause damage and destruction.
Q. What does the earth teach us?
Ans. The earth teaches us to continue our activities peacefully.
Q. What is the example of nature that has been invoked here?
Ans. Earth is an example of nature.
Q. What does the expression "everything seems dead and later proved to be alive" mean?
Ans. It means nature may appear to be dead but in reality, its activities go on in a peaceful manner.
Q. Which poetic device has been used in the first line of the stanza?
Ans. Personification.
Also Read:
Flamingo Prose
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