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Name:
Class: XII Information Sheet
Subject: English Core Keeping quiet
Academic Session: 2025-26

Critical appreciation

About the Poet

Theme
The main theme of Pablo Neruda's poem "Keeping Quiet" is the importance of introspection and peace through
silence. The poem urges readers to pause their activities and reflect on their actions, promoting self-awareness
and a deeper understanding of themselves and their connection to others. It suggests that this period of quiet
reflection can lead to a more harmonious and peaceful world.

Introduction
The poem Keeping Quiet is written by Pablo Neruda deals with the idea of stillness in the midst of dynamism.
He gives insights into the typical tones of life and uses silence as an important tool to address the very life of an
individual. The idea of silence becomes important and he hints into that moment of silence and its impact on the
individual lives as well as from the psychological scale.

Key Ideas:
Introspection: The poem encourages readers to look inward and reflect on their actions and their
impact.

Peace and Unity: By embracing a moment of silence and stillness, individuals can foster a sense of
peace and understanding with others, potentially leading to a more unified world.

Ceasing Harmful Activities: The poem suggests that a period of quiet contemplation can help people
recognize and cease harmful activities, such as environmental destruction and war.

Figures of Speech:

1. Imagery:
The poem is rich in sensory details, appealing to sight, touch, and other senses to create vivid pictures in
the reader's mind. For example, "hurt hands" and "cold sea" evoke a sense of the physical world and its
struggles.

2. Symbolism:
Many elements in the poem represent larger ideas. For instance, "clean clothes" symbolize a fresh start and
a cleansing of the soul, while "brothers" can represent humanity. . Fisherman and whale stand for the
oppressor and oppressed, respectively.
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3. Metaphor:
The poem uses metaphors to create comparisons. "Shade" is used as a metaphor for protection and shelter,
suggesting a need for unity and peace.

4. Alliteration:
The repetition of consonant sounds, like "we will all keep still" adds a musical quality and emphasizes
certain phrases. Sudden Strangeness; His hurt hands are more examples of alliteration in the poem.

5. Enjambment:
Sentences continue from one line to the next without a pause, creating a sense of flow and connecting
ideas.

6. Personification:
The earth is personified as a teacher, suggesting that nature can offer wisdom.

7. Repetition:
Words and phrases are repeated to emphasize their importance, like "Now we will count to twelve".

8. Antithesis:
Contrasting ideas are placed side-by-side, such as "victory with no survivors," to highlight the complexities
of conflict.

9. Metonymy:
The usage of term ‘language’ is an instance of metonymy, in which a symbol or sign is used for the thing
signified. The language here stands in for culture/race.

10. Pun:
‘Arms’ is an instance of a pun. In puns, the duplicity of sense is created because of the unity of sound. An
arm here stands for a body part as well as weaponry or incessant activities.

11. Rhyme Scheme:

Central Idea

The central idea of Pablo Neruda's poem 'Keeping Quiet' revolves around the importance of silence and
introspection. The poem suggests that in a world filled with noise and chaos, taking a moment to pause and
reflect can lead to greater understanding and connection among people. It emphasizes the need for peace and the
value of being still, allowing individuals to contemplate their actions and the impact they have on the world
around them.
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Tone
The tone of the poem is calm throughout. Since the poet is urging his readers to stay silent and still, he himself
adopts a very tranquil, serene tone to set the poem’s mood. Although the topic being addressed by the poet is a
very pressing one, he goes on about it in the most composed way possible. The tone of the poem is also highly
reflective. In the course of the thirty-five lines of the poem, the poet ruminates over problems about humans
individually and collectively as a society and reflects upon the most plausible solution, which is self-
actualization through meditation.

Keeping Quiet by Pablo Neruda is a reflective piece of poetry that has philosophized a solution to the problems
caused in the world due to growing materialism, greed, and power lust. The poem speaks in favor of inward self-
fulfillment, independent of external factors. It is highly spiritual because it urges readers to shed their egos and
realize one’s identity as human beings. The poet’s writing style in the poem is very soulful, and it seems to come
straight from the heart. This is probably why the poem appeals to the heart more than the faculties of the
intellect. This poem is not an activist’s call to action but a philosopher poet’s call to introspection.

Style:
The poem is written in free verse, meaning it does not follow a strict rhyme scheme. This allows for a more
natural and conversational tone, making the poem's message more accessible.

Message of the poem:

The poem "Keeping Quiet" by Pablo Neruda conveys the message of introspection, peace, and unity through
silence. It encourages humanity to momentarily pause their activities, detach from the chaos of daily life, and
reflect on their actions, fostering a sense of global brotherhood and harmony with nature. The poem suggests that
this period of quiet reflection can lead to a deeper understanding of oneself and the world, ultimately promoting
peace and preventing destructive actions like war and environmental damage.