Keeping Quiet (Flamingo - Poetry)

1. Poet/Author Information

Pablo Neruda (1904-1973), born Ricardo Eliécer Neftalí Reyes Basoalto, was a Chilean
poet-diplomat and politician. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971. Known for
his powerful, surrealist, and politically charged works, Neruda’s poetry often uses simple
language to convey profound ideas about life, humanity, and nature.

2. Keywords/Vocabulary

●​ Exotic: Unusually fascinating or strange.

●​ Stillness: A state of not moving; here, it's a metaphor for introspection and a mental
pause.
●​ Count to twelve: Symbolizes a short, manageable period of time for self-reflection.
●​ Hurting hands: Refers to the physical pain and exhaustion of labourers, symbolic of the
hardships of human life.
●​ Green wars: Environmental destruction, or wars against nature.
●​ War with gas: A reference to chemical warfare and its destructive power.
●​ War with fire: A reference to conventional warfare.
●​ Clean clothes: A metaphor for a fresh start or a change in perspective after introspection.
●​ No truck with death: To have no dealings or association with something; here, it means
the poet's message is not about promoting death.
●​ Single-minded: Having only one aim or purpose; here, it's critiquing humanity's narrow
focus on movement and material gains.

3. Summary

"Keeping Quiet" is a profound and introspective poem in which Pablo Neruda urges all human
beings to cease their activities for a moment of quiet introspection. The poet suggests that we
should count to twelve and remain still. He believes that this brief pause will allow humanity to
reflect on its actions and the direction it is heading. He mentions various types of destructive
activities—the fishermen harming whales, men gathering salt hurting their hands, and those
preparing for wars.

Neruda clarifies that his call for stillness is not to be confused with total inactivity or death. He is
advocating for a moment of purposeful silence that can lead to a greater understanding of
ourselves and each other. He suggests that a moment of collective introspection could serve as an
antidote to our "sadness" and the frantic rush of modern life, which leads to self-harm and a lack
of understanding. He uses the image of the Earth, which appears to be still but is constantly
working, to show that a seeming stillness can hold immense life and activity. The poem
concludes with a hopeful message that by taking this moment to keep quiet and introspect, we
can create a new understanding of our purpose, and the poet will then leave, having planted the
seed of his idea.
4. Themes

●​ The Importance of Introspection and Self-Reflection: The central theme is the need
for all human beings to pause, be still, and look within themselves. Neruda believes that
this moment of silence can help us understand our own actions and motivations, which
we often overlook in our rush.
●​ Critique of Human Destructiveness and War: The poem is a strong protest against
various forms of human destruction, including wars and the exploitation of nature. The
"war with gas" and "war with fire" are a clear indictment of military conflicts, while the
image of fishermen harming whales critiques environmental destruction.
●​ Universal Brotherhood and Unity: The poet's call for a single, collective moment of
stillness is a plea for universal unity. The poem suggests that this shared experience of
silence can help us overcome our differences and foster a sense of mutual understanding.
●​ Balance between Action and Inactivity: Neruda is not advocating for total passivity. He
clarifies that his call for "stillness" is not "total inactivity." He implies that moments of
quiet reflection can lead to more meaningful, less destructive, and more productive
actions in the long run.
●​ The Cycle of Life: The poet uses the example of the seemingly "dead" Earth in winter,
which will later bloom in spring, to suggest that a period of stillness or inactivity is
essential for renewal and new life.

5. Literary Devices

●​ Symbolism:
○​ Counting to twelve: Symbolizes a unit of time (12 months on a clock, 12 hours
of the day), a brief pause from our chaotic lives.
○​ Stillness/Silence: Represents introspection, peace, and a break from destructive
activities.
○​ Green wars, wars with gas, wars with fire: Symbols of the various types of
conflicts, both environmental and human-made.
○​ Fishermen and whale: Symbolises man's exploitation of nature for selfish gains.
●​ Alliteration: The repetition of consonant sounds, creating a musical effect.
○​ "We will all be still..."
○​ "cold sea"
○​ "his hurt hands"
●​ Metaphor: The poem uses stillness as a metaphor for introspection and a break from
destructive habits. The Earth is a metaphor for a life force that continues to function even
in apparent stillness.
●​ Repetition: The repeated use of "without rush, without engines" emphasizes the urgency
of the poet's message. "Will you promise me..." at the end to emphasise the poet's faith in
humanity.
●​ Imagery: The poem creates vivid mental pictures through powerful images:
○​ "fishermen in the cold sea"
○​ "men in the green wars"
○​ "a huge, strange stillness"
 ○​ "the Earth can teach us"

6. Important Quotes

●​ "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 central plea of the poem, advocating for a moment of universal stillness and
silence.
●​ "It would be an exotic moment / without rush, without engines, / we would all be together
/ in a sudden strangeness."
○​ Highlights the transformative and unifying potential of a collective pause.
●​ "Perhaps a huge silence / might interrupt this sadness / of never understanding ourselves /
and of threatening ourselves with death."
○​ Explains the purpose of the stillness: to overcome our self-inflicted misery and a
sense of alienation.
●​ "I want no truck with death."
○​ Neruda's clear clarification that his plea for inactivity is not about seeking death,
but life.
●​ "If we were not so single-minded / about keeping our lives moving..."
○​ Critiques humanity's relentless pursuit of action without thought or reflection.
●​ "the Earth can teach us / as when everything seems dead / and later proves to be alive."
○​ This beautiful and profound metaphor serves as the poem's concluding lesson and
its final message of hope.

7. Moral/Message

The core message of "Keeping Quiet" is the urgent need for humanity to pause its relentless,
thoughtless, and destructive activities. Through a moment of collective introspection, we can
break free from the "sadness" that arises from a lack of self-understanding and the constant threat
of violence. The poem advocates for a universal sense of brotherhood, peace, and mutual
understanding. It teaches us that a moment of silence and stillness is not a sign of death or
inactivity but a powerful tool for renewal, self-realization, and a more conscious existence.

8. NCERT Textbook Questions

1. What will counting up to twelve and keeping still help us achieve? Answer: Counting up
to twelve and keeping still will help us achieve a moment of profound introspection and
self-realization. This brief pause, detached from the frantic rush of daily life, would serve as a
check on our destructive actions. It would help us to understand our own "sadness" and the
meaninglessness of our pursuits. This collective stillness could interrupt the chain of our
destructive habits, whether it is exploiting nature or engaging in conflict. It would foster a sense
of universal brotherhood and unity, allowing humanity to reflect on its purpose and re-evaluate
its direction.

2. Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death? Justify your answer. Answer:
No, the poet does not advocate for total inactivity and death. He explicitly clarifies this by
stating, "I want no truck with death." He draws a distinction between stillness and total inactivity.
His call for a pause is a metaphor for introspection and quiet reflection, not for a cessation of all
life activities. He uses the example of the Earth, which, in its apparent stillness, continues to
sustain life and work towards renewal. The poet's intention is to encourage a moment of thought
before action, leading to more conscious and less destructive choices, ultimately promoting life,
not death.

3. What is the ‘sadness’ that the poet refers to in the poem? Answer: The ‘sadness’ that the
poet refers to is a profound sense of self-alienation and a lack of mutual understanding. It stems
from humanity's relentless pursuit of goals without pausing to reflect on their purpose or
consequences. This frantic activity prevents us from truly understanding ourselves and our
fellow beings. The poet also links this sadness to the continuous threat of death and destruction
that humanity poses to itself, whether through wars or environmental exploitation, all of which
arise from a lack of introspection and a single-minded focus on moving forward without thought.

4. What does the poet want the fishermen to do? Answer: The poet wants the fishermen to
pause and refrain from harming whales in the cold sea. The image of the fishermen stands for
human exploitation of the environment for selfish gains. By urging them to stop, the poet is not
only asking them to show kindness to the whales but also to reflect on the long-term, destructive
consequences of their actions. This specific action is a plea for a more considerate and
sustainable relationship between humanity and nature.

5. What is the final message of the poem? Answer: The final message of the poem is that a
moment of conscious stillness can lead to a more meaningful existence. The poet suggests that a
brief pause from our incessant activities is necessary to overcome our self-inflicted misery and
destructive habits. He uses the Earth as a teacher to illustrate that periods of apparent inactivity
are essential for new life to emerge and for renewal to take place. The ultimate message is one of
hope and transformation: by introspecting and understanding ourselves, we can pave the way for
a more peaceful, unified, and humane future.

9. Previous Year Questions

Q1. How is Pablo Neruda's poem ‘Keeping Quiet’ an appeal for universal peace and
brotherhood?

Answer: "Keeping Quiet" is a powerful and direct appeal for universal peace and brotherhood.
Neruda’s call for a moment of global stillness, where no one speaks in any language and all
movement ceases, is a metaphor for a collective human experience that transcends all barriers of
race, nationality, or language. This shared moment of quiet introspection could, he suggests, help
interrupt the "sadness" and destructive habits that alienate us from ourselves and from one
another. By urging people to stop their destructive activities and reflect, he aims to foster a sense
of mutual understanding and empathy. The poem's images of "war with gas" and "war with fire"
are a clear indictment of conflicts, while the subsequent call for a "sudden strangeness" of unity
is a plea for a new, peaceful, and humane existence where all of humanity can be "together."
Q2. The poem "Keeping Quiet" is a profound reflection on the human condition. Discuss.
Answer: The poem is indeed a profound reflection on the human condition, particularly on its
contradictions. It highlights humanity's relentless, often thoughtless, activity and its tendency
towards self-destruction, evident in both environmental exploitation and military conflicts.
Neruda points out the irony of this frantic "single-mindedness" that prevents us from
understanding ourselves, leading to a profound sense of sadness and alienation. The poem
suggests that our actions are often driven by a lack of introspection, leading to a state where we
"threaten ourselves with death." Through its call for a pause, the poem reflects on the possibility
of redemption, suggesting that if we can collectively choose stillness and self-reflection, we can
overcome our destructive tendencies and embark on a new, more conscious, and unified path.

Q3. How does the poet use the symbolism of the Earth to explain his message?

Answer: The poet uses the symbolism of the Earth as a powerful and central metaphor to explain
his message. He says, "the Earth can teach us as when everything seems dead and later proves to
be alive." He compares the period of stillness he advocates for to the winter season, where the
Earth appears to be motionless, barren, and "dead." However, this apparent inactivity is not a
sign of an end but a period of rest, rejuvenation, and preparation for new life. Just as the Earth
lies dormant to gather strength for the spring bloom, humanity must also pause its constant,
destructive rush to find renewal and a new purpose. This beautiful and simple analogy perfectly
illustrates that stillness is not an end but a necessary part of the cycle of life, essential for growth
and transformation.