Keeping Quiet

By- Pablo Naruda

Think it Out

Question - 1 What will counting up to twelve and keeping still help us achieve?
Answer: The poet urges the readers to count from one to twelve, each number signifying the
time of the clock or the zodiac signs, and keep still for the moment. It will be a moment of eternal
bliss and serenity as it is something we have never experienced before. He believes in the mad
rush to achieve everything people do not realize the consequences of their actions. The pause
will help us come out of that and achieve inner peace. It will also help them realize the purpose
of the reason to be born as a human soul and experience the tranquillity of the discovery.

Question - 2 Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death?
Answer:The poet asks everyone to stop and contain themselves and experience the present
moment. By this, he did not mean total inactivity and death but a state of tranquillity. Those who
are busy destroying their mental health and nature might stop and work towards their
self-discovery which would benefit everyone. Keeping quiet will be an initiator for the rebirth of
humanity. There will not be any war or harm to nature or oneself while everyone will remain
calm and count till twelve.

Question - 3 What is the 'sadness' that the poet refers to in the poem?
Answer: As humans, we are completely immersed in the desire to achieve more. We end up
trapping ourselves in a monotonous schedule that drives us away from ourselves and fails to
understand each other. It ruins the universal brotherhood and peace that we all must have
amongst ourselves. The wars end up killing many and the consequence of lack this
understanding is borne by everyone. We should try to find peace in the moments we are
blessed every day and reclaim the peace and serenity within us.

Question - 4 What symbol from Nature does the poet invoke to say that there can be life under
apparent stillness?

Answer:The poet uses seasons to justify that there can be life under apparent stillness. With the
change in seasons, nature rebirths itself, and similarly when people remain quiet for a while,
they will realize their purpose and undergo a similar rebirth which might change the course of
their lives forever.

Read the stanzas given below and answer the questions that follow each:

1.Now we will count to twelve and we will all keep still.

Questions
(a)Name the poem and the poet of these lines.
(b)Why does the poet ask us to count to twelve?
(c)Why does the poet ask us to keep still?
(d) Find words from the passage which mean.
(ii) say number (iii) quiet and motionless.

Answers:
(a)The name of the poem is Keeping Quiet. The name of the poet is Pablo Neruda.
(b)There are only twelve signs on the clock to measure hours. Therefore, the poet asks us to
count till the clock measures these horns.
(c)Too much activity and rush has only brought misfortunes to mankind. Hence, it is better to be
quiet and still.
(d) (i) count (ii) still

2. 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.
Questions
(a)Name the poem and the poet of these lines.
(b)‘Let’s not speak in any language’, says the poet. Why?
(c)What should we not do for a second?
(d) What do you understand by ‘the face of the Earth' ?

Answers:
(a)The name of the poem is Keeping Quiet. The poet is Pablo Neruda.
(b)The people of the world have been indulging in wars and bloodsheds on minor excuses. If
they keep quiet, they may not indulge in reasoning, disputes and quarrels. So, let them keep
quiet and not speak in any language. This will ensure peace and prosperity.
(c)We should cease all activities for a second. Man has used his arms only to kill and destroy
others. Therefore, let them not move their arms so much as to harm others.
(d) The expression “the face of the Earth’ refers to the various countries on the surface of the
earth.

3.It would be an exotic moment without rush, without engines, we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness.
Questions
(a)Name the poem and the poet of these lines.
(b)What will happen if there is no rush or running of engines?
(c)What sort of moment will it be?
(d)How would all of us feel at that moment?

Answers:
(a)The name of the poem is Keeping Quiet. The poet is Pablo Neruda.
(b)There will be peace all around if there is no rush or the sound of the running of engines and
machines.
(c)It will be a very enticing and beautiful moment.
(d) All of us will enjoy the unusualness and sudden strangeness of that moment.
 4. Fishermen in the cold sea would not harm whales and the man gathering salt
would look at his hurt hands.
Questions
(a)What do fishermen usually do in the cold sea?
(b)What does the poet ask fishermen not to do?
(c)What has happened to the man gathering salt?
(d) What should the man gathering salt do?

Answers:
(a)Fishermen usually catch fish, particularly whales, in the cold seas.
(b)The poet asks fishermen not to hurt or injure the whales in the seas.
(c)The man gathering salt has injured his hands.
(d)He must take care of his hurt hands.

5. 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.
Questions
(a)Name the poem and the poet of these lines.
(b)What sort of wars are mentioned in the above lines?
(c)What kind of victory will it be?
(d) How should the lovers of war behave?

Answers:
(а)The name of the poem is Keeping Quiet. The poet is Pablo Neruda.
(b)Green wars, wars with poisonous gases and wars with fire are the different kinds of wars.
(c) It will be a victory where no survivors will be left to celebrate it. Such a victory will be
meaningless.
(d) They should put on clean clothes and walk with their brothers under the trees leisurely doing
nothing.

6.What I want should not be confused

with total inactivity. i Life is what it is about;
I want no truck with death.
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.
Questions
(a)What does the poet want? What should it not be confused with?
(b)Explain: 7 want no truck with death’.
(c)What do people pursue single-mindedly? Which is the better course the poet suggests?
(d)When can a huge silence do us good?

Answers:
(а)The poet is advocating for silence or stillness. Stillness should not be confused with total
inactivity.
(b)Total inactivity brings death. The poet refuses to associate (or deal) with death. Thus, he is
not advocating for death.
(c)People pursue single-mindedly on keeping their lives moving. ..The poet suggests that it
would be better if they give themselves rest for sometime. For once they may do nothing.
(d)A huge silence can do us a lot of good when we are disappointed at not understanding
ourselves or threatening ourselves with death.