ENGLISH
PROJECT
Submitted By:
Jatin Rohila
Class : XII Medical
Roll No :
Session : 2025-26
-Pablo Neruda
(1904-1973)
INDEX
1. About the Poet
2. Introduction
3. Theme & Sub-Theme
4. Summary & vocabulary
5. Explanation
6. Summary
7. Points to Ponder
8. Poetic Device & Rhyme
Scheme
9. Assignments
-Pablo Neruda
(1904-1973)
About the Poet : Pablo Neruda is
the pen name of Neftali Ricardo
Reyes Basoalto who was born in
the town of Parral in Chile.
Neruda’s poems are full of easily
understood images which make
them no less beautiful. He won
the Nobel Prize for Literature in the
year 1971. In this poem Neruda
talks about the necessity of quiet
introspection and creating a
feeling of mutual
understanding among human
beings.
KEEPING QUIET
Introduction
The poem reveals the
consequences
inhuman acts. of The poet is
concerne deeply about
d
animals and plight violence,
of manual
workers. He cruelty
offersto a very simple
solution to many of our social,
political and religious problems.
He advocates the necessity of quiet
introspection as it can develop a
feeling of mutual understanding
among human beings. If self-
introspection is acted upon, it will
be the first major step towards
uniting people. The poet urges
everyone to look within and analyse
what is wrong and who is the wrong
doer. This will cleanse every heart
and ennoble all people.
Keeping
Quiet for peace and harmony
Theme – Self-introspection
Sub-Theme – Universal brotherhood
The speaker/narrator – the poet himself (like a
messiah)
Now we will count to twelve
and we will all keep still.
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.
It would be an exotic moment
without rush, without
engines, we would all be
together
in a sudden strangeness.
Fishermen in the cold sea
would not harm whales
and the man gathering
salt
would look at his hurt
hands.
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.
TOTAL
What I want should not be confused
with total inactivity. Life is what it is about;
I want no truck with death. I
N
A
C
T
I
V
I
T
Y
T
What I want should not O
be confused T
with total inactivity. A
Life is what it is about; L
I want no truck with
death. I
If we were not so single- N
minded about keeping our lives A
moving, C
and for once could do nothing, T
perhaps a huge silence I
might interrupt this sadness V
of never understanding ourselves I
and of threatening ourselves T
with Y
death.
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.
SUMM
The poet talks about
ARY
the need of silence and quiet introspection
and the importance of tranquility and calmness. He also talks
about creating a feeling of mutual understanding among human
beings. The poet asks us to keep still and count up to twelve. He
also asks us to sit still. For a moment we should not speak any
language. We should not move our arms so much. It will be a
moment of complete silence without rush or worry. This would be
an exotic moment. Then a sudden strangeness will prevail which
we will all enjoy. It will be a bliss. The fisherman would not harm the
whales on the cold sea. Even the man gathering salt would stop
working and look at his hurt hands and reflect at the pain and
harm his strenuous task has caused him. All kinds of wars must
be stopped at once. The green wars against the environment,
wars with poisonous gases, firearms, must be stopped at
once. People who are all the time preparing for wars leaving no
survivors behind ought to find time to wear clean clothes and
SUMM
At the same time the poet cautions not to confuse stillness with total
ARY
inactivity. Life is an ongoing process and it should not be associated
with death. It is to be lived with positive attitude. He does not want us
to ruminate over death. But he feels that if for once we do not focus
ourselves single-mindedly to keep our lives moving, but do some
introspection or spend some time in silence doing nothing, we can
understand ourselves better and escape from the threatening calls
of death. The earth can teach us a lesson about how, even after a
dead end, everything comes back to life again. In the same manner
a quiet introspection can bring all evil thoughts to an end and
bring in a new life of peace and tranquility. The poet says that now,
he will count up to twelve and we should all keep quiet and he will
go. Thus the poem “Keeping Quiet” celebrates the necessity of
introspection and the advantage of doing nothing and maintaining
silence
peacefulfor some time and in the vast treasure of deep silence all
VOCABULARY
depression
best. will vanish and onpeace
the facewould
– on thebesurface
attained for one would
be with oneself at one’s exotic – strange, especially in an exciting
way truck – association
single-minded – focusing on only one interest
Now we will count to twelve
and we will all keep still.
For once on the face of the Earth POINTS TO PONDER
let’s not speak in any language,
let’s stop for one second, What I want should not be
and not move our arms so much. confused
with total inactivity.
It would be an exotic moment Life is what it is about;
without rush, without engines, I want no truck with death.
we would all be together If we were not so single-minded
in a sudden strangeness. about keeping our lives moving,
and for once could do nothing,
Fishermen in the cold sea perhaps a huge silence
would not harm whales might interrupt this sadness
and the man gathering salt of never understanding ourselves
would look at his hurt and of threatening ourselves with
hands. death.
Those who prepare green wars, Perhaps the Earth can teach us
wars with gas, wars with fire, as when everything seems dead
victory with no survivors, and later proves to be alive.
would put on clean clothes
and walk about with their Now I’ll count up to twelve
brothers and you keep quiet and I will go.
in the shade, doing
Poetic Device/Figure of Speech
Alliteration - we will, we would, his hurt
hands, clean clothes
Repetition – without rush, without engines ;
wars with
gas,
wars with fire
Imagery – cold sea
Symbol – Earth
Pun - not
move our arms so much
(hands/weapon)
Rhyme
Scheme
Designed by : R Shrama Courtesy : various sites for pics & info
