Keeping Quiet

KEEPING QUIET by Pablo Neruda
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Theme
The poem emphasizes on the necessity of quiet Introspection to create a feeling of mutual
understanding among human beings. It conveys Neruda’s philosophy of an exotic moment of silence
and inactivity which can be an antidote to war ,hatred ,exploitation .By keeping Quiet and
understanding itself mankind can stop harming itself with death and destruction
About the poem
Pablo Neruda, the winner of the Nobel Prize for literature in the year, 1971, in his poem, Keeping
Quiet talks about the necessity of quiet introspection and creating a feeling of understanding among
human beings. He suggests that if everybody for a little while ceases to do what he is doing, there is a
chance that we can save the world, for in that moment of silence and inactivity we would all be one.
Divided by regions, cultures, languages and personal motivation, each one of us is pursuing one’s own
goal without seeing the larger picture. The ability to see the larger context, of a harmonious world and
of a people at peace with one another, we need introspection, and this is possible only in moments of
suspended activity.
The poet suggests that we all commit ourselves to complete silence and inactivity for a space of just
twelve seconds and observe the miraculous consequences of the same. In the absence of the hustle and
bustle of life there would be a feeling of peace and quiet, and we would be united in our mutual
commitment. The idea that the fishermen would not harm the whale is only a metaphor for the thought
that humans would not destroy nature and wars would cease. The whole question of wars and the
speculation of winners of wars and the survivors of war would become null and void, resulting in
complete harmony between human beings themselves and between man and nature.
The poet does not wish to advocate total inactivity or death but laments the fact that in our single
minded desire to keep our lives active we lose sight of our true goals and in so doing we reach a stage
when we have no leisure to either understand ourselves or our fellow human beings. This is a sad state
of affairs and main reason for this discord in the world and the reason for the imbalance that exist
between man and nature. This discord and this imbalance are potentially dangerous for us as they spell
destruction. Our survival and that of the world rests upon our ability to comprehend this and thus
divert this sad eventuality. The poet says that since our salvation rests on this, let us proceed to
observe the silence and thus find ourselves.
SOLVED QUESTIONS:
Read the extracts given below and answer the following questions:
1. “Perhaps the Earth can teach us
As when everything seems dead
And later proves to be alive
Now I will count upto twelve
And you keep quiet and I will go.”
a) What does the Earth teach us?
b) What does the poet mean to achieve by counting upto twelve?
c) What is the significance of “keeping quiet”?
Ans. a) The earth teaches us how new life springs from dead remains and how there is life under
apparent stillness.
b) The poet wants to achieve peace by counting upto twelve. He wants us to introspect in a moment of
silence.
c) Keeping quiet doesn’t mean being idle. It means that we should avoid all such activities, which are
hurting the nature and, in turn, us.
2. “ It would be an exotic moment,
Without rush, without engines,
We would all be together
In a sudden strangeness.”
a) What will happen if there is no rush or running of engines?
b) Why would it be called an exotic moment?
c) How would we feel at that moment?
Ans. a) It is an ecstatic moment of tranquility without rush or running of engines.
b) It would be an exotic moment because it will be an instance of universal peace and
brotherhood. In that moment, all of us would initiate introspection through meditation and the whole
world will be enveloped in quietness.
c) We would feel very strange at the moment, because at that time everyone will be feeling
oneness with their fellow human beings in it. It will be a new feeling altogether.
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. Why does the poet want us to keep quiet?
Ans. The poet wants us to keep quiet to feel the strangeness of being quiet. When we all will keep
quiet it will be an exotic moment which will allow us to establish communion with our fellow
beings and all other living beings at spiritual level.
2. Does the poet advocate total inactivity and death by suggesting to be quiet?
Ans. No, the poet does not advocate it. He wants no truck with death. In fact he wants to live life
full bloodedly. But by advocating quietness he wants mixing of physical and spiritual aspect of
life.
3. Why does not the poet want us to speak in any language?
Ans. The poet wants us not to speak in any language to introspect and know what we are about-
know the meaning of our existence. He wants everybody to know his spirit and have spiritual
contact with others for some time for which no language is required.
UNSOLVED QUESTIONS
1. How does the poet differentiate inactivity from death?
2. What is the sadness that we can overcome by keeping silent and still?
3. According to the poet, “silence is profound”. Justify.

Keeping Quiet

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KEEPING QUIET by Pablo Neruda

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

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