Keeping Quiet

3.
KEEPING QUIET
BY
PABLO NERUDA (penname)
Synopsis
The poet emphasizes the necessity for quiet introspection, developing mutual understanding
and universal brotherhood. The poet urges people to be quiet, stop work and speak no
languages. This would be a strange moment on earth, as human beings are unaccustomed to
such a situation. Wars of all kinds should be stopped and destructive activities harming
nature / environment should be ended. Instead people should wear new clothes, hold one
another’s hands and relax in the shade of trees. Here he upholds the concept of universal
brotherhood.
The poet further clarifies that when he advocates inactivity he does not mean death. Rather
he wants man to temporarily put aside his obsession with all activities that are done in the
guise of progress. He feels that it is this single-minded obsession that would spell the doom
for man. He hopes that the silence that he wants man to observe would put an end to the
sadness that seem to engulf man which he feels is the result of not understanding ourselves
and threatening ourselves with death. Neruda wants man to learn from nature. While the
earth looks dead in winter, it is very much alive and active once summer sets in. It is only an
apparent stillness or inactivity where life exists beneath the cloak of inactivity. For a start, he
would count up to twelve and people can observe silence, which should be continued even in
his absence.
Green wars – wars against nature or environmental degradation

Wars with gas – chemical warfare, pollution
Wars with fire – conventional warfare
Poetic Devices
Pun: arms representing arms (hands) and weapons
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:
1. Why does the poet urge all of us to keep still?

Pablo Neruda is convinced that most of human ills and troubles are caused due to rush
and hurry of human beings. The poet only wishes that we may withdraw ourselves
from the undesirable actions and learn to keep still. It will give us time for
introspection and soul searching.
2. Why shouldn't we speak in any language and not move our arms so much?
People of this world indulge in unnecessary debates and disputes while speaking in
different languages. The poet urges them to stop speaking in any language. They
should speak through their hearts. Men have moved their arms only to harm others.
Therefore, he wants that they shouldn't move their arms so much and give them the
desired rest.
3. Why would it be an exotic moment?
Unnecessary rush and noise has made living unpleasant and troublesome. The poet
wants that people stop rushing and running. Even the noise of engines and matches
must stop at once. If it happens, that moment would be an exotic or a fascinating
moment. All of us will enjoy the sudden strangeness or uniqueness of that moment.
4. What does the poet want to convey by addressing the fishermen and the man
gathering salt?
Pablo Neruda is against any kind of violence. He calls upon the fishermen that they
shouldn't harm whales living in the cold seas of the Polar Regions. The poet is also
against any kind of self-torturing. He asks the man who is gathering salt and has hurt
his hands to look after himself and take care of his hurt hands.
5. What does the poet say about different kinds of wars? What alternative does he
suggest?
The poet wants a total cessation of all kinds of wars. Green wars against the
environment, wars with poisonous gases and wars with fire must stop immediately,
instead of indulging in wars, the people must come out in their best dresses with their
brothers. They should go out for a walk, under the shady trees and enjoy themselves
doing nothing.
6. How is 'stillness' not equal to total inactivity? Why does Neruda say “I want no
truck with death?”
Pablo Neruda wants to make one thing quite clear. 'Stillness' shouldn't be confused
with 'total inactivity'. There can't be anything like 'total inactivity'. Life goes on as
usual. The poet doesn't advocate for total inactivity and has no association with death.
7. Why does the poet feel that we should not be so single-minded?
Generally people of the world are so single-minded that they want to keep their lives
going. They are over busy (ever-busy). The poet wishes that they would not be so
much absorbed with remaining busy and always on the move. They must have some
rest or respite. They need peace or silence.
8. Why do men become sad?
Men fail to understand themselves. They are always threatening themselves with
death. When they realize this they become sad and helpless. Only a 'huge silence' can
interrupt this sadness and can do good to men.
9. How might a huge silence interrupt the sadness of men?
Men are never sure of their actions, nor do they ever understand themselves. They
face another tragedy. Due to their own actions, they are threatening themselves with
death. This realization makes feel them helpless and sad. Only a long silence can
interrupt this sadness and do them some good.
10.How can there be life under apparent stillness? How does the poet prove it?
Neruda doesn't equate stillness with total inactivity. Under this apparent stress hear is
life. We can learn it from the earth. When everything seems dead, the earth remains
still alive and never dead. The life on the earth goes on as usual under the apparent
stillness.
11.Justify the title 'Keeping Quiet'.
The title of the poem is quite appropriate and logical. The people of world are always
in rush and hurry. They are overactive and are always on the move. Their actions and
activities have led to untold sufferings and troubles. Keeping quiet will do them a lot
of good. It will give them the much needed time for self-introspection. Being still and
silent will save them from many harmful activities. Moreover, it will help us in
reflecting over the fate of man.
Important questions
1. What kind of world does the poet visualize through the poem?
2. Explain the symbol of nature in the poem.
3. How is the silence that the poet envisions different from total inactivity?
4. What is the sadness that the poet is referring to? How can it be overcome?
5. What is the result of activities of violence? How can we stop such activities?
Value based Questions
1. In today’s world war, violence, crime and a disregard for others has become the trend.
What can be done to make the world a better place?
2. Do you agree with the poet that keeping quiet and self-introspection would pave the
way to a peaceful world? Why / why not?

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3.

Green wars – wars against nature or environmental degradation

Pun: arms representing arms (hands) and weapons

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:

1. Why does the poet urge all of us to keep still?

Value based Questions

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