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    Keeping Quiet

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    ap6733702

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    Keeping Quiet

    Uploaded by

    ap6733702
    1 views2 pages

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    1 views2 pages

    Keeping Quiet

    Uploaded by

    ap6733702

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    of 2

    POEM - 2

    KEEPING QUIET
    QUESTION
    SUMMARY

    In this poem, the poet has emphasised the need to introspect and bring in the spirit of
    brotherhood among the people of the world. He wants people to stop talking and stop all
    movements symbolising agitation and restlessness till he counts twelve, that is, a short period of
    time. These moments of silence would be strange and exotic because in our mundane life, we
    are working towards achieving selfish goals, regardless of the others' requirements and
    emotions. Hence, this sudden silence would give us an opportunity to introspect. Since we
    would not speak for a while, barriers between communities would break and a sense of
    brotherhood would prevail. Man would get an opportunity to realise how he is destroying nature
    and how he is harming himself. Futile wars against man and nature would be arrested and a
    new feeling of unity would be experienced. The poet does not want his desire for inactivity to be
    misunderstood as a state of uselessness or in action. He wants man to learn a lesson from the
    earth. The earth appears to be inactive, yet it is selflessly productive. Man too could be
    productive and progressive without any aggression, selfishness and the urge for destruction.

    Q1. What will counting up to twelve and keeping still help us achieve?
    Ans: Counting up to twelve takes very short time. Keeping still for this brief interval of
    time gives us a momentary pause to introspect and review the course of action. It is
    generally observed that most of the ills and troubles of the world are caused by our rush
    or hurry. Violence is caused by anger. Keeping quiet and still will give us necessary
    respite and ensure peace.

    Q2. Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death?
    Ans: No, he doesn’t advocate either total inactivity or death. He makes it quite clear that
    ‘stillness’ should not be confused with “total inactivity or equated to it. Total inactivity
    brings death. But Neruda has ‘no truck with death’. His stillness means halting harmful
    and hostile human activities.

    Q3. What is the ‘sadness’ that the poet refers to in the poem?
    Ans: Man’s sadness is formed out of his own actions and thoughts. It is quite ironic that
    a man who understands so much fails to understand himself and his actions. Rash
    actions prove harmful and disastrous. Man is the creator of all disasters. He is always
    threatening himself with death because of his thoughts and actions. This is the tragedy
    of his life.

    Q4. What symbol from Nature does the poet invoke to say that there can be life
    under apparent stillness?
    Ans: The poet wants to prove that there can be life under apparent stillness. The poet
    invokes the earth as a living symbol to prove his point. The earth never attains total
    inactivity. Nature remains at work all the time even under apparent stillness. It keeps the
    earth alive. This idea is beautifully illustrated by the following lines:“as when everything
    seems dead and later proves to be alive.”

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