KEEPING QUIET

EXTRACTS
STANZA 1:
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.
Questions
(a) What is the significance of the number ‘twelve’ ?
(b) Which two activities does the poet want us to stop ?
(c) What does the poet mean by ‘let’s not speak in any language’ ?
(d) Describe the pun on the word ‘arms’.
Answers
(a) There are twelve hours on the face of the clock and also there are twelve months in a
year. The poet also refers to the number twelve. He wants us to suspend our activities for
twelve seconds.
(b) The poet wants us to stop talking and moving our arms.
(c) The poet wants us to give a universal message. He wants that all the people of the world
irrespective of their nationality should suspend their activities for a few seconds. Not to use
any language to communicate.
(d) The poet has used the word arms for two purposes. He wants us to keep still for a few
seconds and not move our arms. The second meaning of the word arms is weapons. The poet
wants us to stop the use of arms against anyone.
Stanza 2
It would be an eicotic 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.
Questions
(a) Name the poem and the poet.
(b) Which moment has been referred to here and how will it be significant ?
(c) How would we feel during that moment ?
(d) What does the poet want from the fishermen ?
Answers
(a) The name of the poem is ‘Keeping Quiet’ and the name of the poet is Pablo Neruda.
(b) The moment of quiet introspection has been referred here. It is significant in the sense
that it brings all of us together and we have a feeling of oneness.
(c) We would feel all together and have a feeling of sudden strangeness.
(d) The poet wants that the fishermen should not kill whales for sometime.
Stanza 3
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) What does the poet mean by green wars ?
(b) What types of wars does the poet mention ?
(c) What does the poet want from the warmongers?
Answers
(a) It means the war against the environment or deforestation.
(b) The poet mentions green wars, wars with gas and wars with fire.
(c) He wants the warmongers to wear clean clothes and walk leisurely with their brothers.
Stanza 4
What I want should not be confused
with total inactivity.
Life is what it is about;
I want no truck with death.
Questions
(a) What should not be confused with total inactivity ?
(b) What does the poet mean by …. I want no truck with death ?
(c) What is the gist of this stanza ?
Answers
(a) Keeping quiet and remaining still should not be con-fused with total inactivity.
(b) The poet wants to say that stillness and quietness is not death. He wants to restart his
activities again after introspection of a few seconds.
(c) In this stanza the poet says that quietness is not death. Rather it helps us to restart our
activities in a fresh way.
Stanza 5
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) Whom does ‘we’ refer to in the above lines ?
(b) Why does the poet want us to ‘do nothing’ for once ?
(c) How can a huge silence do good to us ?
Answers
(a) ‘We’ in this stanza refers to the human beings who are self-centred and who only think
about themselves.
(b) By doing nothing for once, we can have ample time to introspect ourselves and analyse
our actions.
(c) Huge silence helps in analysing ourselves. In this way, we can introspect ourselves.
Stanza 6
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.

Questions
(a) What does the earth teach us ?
(b) Why does the poet count up to twelve ?
(c) How does the earth teach us that there is activity even in apparent stillness ?
Answers
(a) The earth teaches us that there is life in what we think that is dead.
(b) The poet wants to introspect by counting twelve.
(c) We think that the earth is dead as it remains still But many changes are kept taking under
the surface of the earth. A seed that seems dead germinates under the earth and a new life
springs from it. The earth always seems in motion.

Question and Answers

Q1. What will counting upto twelve and keeping still help us achieve?
Ans. If we count upto twelve and keep still, it will give us some time to analyze our deeds. It
will allow us some moments to think about the result of our activities. People in the world
are involved in wars and are also damaging the environment in order to achieve their aims.
Unfortunately this is taking all of us toward our own end. So, we need to think and introspect
in order to achieve peace and harmony.
Q2- Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death?
A2- No, the poet doesn’t advocate total inactivity and death. He clarifies this in his poem that
he wants all the people to just stop for a while in order to analyze their activities and their
consequences. He wants human beings not to support war and damage to the environment.
Q3- What is the ‘sadness’ that the poet refers to in the poem?
A3- The sadness is the result of our own actions and deeds. According to the poet we all are
in a hurry of achieving various tasks in our life. This rush sometimes proves dangerous for us.
As we don’t analyze our actions, so we land ourselves in a number of problems. These
problems then become the reason for our sadness as referred to in the poem.
Q4- What symbol from Nature does the poet invoke to say that there can be life under
apparent stillness?
A4- The poet takes the example of earth to prove that there can be life under apparent
stillness. The earth never gets inactive. We experience the change in the seasons which brings
so many different things with it. In winters, things come to a standstill as the water bodies
freeze; the trees shed their leaves, etc. But as soon as the spring season comes, it brings with
it the lovely flowers, flowing rivers and a new life is given to the nature. So, the poet wants
to convey that we should stay calm but that doesn’t mean that it will bring total inactivity
and stillness.
QUESTIONS
Q1. What will counting up to twelve and keeping still help us achieve ?
Q2. What symbol from Nature does the poet invoke to say that there can be life under
apparent stillness ?
Q3. How would keeping quiet affect the life in and around the sea ?
Q4. ‘Life is what at is about;How is keeping quiet related to life ?
Q5. How will ‘keeping quiet’ protect our environment ?
Q6. What does the poet want us to tell ?
Q7. What does the poet mean by saying ‘victory with no survivors’ ?
Q8. What is Neruda’s attitude towards wars?
Q9. What is the central idea of the poem?

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Q1. How did the peddler get the idea of the world being a rattrap?
Ans: The peddler had been thinking of his rattraps when suddenly he was struck by the idea
that the whole world was nothing but a big rattrap. It existed only to set baits for people. It
offered riches and joys, shelter and food, heat and clothing in the same manner as the rattrap
offered cheese and pork. As soon as someone let himself be tempted to touch the bait, it
closed in on him, and then everything came to an end.
Q2. Why was he amused by this idea?
Ans: His own life was sad and monotonous. He walked laboriously from place to place. The
world had never been kind to him. So, during his gloomy ploddings, this idea became his
favourite pastime. He was amused how people let themselves be caught in the dangerous
snare and how others were still circling around the bait.
Q3. Did the peddler expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the crofter?
Ans: The crofter served him porridge for supper and tobacco for his pipe. He also played a
game of cards with him till bed time. This hospitality was unexpected as people usually made
sour faces when the peddler asked for shelter. He never expected this kind of hospitality from
the crofter.
Q4. Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler?
Ans: The crofter’s circumstances and temperament made him so talkative and friendly with
the peddler. Since he had no wife or child, he was happy to get someone to talk to in his
loneliness.
Q5. Why did he show the thirty kronor to the peddler?
Ans: The crofter had told the peddler that by supplying his cow’s milk to the creamery, he
had received thirty kronor in payment. The peddler seemed to doubt it. So, in order to assure
his guest of the truth he showed the thirty kronor to the peddler.
Q6. Did the peddler respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter?
Ans: No, the peddler did not respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter. At the
very first opportunity that he got, he smashed the window pane, took out the money and
hung the leather pouch back in its place. Then he went away.
Q7. What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen into a rattrap?
Ans: The peddler thought that he must not walk on the public highway with the stolen money
in his pocket. He went into the woods. He kept walking without coming to the end of the
wood. Then he realised that he had fallen in the rattrap. He had let himself befooled by a bait
and had been caught in.
Q8. Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home?
Ans: The ironmaster walked closely up to the peddler. In the uncertain reflection from the
furnace, he mistook the man as his old regimental comrade, Captain Von Stahle. He
addressed the stranger as Nils Olof, spoke very kindly and invited him home.
Q9. Why did the peddler decline the invitation?
Ans: The peddler knew that the ironmaster had mistaken him for his old regimental comrade.
Secondly, he had stolen money—thirty kronor—on him. Going to the ironmaster’s residence
would be like entering the lion’s den. So, he declined the invitation.
Q10. What made the peddler accept Edla Willmansson’s invitation?
Ans: Miss Edla Willmansson looked at the peddler quite compassionately. She noticed that
the man was afraid. She assured him that he would be allowed to leave just as freely as he
came. She requested him to stay with them over Christmas Eve. Her friendly manner made
the peddler feel confidence in her and accept her invitation.
Q11. What doubts did Edla have about the peddler?
Ans: As Edla lifted the peddler’s hat, he jumped up abruptly and seemed to be quite
frightened. Even her kind looks, disclosure of her name and purpose of visit failed to calm
him. From his fear, she thought that either he had stolen something or he had escaped from
jail.
Q12. When did the ironmaster realise his mistake?
Ans: Next morning, the stranger was cleaned and well-dressed. The valet had bathed him,
cut his hair and shaved him. He was led to the dining room for breakfast. The ironmaster saw
him in broad daylight. It was impossible to mistake him for an old acquaintance now. Then
the ironmaster realised his mistake and threatened to call the Sheriff.
Q13. How did the peddler defend himself against not having revealed his true identity?
Ans: The peddler explained that he had not tried to pretend as his acquaintance. He was not
at fault. All along he had maintained that he was a poor trader. He had pleaded and begged
to be allowed to stay in the forge. No harm had been done by his stay. He was willing to put
on his rags again and go away.
Q14. Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth about him?
Ans: Edla did not think it proper on their part to chase away a human being whom they had
asked to come to their house and had promised him Christmas cheer. She understood the
reality of the peddler’s life and wanted him to enjoy a day of peace with them. Hence, she
still entertained the peddler even after knowing the truth about him.
Q15. Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?
Ans: As soon as Edla opened the package of the gift, the contents came into view. She found
a small rattrap with three wrinkled ten kronor notes and a letter addressed to her. The
peddler wanted to be nice in return as she had been so nice to him all day long. He did not
want her to be embarrased at the Christmas season by a thief.
Q16.Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle?
Ans: The ironmaster had invited the peddler to his house mistaking him for Captain von
Stahle. He was welcomed there and looked after as captain even after the reality became
known. The peddler got a chance to redeem himself from dishonest ways by acting as an
honourable Captain.
Q17. What are the instances in the story that show that the character of the ironmaster is
different from that of his daughter in many ways?
Ans: The ironmaster is impulsive whereas his daughter is cool, logical, kind and thoughtful.
In uncertain light the iron master mistakes the stranger as his old regiment comrade. He
invites him home and takes care of his food, clothing etc. When he sees him in broad day
light he calls the man dishonest, demands an explanation and is ready to call in the sheriff.
His daughter is more observant. She notices the fear of the stranger and thinks that either he
is a thief or a run away prisoner. Inspite of that she is gentle, kind and friendly to him. She
treats him nicely even after knowing the mistake in identity.
Q18. What made the peddler finally change his ways?
Ans: Edla Willmansson treated the tramp in a friendly manner. She was nice and kind to her.
She interceded on his behalf when her father was about to turn him out. She still entertained
the peddler even after knowing the truth about him. She offered him the suit as Christmas
present and invited him to spend the next Christmas with them. Her love and understanding
aroused the essential goodness in the peddler and finally he changed his ways.
Q19. How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the human predicament?
Ans: The world entices a person through the various good things of life such as riches and
joy, shelter and food, heat and clothing. These were just like the baits in the rattrap. Once
someone is tempted by the bait, the world closed on him. The peddler was tempted by thirty
kronor of the crofter. It makes him hide himself. He walks through the wood. He is afraid to
go to the Manor house. He gets peace only after returning the bait (money).
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS:
Q1. The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to others’
behaviour. Pick out instances of these surprises.
Ans: The peddler is surprised at the warm welcome, generous supper, cheerful company and
intimate confidences by the crofter. The ironmaster addresses the peddler as Captain von
Stahle. He is surprised when the ironmaster calls him “Nils Olof. The ironmaster assumes his
declining the invitation a result of embarrassment caused by his miserable clothing. The
peddler’s comparison of the world to a rattrap makes the ironmaster laugh and he drops the
idea of calling in the sheriff.
The peddler looks at Edla in boundless amazement when she tells him that the suit is a
Christmas present. She also invites him to spend next Christmas with them. She does all this
even after knowing the mistake about his identity. The crofter is robbed by his guest, the
rattrap peddler, in return of his hospitality.
Q2. “The story also focuses on human loneliness and the need to bond with others”.
Elucidate.
Ans: There are at least three characters in the story who suffer from loneliness and express
the need to bond with others. They represent three strata of the human society as well. The
peddler with the rattraps, the old crofter and the ironmaster all suffer from loneliness.
The peddler is called a tramp, a vagabond and stranger at various points of the story. He
moves wearily from one place to the other. He is lost in his own thoughts. He seeks shelter
for night and people look at him with sour faces. Even the blacksmiths look haughtily at him
and nod consent. The old crofter suffers from loneliness as he has neither wife nor child with
him. Hence, he feels happy when he gets the peddler to talk to in his loneliness.
The ironmaster is also lonely in his manor house. His wife Elizabeth has died and his sons are
abroad. There is no one at home except his oldest daughter and himself. His requests to
Captain von Stahle to accompany him show his need for human bonding. He admits frankly
that they didn’t have any company for Christmas.
Q3. The man selling rattraps is referred to by many terms such as “peddler, stranger” etc.
Pick out all such references to him. What does each of these labels indicate of the context
or the attitude of the people around him.
Ans: Initially, the man who went around selling small rattraps of wire is called a Vagabond’
for he plodded along the road, left to his own meditations. He is referred to as “stranger” by
the narrator while describing his meeting with the old crofter. When he leaves the next day
he is described as “the man with rattraps.’ When he returns half an hour later to steal money
he is called ‘the rattrap peddler.’
For the blacksmiths at the forge he is an intruder. The narrator now refers to him as a ‘tramp’.
For the rich ironmaster he is a “ragamuffin’. Since he had never seen the ironmaster or known
his name, the man with rattraps is called a ‘stranger’. He is described as ‘stranger’ while he
stretches himself out on the floor when the ironmaster leaves. The label sticks to him during
his stay at the manor house as a guest. These descriptions also suggest the degree of social
difference between the persons and the peddler of rattraps and their attitude towards him.
Q4. Describe how the story, ‘The Rattrap’ shows that basic human goodness can be brought
out by understanding and love.
Ans. The theme of the story ‘The Rattrap’ is that most human beings are prone to fall into
the trap of material gains. However, love and understanding can transform a person and
bring out his essential human goodness.
The peddler had been treated very cruelly by the world. So even though the old crofter was
kind and hospitable to him, he betrayed his trust and stole thirty kronors from him. He was
not impressed by the ironmaster’s invitation also. But Edla Willmansson’s compassion and
understanding brought about a transformation in his nature. Her human qualities helped in
raising him to be a gentleman. He was easily able to overcome petty temptations. The
peddler who always considered the whole world to be a rattrap finally felt released from this
rattrap due to the sympathetic, kind, loving and generous treatment of Edla Willmansson
that was able to bring out his basic human goodness.
Q5. The story ‘The Rattrap’ focuses on human loneliness and the need to bond with others.
Explain.
Ans. The main focus of the story ‘The Rattrap’ is on human loneliness. All the characters,
whether it is the peddler, the crofter, the ironmaster or his daughter, suffer from loneliness.
The peddler is a lonely man who has always been shunned by society’s cold and unkind
words. When he knocks at the door of the old crofter’s cottage he does not expect hospitality
but the crofter welcomes him as he is too happy to get someone to talk to after being alone
for so long. By serving the peddler the crofter is in fact serving himself. He serves the peddler
with supper, gives him tobacco and plays ‘mjolis’ with him. He is a very good host. The
iron¬master and his daughter too miss company and this makes them all the more lonely on
the occasion of Christmas. So the ironmaster, who mistakes the peddler for his old regimental
comrade, invites him to his manor house for Christmas. The ironmaster’s daughter, Edla,
extends this invitation again and tells the peddler he can leave any time after Christmas. Thus
the need to bond is the main focus of the story ‘The Rattrap’.
Q6. How are the attitudes of the ironmaster and his daughter different? Support your
answer from the text.
Ans. The character of Edla Willmansson and that of the iron master are in stark contrast to
each other. Despite being young, the daughter displays a better sense of maturity than her
father who acts impulsively and behaves casually. He jumps to conclusions without thinking.
First he mistakes the peddler to be an old regimental comrade and without confirming his
identity he instantly invites him to the manor house and again on realising his mistake he
refers the matter to the sheriff thoughtlessly. Edla, on the other hand, displays a keen sense
of observation. She rightly judges that her guest is a tramp and has a sympathetic attitude
towards him. She persuades her father to allow the guest to stay, leads him courteously to
the dining table and makes him eat despite her father’s protest. It is because of her
compassion and generosity that the peddler undergoes a change of heart and redeems
himself from dishonesty. He leaves behind thirty kronors to be given back to the old crofter
and a Christmas present for Edla.
Q7. Describe the peddler’s interaction with the ironmaster’s daughter. To what extent was
he influenced by her?
Ans. The peddler first meets Edla Wilmansson, the ironmaster’s daughter when, on her
fathers insistence, she comes to invite him to their manor house for Christmas. He was so
touched by the sincerity in her voice that he could not refuse her invitation. Later, she comes
to know of the peddler’s real identity but it does not change her warmth, friendliness and
hospitality towards him. She continues to treat him like a Captain and the peddler quite
spontaneously, starts behaving like a real Captain. He leaves a rattrap as a Christmas gift for
Edla and encloses a letter of thanks and a note of confession in it. He leaves behind the stolen
money to be restored to its rightful owner, the crofter, thus redeeming himself from his
dishonest ways. Edla Wilmansson’s sympathy, compassion and understanding give the
peddler an opportunity to redeem and reform himself.
Q8. Describe the crofter’s interaction with the peddler. How did the latter get tempted?
Q9. ‘The Rattrap’ highlights the impact of compassion and understanding on the hidden
goodness in human beings. Substantiate with evidence from the story.
Q10. Given his temperament, Edla’s father would have failed in reforming the peddler.
How did Edla succeed?
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