THINK IT

OUT
1.What
will
counting upto twelve and keeping still help us achieve ?
(CBSE 2015)
Or
How will (CBSE 2012)
counting up to twelve and keeping still help us ?
2,Doo
youthinkthe
poet advocates total inactivity and death ? (Imp.)
3.What
is the
the'sadness'that the poet refersto in the poemn ?
*4.
What apparent
life under
symbol from Nature does the poet invoke to say thatthere can be
from.
stillness ? Imp.)(CBSE 20l5)
Answers
1,
The Perhaps twelve' here
counting upto twelve and keeping
poet urges us still.

of the and troubles of the world

hour-marks on the clock. Most
represents the twelve ills
 FLAMINGO- -POETRY
372 SECTION-XI

andhurry. Keeping still will give us the

rush
caused because of our
are
necessary
respite

forpeace. should not be

very clear that 'stillness'
No, he doesn't. He makes confused
it
2. and
Total inactivity brings death. But Neruda has
equated with totalinactivity'. 'notruck
hostile and harmful human activist
with death', His stillness means cessation of
actions.This is the
3. Man's sadness is formed
out of his own thinking and
but fails to understand himself :and his actions.tragedy of
man. He understands so much .Hisrush
troubles. Man is the author of all disasters. Due to his
and hurry cause thinking and
himself with death.
actionshe is always threatening
with total inactivity'. There can be life
4. The poet doesn't want us to confuse 'stillness'
The poet invokes the earth as a living symbol to
under apparent stillness. prove his
The earth never a
point. everything seems dead ....later proves to be alive.'
When
total inactivity. Nature remains atwork even under apparent stillness and it keens th

earth alive.

TRY THIS OUT

Choose a quiet corner and keep still physically and mentally for aboutfue minutes. Do

youfeel any change in your state of mind

?
Answer
(For self-studyl

VI. SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q.1. Pablo Neruda urge us to keep still ?
Why does (CBSE)

Ans. Pablo Neruda considers that indecent haste and activities lead humanity to wars,
violence and death. He urges us to keep still to enjoy a few moments of peace, rest and
tranquillity. Sometimes keeping still gives us the much needed respite.
Q.2. How can suspension of activities help ? (CBSE 2012)
Ans. Man's indecent haste has already caused a lot of problems. His activities have
given birth only tochaos, war, violence and miseries. Suspension of human activities can help
in restoring the environment and health of this world. Suspension of undue haste and rush
can help in bringing peace and tranquilityin the troubled world.
S Q. 3. Why shouldn't we speak in any language and move our arms sO muu
(Imp.)

Ans. People of this world indulge in unnecessary debates and disputes. The poet urg
them stop speaking in any language. They should speak through their hearts.Men a
to
moved their arms only to harm others.
Therefore,theyshouldn't move their arms SO much.
They should give them the much desired rest.
IS Q. 4. What does the poet say
about different kinds of wars ? What alternative
does he suggest? (mp.)
Ans. The poet wants a the
total cessation of all kinds of wars. Green wars against
environment, wars with poisonous
gases and fire must stopimmediately. Instead of indulging
in wars, the people
must come outin their best dresses with go out
for a walk,enjoying their brothers. They should
themselves doing nothing.
Q. 5. According
to Pablo Neruda, what is learnfrom
nature ? it that human beings can Papr
Ans. According to Pablo (CBSESample is
world
Neruda, the main cause
the impatience of miseries and chaos in this
and indecent haste of nature.
man. Human beings can learn lesson from
Nature carries on its mission a
unnoticed and unseen. Life onearth.
and living never stops
 is dead, one thing remains eternally alive-the Earth itself. Human beings
When everything without indulging in indecent haste, violence and
follow nature chaos.
must
According to the poet Palblo Neruda whatimportant lesson can the Earth
Q.6.
us ?
S

teach (CBSE)
Or
How is 'stillness' not equal to total inactivity ? Why does Neruda say
Iwant no truck with death'? (V. Imp.)
Ans. The Earth can teach us an important lesson. The earth is never dead. When
too be dead, it remains still alive. Stillness' shouldn't be confused with total
seems
everything
Life goes on as usual. The poet doesn't advocate for total inactivity, idleness and
inactivity'.
with death.
has no association
0. 7. Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death ? Give a
reasoned answer. (CBSE 2012)
Ans. Certainly not. The poet doesn't advocate total inactivity and death. That would
on theend of the world. Stillness should not be misinterpreted as inactivity, idleness and
ioth We should follow nature. Mother nature continues its mission unnoticed and unseen.
Life and living never stop on earth. Earth and nature remain eternally
alive. But the stillness

nature doesn't mean inactivity

and death.
of
EF O.8. How can there be life underapparent stillness ?How does the poet prove
it? (V. Imp.)
Or
How is total inactivity on the Earth in the winter months full of life ?
(CBSE2017)
apparent stillness
Ans. Neruda doesn't equate stillness with total inactivity.Under this
the earth remains
there is life. We canlearn it from the earth. When everything seems dead,
still alive. It is never dead. The life
on the earth goes on as usual under the apparent stillness.
Q. 9. Justify the title 'Keeping Quiet'.
and logical.The people of the world are
Ans. The title of the poem is quite appropriate
sufferings and troubles.
always in rush and hurry. Their
actions and reactions have led to untold
time for self
do them a lot of good. It willgive them the much needed
Keeping quiet will
activities.
ntrospection and peace. It will
save them from many harmful and dangerous
the poet Pablo Neruda wishes for
?
Q10. What is the exotic moment (CBSE2016)
It will be an unusual
Neruda dreams and wishes for an exotic moment.
Ans. Pablo noise and harmful
be the moment when mankind will be free from rush,
aonent. It will
It will be a rare mnoment of peace and
will cease.
actions. The noise of
engines and machines
. Quiet related to life ?
tranquillity

211, Lifeis what it is all about ;

...' How is Keeping
(CBSE2015)
Under the 'apparent
and unnoticed.
Ans. quite unobserved doesn't equate stillness
and living continues
Life
of life. Neruda
and currents under
stillness',
there are strong undertones life on the
earth goes on as usual
The
with total
learn from the earth. bliss forsuffering
linactivity. We can to lifeand is a silent
theapparent quiet'is related
stillness. Similarly, keeping

humanity.