2.

KEEPING QUIET Pablo Neruda

About the Poet

Pablo Neruda (12 July 1904 23 September 1973) wrote in a variety of styles, including surrealist poems.
historicalepics, overtly political manifestos, a prose autobiograply and passionate love poems such as the
inhis collection Twenty Love Pocms and aSong of Dcspair. Neruda won the Nobel Prize for Literature
in1971,

Theme
Teening Quiet is a simple poem about the need for a little bit of soul-searching which may help us to make
aace with ourselves and others. It tells us how amoment of silent introspection will make us realize the
tter futility of our aggressive endeavours.

Summary
for introspection and to create a feeling
Inthe poem Keeping Quiet, Pablo Neruda talks about the needHe speaks about life where human beings
world.
of mutual understanding, love and respect in the human full of strife and destruction.
living a life
are engrossed in their selfish motives and are
everyone in the world to keep still for twelve seconds tocreate a togetherness. He wants all the
The poet asks maintain a silence to communicate with each
other's
language but to
people on the earth, not to talk in any silence willbe an exotic moment. There willbe
no noise and
believes that this sudden moment of
heart. He salt will stop
fishermen in the sea will stop killing the whales and the men who gather
n0 movement. The nature and man to embalm
look at their hurt hands. This kind of break will enable both than their
their work and
break, human beings will start looking and caring for themselves rather brethren.
their wounds. Due to this each other, will stop and walk about with
their fellow
who are fighting with
Work. Moreover, those is concerned that we
not want to advocate total inactivity or death. He
Pablo Neruda clarifies that he does
process, we have completely missed our true goal to keep
race and, in this do not understand
allare running blindly in a rat There is great sadness in human beings for, they everything comes
nature.
abalance between man and break this sadness. We should learn from nature. Whendeath, there comes
hemselves.A huge silence will death, it is equivalent to this silence. After this depends
So our survival in this worlddevelop a
of seeming
dIVe in nature after a period bring catastrophic results.
situation and can done only when we introspect
and
ue. This is a dangerous and rectify this. This can be
uponour ability to understand other.
Ieeling of understanding with each
ontextual Meanings/Sense and Expression survivors : no winners or no losers; Threatening
No
language : be silent; Exotic: peaceful;
Not speak In any
Ourselves:self-destruction

TEXTUAL OUESTIONS
achieve? [Delhi2015]
Think it out keeping still' help us to We
to twelve and understand ourselves and to introspect.entire
What will 'counting up will help us to and, finally, on the
twelve and keeping stillour selfish actions on each other
Ans, Counting up to
realize the real
impact of
Willbe able to
humanity.
274 apethr wutkEnglish Core 12
L. D youthink the poet advocates total
inactivity and death?
because he has a firm helief in
Ans. Thc poct does not advocate 'total inactivity' life. He
and contentment. He wants
to live a complete life. full of peace everyone take a
to
hectic schedule and introspect for a while to improve
the poem?
the quality of life
hreat irim te
3. What is the sadness' the poet refers to in
experience becauseeof
Ans. The poct refers to the sadness which all human beings the
work, stress, aggression and destruction.
This sadness comes because man doeslifestnotyle nertan
himself.
there can he life
4. What symbol fromnature does the poet invoke that under apparent
can be life
[Delhi 2015,stilFrnireesim
Ans, The poet uses 'Earth' as a symbol to invoke that there after apparent
seems still" from outside but is alive and vibrant deep within. Similarly, our stillness. The Eart
maintain a harmonious life on Earth and stop destruction. silence can help us n

SOLVEDQUESTION BANK

Multiple-choice Questions
Choose the correct option.
1. Now we will count to twelve.' The number twelve' in the line suggests the
(a) duration of time (6) lifespan
(c) punctuality (d) discipline
Ans. (a) duration of time
2. Victory with no survivors' implies
(a) war affects our lives
(b) no victory is possible without loss of lives in war
(c) death and no loss is inevitable in war
(d) there is survivors only with victory
Ans. (b) no victory is possible without loss of lives in war
3. Iwant no truck with death
indicates
(a) no death, but quiet productivity
(b) death and quiet productivity
(c) stoppage of all activities
(d) productivity through
Ans. (a) no death, but quiet introspection
4. Later proves to be alive'productivity
implies that the earth
(a) seems to be calm and quiet
(b) teaches how silence is productive
(c) brings forth life
Ans. (a) brings forth life (d) is quarrelsome
 Literature Textbooks andISupplementary Reading Terts 275
exOtic moment means
bean
d
alcttaordinarydreams
momentsofsolitary
confinement
momentsofextraordinary
pleasure
ertraordinary moments of silence

extraordiary moments of silence

ageference-to-Context Questions||
extracts and answer the questionsthat follow.
following
hyehe
W7llcountto
Nowwe
still.
allkeep
ondwewill
face of theEarth
Foronccon the
any language,
'snotspeak n
kr'sstopfor
onesecond.
much
our arms so
andnot mnOve
i Why is the poet asking the people
not to speak?
their actions.
() It gives the people time to introspect
people.
ä) The poet doesn't like talkative
(ü) Itcreates noise.
infection.
(iv) There are less chances of
is TRUE or FALSE.
(b) State whether the given statement
remain inactive for one second.
The poet wants us to do nothing and
(c) Complete the sentence appropriately.
refers to
"Not move our arms in the given extract
wants us to remain
(a) During counting to twelve, the poet
(e) In the given extract the poet has used (v) simile
() heroic couplet (üi) blank verse
(ii) metaphor
) Select the option that is NOT true.
get an opportunity to introspect our tollies.
() when we stop for a second, we experience astrength of togetherness.
our differences and
") During this moment, we will forget the world with our words and
actions.
are causing to
") We will realize the harm we
(v) We should always remain lazy.
tgives the people time to introspect their actions.
b) True
(c) sitting still and not using any weapons.
(a) quiet
e) (i) blank
verse
We should always remain lazy.
276 hertker wrk English Core-12
2. II would be an exotic moment
without nsh, without engines,
we would all be together
in a sudden strangenes.
in the first line?
(a) What docs 'i signify (ii) total stillness
() the suIroundings
lap (iv) all of the above
(iñ) being in the nature's
moment referrcd lo in the poem'Keeping Quiet'? What
(6) What isthe eNotic
(c) Selet the word
that WILL NNOT complete the sentence appropriately. makes it eKtirK)
The exoticmoment, accordingto the poct, is
() exciting activity
(ü) slavery
silence
(ü) beautiful moments of thoughtful
removed
(iv) when language barriers are
TRUE or FALSE.
(d) State whether the given statement is
created
If noengines work and there is no rush, a strange movement will be
(e) How willeveryone feel at the exotic moment?
) Complete the sentence appropriately.
We can all feel togetherness by remaining calm and feeling strangenes.
Ans. (a) (ü) total stillness
(b) When people sit still without speaking any language in quiet introspection, that moment wil
an exotic one because this will help us to experience a strength of togetherness and astag
relationship with which humanity will bind itself.
(c) (ü) slavery
(d) False
(e) Everyone will feel a blissful oneness at the exotic moment.
() sudden
3. Fishermen in the cold sea
would not ham whales
and the man gathering salt
would look at his hurt hands.
(a) Which activity does the poet not want the fisherman to do?
() not go out into the sea (ü) not harm the whales
(ii) not going sailingduring storms (iv) kill the other sea-creatures
(b) What are some of the other men doing?
(c) The poet advocates the balance of nature
(i) to be maintained (ii) to get destroyed
(üi) to remain inactive (iv) allof the above
 Literature Textbooks and Supplementary Reading Texts Z
State whetherthe following statement is TRUE or FALSE.
Through Fishermen in the cold sea would not harm whales', the poet urges us not to harm the
animals.
What do hurt hands' refer to inthe line,'Men wouldlook at their hurt hands'?
(c) W
Completethe sentence appropriately.
is the poetic device used in 'his hurt hands'
whales
(aa) (i) not harnthe
Ans.
ofthe other men are gathering salt.
(b) Some maintained
c) () to be
(d) Thue
doing to his hands. Thus, men's hands are wounded.
Hurt hands' refer to the harm that the salt is
) alliteration
wars
1 Thosewhoprepare green
wars with fire
wars with gas,
suvivors,
victory with no
clothes
wouldput on clean
with their
and walk about
brothers
nothing.
In the shade doing
Green wars' refer to? environment
(a) What does (i) wars against
()green colour the woods
(iv) wars fought in wars?
green flags attitude towards these
(ii) wars displaying the poem? What is the poet's
What kind of wars are mentioned in appropriately.
(b)
that WILL complete the sentence
(c) Select the word of wars i.e.
poet is deliberating upon the type (ü) surgicalstrikes
The wars with fire
(i) nuclear warfare wars with gas,
(v) green wars,
combat
(ii)hand to hand statementis TRUE or
FALSE.
the following approach towards life.
(d) State whether exploiters to adopt a new
The poet wants
the nature poet condemns violence?
show that the
images in the poem
(e) What
sentence appropriately.
) Complete the used in the poem is etc.
The poetic deviceenvironment wars
with tire,
with gas, wars nature will
against like green wars, against
Ans, (a) (ü) wars are mentioned in the poem
wars and the war that man wages
wars chemical nuclear
(0) Different that these
The poet feels
hisdoom.
lead him towards with gas, wars with
fre
against
(v) greenwars, wars
are that, he is totallynuclear
() violence and
(d) True show the poet condemns poet is against chemicalstandstill
poem that violence. Thedestructive activities to a
The images in thecommunities, races and
(e) bringall the
alienation among survivors. Hewants to
leave no
wars which
) free verse
278 apetker me English Core-12
5. What Iwant should not be
confused
with total inactii.
Life is what it isall about:
Iwant no nck nith death.
If we were not so single-minded
ahout kecping our lhvs movng.
and for once could do nothing.
Prhaps a huge silence
might intemyt this sadness
of neer understanding ourselves with
death.
to
(a) The poet's intention in the first line is
()give warning to the readers (ü) give right direction to the readers
(ü) give choice to the readers (iv) give a clarification to the readers
(b) Who is to blame for the condition of threatening ourselves with death, according to the o
(c) Select the word from the following options to complete the sentence.
The tone of the poet in the expression, "If we were not so single minded..." is
() regretful (ü) critical (üi) encouraging (iv) friendly
(d) State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE.
In the expression, "I want no truck with death", the poet assures that he does not advogte
death.
(e) What is the tone of the poet in the expression, perhaps a huge silence, might interrupt ths
sadness"?
() Complete the sentence appropriately.
The poet advocates death because he has a firm belief in
Ans. (a) (iv) give a clarification to the readers
(b) According to the poet, lack of understanding is to be blamed for the condition of threatenmg
ourselves with death.
(c) (ü) critical
(d) True
(e) The poet is unsure yet optimistic.
) life
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 Iwill go.
(a) What does the earth teach us?
i) To be active (ü) Remain stillbut not inactive
(iiü) Be in harmony with nature (iv) All of the above
 Litcrature Textbooks and Supplementary Reading Texts 2r9
State whcther the following statcnment is TRUE or FALSE.
() countstil 12 seconds to quieten us.
(True/False)
The poct
Completethe sentence appropriately.
Thewhole humanity
needs to learn a lesson from
us to learn from
N In this extract, the poct wants
pleading tothe human beings to kecp quict for just
e) The poet is seconds (ii) twcnty seconds
(iv) ten seconds
à twelve seconds (ii) forty
NOT true with reference to thc context.
Selectthe optionthat is
time for rest.
i) People willget much needed
introspect.
(i) People will have time to
and hurry.
(ii) There will be no rush to understand each other.
an opportunity
(iv) It will not give us
above
(v) ofthe
All
Ans. (a)
(b) True
(c) Earth
(d) nature
seconds other.
(e) (i)twelve
an opportunity to understand each
give us
() (iv) It willnot

Type Questions
Short Answer that we should learn
'Keeping Quiet', is the lesson [CBSE 2023)
Neruda in the poem introspection.
according to Pablo callsfor
1. What,
from mother earth? activitiesfora momentand
we are doing
ofall kind ofdeeds
Quiet" referstostoppingwill help us to analyse the harmony must be made
Keeping moment. and Earth
Ans. Thepoem, to remain silent for a nature. Balancemustmake ourmother
affects our
adversely Earth.We
He tells us purpose but it existence onthe
selfish for our
for our and human
beings
toattaininga better,
between nature essential
'KeepingQuiet' Paper 2023]
place to live in. Neruda,is [CBSE Sample
a better accordingto Pablo world
reasons why, better, more peacefulcreate
two attaining a help to
di Give
more peaceful world. is essential to actions anditwill
Quiet' our
Pablo Neruda, Keeping self-introspectionover (All India 2015)
According to Ouiet' helps us to do human beings.
among
Decause Keeping understanding Quiet related to lífe? lite to its
one must live develop
mutual Keeping complete life,
a Teeling of about.'Howis order to live a satisfaction, we must
it is all becausein peace ands
ue0s what happiness,
relatedtolife whichis full of throughintrospection.
is [All lndia 2015)
Ans. 'Keeping Quiet'tolive qualitylife, can beachieved keeping guiet?
fullest. In order this twelveand monotonous
deeplyand on
countingto break from the
takes a bringsa feeling of sudden
a habit of thinking sudden strangeness actions and This
feela selfish actions. talk.
4. Why does one and stops all his analyse one'sactivityand continuous
quiet introspect and hectic
Ans, When one keeps time to breakfrom
a
routine, one gets we nevertake
because
strangeness
280 hortkr t e nglish Core 12
5. How will keeping quiet protect our environment?
Ans. Kecping quict refers to stopping all activitics for a moment and l
the kindof deeds we are doing for our sclfislh purpose but which introspect. This will H
help ustr
harm nature. This
make us understand the fact that harMony with nature is very essential
survival Tmofrmentanabewil
for the
6. What will possibly be the effect of 'keeping quiet"?
Ans. Keeping quiet will result in a mutual understanding among all human manknd
ourselves. We will be alble to understandthe fact that the balance
between beings
nature andand
huunrmdearnstaninegnE
IS CSsential for our eistence on the Earth.
7. Which is the exotic moment that the poet refers to in 'Keeping Quiet"?
Ans. The poctreters to the cxotic moment whcn everyone would be silent
and still and there
noise or mad race. It will evoke an environment of peace and
quietness with no
agreements or wars. This moment will bring a sense of
8. How can keeping quiet change our attitude to life?
togetherness among all Coniictbeis, nqg.uaTreK
human
Ans. If we keep quiet for a moment to introspect and cease our selfish
to our understanding ourselves and may change our attitude.
and destructive actions, it
wil lea
9. Which images in the poem Keeping Quiet' show that the poet
condemns
Ans. Pablo Naruda gives the images of ´green war', violence?
[All Indiaa
'war with gas' and'wars with
fire 2014C
these wars with victory with no survivors'. This is to
to the entire human race. This shows that he emphasise the fact that warSand then associates
condemns violence. wil bring an
10. What are the different types of and
wars mentioned in the poem? What is
them? Neruda's
Ans. Pablo Neruda has
attitude towars
mentioned 'green [All India 20
not appreciate the concept of war. He wars', 'warS with fire' and 'wars with gas'. The Doet ioas
with no survivors. So instead of condemns it by saying that these wars will result in viom:
these wars and conflicts we must
understanding and co-existence. develop the concept of munai
11. How can suspension of activities
help?
Ans. The suspension of activities will Al India M
and selfish actions we help us to introspect. It will
indulge in. provide an insight into the mad nst
attitude, we willdevelop mutual When we all are able to ponder and analyse our Own actons nN
12. Why is Pablo understanding and realise the importance of co-existence.
Neruda against total inactivity?
Ans. The poet is against total
He only wishes us to inactivity because it means death. whereas the poet has firm
13. What does the introspect and take a break frOm the hectic, beliet n u
poet want all the aimless life.
Ans. The poet wants
them to make their perpetrators of war to do?
stop fighting and develop an conscience clean from the envy and selfish motives. Theysshould
14. What will be understanding
the ultimate end of
man if
of peace among the
human beings.
Ans. If the
present scenario of war and the present scenario of wars and conflicts continues?
humanity.We all destruction continues, it will lead to total destruction ofthe
15. How our state of will perish and nobody willbe left
mind will be changed if we to celebrate the
Ans. The poet victory.
believes that
then we will be able to if we all stop maintain
for a moment to silence and suspend activity for a while?
of ouractions
for the survival on understand the need to be introspect and realize the Impact understandhng
towards each other. earth. This realization will bring together
a
and develop a mutual ourattiude
change in our state of mind and
 Literature lextlooks and Supplementary Reaing fexts o
ywould keeping quiet affect life in and around the sea?
How
Keeping quict would affect life in and around the sea as the fishermen would not be killing the
whalesandthe men gathering salt
would give rest
to their injured hands.
isthe Earth a source
of life when all seems dead on it?
How
I7. |AIl fndia 2017|
Ans. Whenallsecmsdead on the earth, it is not really quiet. It seems calm but in reality. it is nurturing
lifeunderncath.

Howistotal inactivity on the Earth in the winter months full of life?

I8. |All India 2017|
An5,Inwinter months one finds total inactivity in nature. But the poet does not aclvocate total inactivity.
He feels quietitude of winter months is ripc with the hope for a peaceful world.
According to Pablo Neruda, how would keeping quiet be an exotic moment?
[Foreign 2917)
Ans. Thepoetfeels that the moment of silence would bean exotici moment because it would be an instance
ofuniversall brotherhood, peace and harmony. In that moment all of us would initiate introspection
hrough meditation and the whole world would be shrouded in quietness.
What are green wars? Who wage them and with what result? |Foreign 2017]
.. Green wars imply waging awar against nature by causing environmental degradation.
People wage war against nature for their self-interest. All wars originate from the lack of
self-understanding.
1 According to Pablo Neruda, what do we not do when we keep quiet? [Foreign 2017]
ins. According to Pablo Neruda, when we keep quiet all of us should not talk in any language nor should
we involve in any kind of physical activity to disturb the calm. The pause in our mundane activity
would suspend all our woes.

Long Answer Type Questions

22. How, according to the poet, can keeping quiet change our attitude towards life?
Ans, Pablo Neruda's poem 'Keeping Quiet' is abeautiful recipe for apeaceful and progressive life with a
zeal to live together amicably without selfishness and violence.The poet's message is loud and clear
in the opening lines of the poem:
"Now we will count twelve
and we will allkeep still."
The moment of keeping quiet will bring a sea change in our attitude towards life as if it is a monment
of introspection leading to prevent our selfish and destructive actions. The poet is against the hue
and cry' race in our life where people run ainmlessly and violently and they have no time for thouehts'
about their actions and their consequences. At times, our rash and calous actions lead to major wars,
destructive fire and deadly clashes with their brothers. It destroys love, relationships and togetherness
around us leavingglittle scope for positive and healthy life. Keeping quiet for introspection will make
live and enioy a
ur lite fullof satisfaction, peace and pleasure making the world a better place to
lovely and successful life.
282 hortke mutk English Core-12
23. Do yon think the poct advocates total inactivity and death in the poem,
Ans. In the poem. Keeping Ouiet.' the poet invites us to experience a few Keeping Quiet?
rushing life in order to do introspection for our thoughtless actions
quiet moments
He
without afirmy amIlMiudstsratte. NE
the moments of total inactivity are the most precious moments
thoughtlessnes. He deplores the idea of death or stagnation in life as it is a
advocates that
touch of
hit our milestones with zeal, sensibility and love. He says: id le n
continuoUs journey e S s or
th
"What Iwant should not be
confused

with total inactivity.

Life is what it is about.
Life always moves on ceaselessly with positive thoughts and dynamic actions but it
thoughtless race where people forget the value of love peace and
place to live. In our mad rush, we are trapped in green wars, togetherness to makeneed
it
n¡t
a
be a

destruction all around. Due to our selfish ends, we have

wars with gas and
fire beautiful
have not noticed our 'hurt hands'. "Keeping forgotten to walk with our with ani mass
brothers
Quiet offers us a wonderful world to enioy kes :
exotic moment'.