Updated on 18/07/2021
Topic- POEM – Keeping Quiet
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.
It would be an exotic 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.
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.
What I want should not be confused
with total inactivity.
Life is what it is about;
I want no truck with death.
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.
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.
Pablo Neruda
Topic- Very Short Type Q-Ans. Of POEM – Keeping Quiet
Q. 1 Who is the poet of the POEM
‘Keeping Quiet’?
Ans. Pablo Neruda
Q. 2 What is the theme of the POEM?
Ans. Anti-war
Q. 3 According to the poet, what will
happen when there is complete quietness?
Ans. There will be no war
Q. 4 What is the law of nature,
according to the poet?
Ans. Activity is law of the nature
Q. 5 What would the fisherman do?
Ans. They would not harm the whales
Q. 6 What will be a historical
moment, according to the poet?
Ans. The moment of quietness
Q. 7 What does the poet think about
war?
Ans. He thinks that war is
meaningless
Q. 8 What are green wars associated
with?
Ans. War with gas and fire
Q. 9 What is action, according to the
poet?
Ans. Action is the hallmark of life
Q. 10 Why does the poet ask us to
count to twelve?
Ans. Because there is twelve hours in
a clock and twelve months in a year.
Q. 11 How will suspension of all
activity affect us?
Ans. It gives us energy to do the
things in a better way
Q. 12 How is life defined in the POEM?
Ans. Life is what it is about
Q. 13 What might the silence do?
Ans. It interrupts the sadness
Topic- Short Type Q-Ans. Of POEM – Keeping Quiet
Q. 1 What will counting up to twelve
and keeping still help us achieve?
Ans.
The poet asks us to keep still till he counts twelve. He means to say that we
should stop all our activities for a few moments. It will bring us peace. It
will help us to continue our activities in a better way.
Q. 2 Do you think the poet advocates
total inactivity and death?
Ans.
No, the poet does not advocate total inactivity. Whatever he says that is
connected with life and activities. It makes clear that ‘stillness’ should not
be confused with total inactivity. Total inactivity brings death. His stillness
means stopping all human activities for a few moments.
Q. 3 What does the poet call ‘an
exotic moment’ and why?
Ans.
The poet calls the moment of quiet introspection an exotic moments. He calls it
exotic because it will give us very unusual feelings. We shall feel ourselves
as one with all others. We will come out of all greed, selfishness and cruelty.
Q. 4 What is the ‘sadness’ that the
poet refers to in the POEM?
Ans.
Man’s sadness is the result of his own thinking and actions. He fails to
understand himself. He is always in hurry. He has no time to think over his
actions. He has no time for self introspections. That is why he often remains
sad.
Q. 5 What symbol from Nature does the
poet invoke to say that there can be life under apparent stillness?
Ans.
The Poet uses the symbol of the earth. The poet says that in winter the earth
seemed to be death. There is stillness all around in this season. But later in
spring, it is proved to be alive. It is full of beauties and colours.
Topic- Essay Type Q-Ans. Of POEM – Keeping Quiet
Q. 1 Discuss the theme or the
substance of the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’ critically.
Ans.
This is an anti-war poem. The poet suggests that all people should suspend
their activities for some time and keep quiet. He brings out the importance of
keeping quiet. He wants to stop wars of all kinds at once. He asks us not move
even our arms. The poet tells us that man’s actions have already created
trouble in the world. Now it is time to do self-introspection. Quiet
introspection is the solution to the social, political and religious problems. A
long silence can soothe our feelings. It will help to create a mutual feeling
and understanding among human beings.
Q. 2 What idea does Pablo Neruda want
to convey in his poem, ‘Keeping Quiet’?
Ans. The poet wants to convey us the importance of stillness. Man is always in a hurry. He remains busy in worldly activities. But he has no time for self introspection. So the poet wants us to stop all our worldly activities for a few moments. We should do some quite introspection. It will soothe our feelings. It will also help us to understand ourselves. Then and only then we can restart our activities in a better and purposeful manner.
Topic- Word-meanings and important spellings
Word-meanings
· Keep still – not to move
· Exotic – unusual
· Still – motionless
· Victory – triumph
· Confused – misunderstood
· Huge – big
· Inactivity – lethargy
· Perhaps – probably
Important spellings
· Quiet
· Quite
· Quit
· Twelfth
· Language
· Exotic
· Engines
· Strangeness
· Together
· Unusual
· Motionless
· Gathering
· Prepare
· Survivors
· Triumph
· Inactivity
· Lethargy
· Misunderstood
· Quietness
· Interrupt
· Threatening
· Probably
· intervene