Updated on 31/05/2026
Poem-2 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
Very Short Type Q-Ans.
Q. 1 Who is the poet of the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’?
Ans. Pablo Neruda
Q. 2 What is the theme of the poem?
Ans. Universal brotherhood and quiet introspection (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 an exotic 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. Wars against environment (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 are 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 ‘Keeping Quiet’?
Ans. Life is what it is about
Q. 13 What might the silence do?
Ans. It interrupts the sadness
Q.14 Some examples of Alliteration in the poem?
Ans. Sudden strangeness, hurt hand, clean clothes
Textual Questions
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 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 moment. 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 a 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 dead. There is stillness all around in this season. But later in spring, it is proven to be alive. It is full of beauties and colours.
Q.6 What does the poet mean by "not move our arms so much"?
Ans. The word 'arms' has two meanings here:
Human arms: Stopping physical movement and work for a moment.
Weapons: Stopping the use of destructive weapons and warfare. (use of figure of speech-'Pun')
Q.7 What is the significance of 'clean clothes' in the poem?
Ans. 'Clean clothes' symbolize a change of mind, outlook, and a fresh beginning. The poet wants warmongers (युद्ध करने वालों) to cleanse their souls from hatred and adopt peace.
Long-Answer
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 to 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 to 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 quiet 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.
Important spellings
Quiet (मौन) vs. Quite (काफी) vs. Quit (छोड़ना)
Twelfth
Language
Exotic
Engines
Strangeness
Together
Unusual
Motionless
Gathering
Prepare
Survivors
Triumph
Inactivity
Lethargy
Misunderstood
Quietness
Interrupt
Threatening
Probably
intervene
Word-meanings
Keep still – not to move
Exotic – unusual
Still – motionless
Victory – triumph
Confused – misunderstood
Huge – big
Inactivity – lethargy
Perhaps – probably