G. D.

GOENKA PUBLIC SCHOOL, SILIGURI

CLASS: XII SUBJECT: ENGLISH (PROSE)

KEEPING QUIET

SUMMARY

‘Keeping Quiet’ by Pablo Neruda is a deceptively simple poem about the need for a little bit of
silence and soul-searching which may help us make peace with ourselves and others. It tells us
how a moment of silent introspection will make us realize the utter futility of our restlessness
and the greed and aggressiveness that comes out of it. In a greater context, it could be viewed as
a wish for world peace and need for conservation but at an individual level it is important that
we all achieve that desired state of peace so that we may not only understand ourselves but find
the time to rejuvenate and repair ourselves.

Neruda wishes that people indulged less in activities that are reactionary, disruptive to ourselves
and the world at large. He however doesn’t advocate inactivity, but advises that we let go of this
need to move just for the sake of movement and encourages introspection.

Finally the poet tells us to take a lesson from the rhythms of the earth, that appears to be inactive
during a period of dormancy in winter but reawakens to a new life in spring. This period of
quietude is what affords the earth time to rest and recuperate and approach life with new strength
and vigour.

1. Which is the exotic moment that the poet refers to in ‘Keeping Quiet’?
The poet refers to the moment of stillness and quietness as an exotic moment. It would be an
exotic moment, as such a tranquility will initiate peace and brotherhood. There would be no
movement, no talk, no activity and consequently, no violence.

2. What is the sadness that the poet refers to in the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’?
Answer. The poet refers to the sadness which surrounds man due to not having any time for
himself, the pain of not understanding what he or his fellow human beings want. He has no time
for introspection; as a result, he is unable to analyse his own actions and understand its
consequences.
3. Which images in the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’ show that the poet condemns violence?
The images of fishermen not harming the whales in the sea and wars leaving behind no survivors
to celebrate the victory show that the poet condemns violence and advocates pacifism. The poet
wants the warmongers to change their blood-stained clothes to clean ones. The poet’s refusal to
have any association or dealing with death also shows that he is not in favour of any form of
violence.

4. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:

It would be an exotic moment

without rush, without engines,
we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness.

(a) What will happen if there is no rush or running of engines?

(b) Why would it be called an exotic moment?
(c) How would we feel at that moment?
(d) Name the poem and the poet.
Answer.
(a) It will be an ecstatic moment of tranquility without rush or running of engines.
(b) It would be called an exotic moment because it will be an instance of universal peace and
brotherhood. In that moment, all of us would initiate introspection through meditation and the
whole world will be enveloped in quietness.
(c) We would feel very strange at that moment, because at that time everyone will have a feeling
of oneness with their fellow human beings. It will be a new feeling altogether.
(d) The poem is ‘Keeping Quiet’, and the poet is Pablo Neruda.

HOME-ASSIGNMENT

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTION:

1. How can suspension of activities help?

2. What, according to you, is the significance of twelve?

3. Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death?

4. According to the poet, what is it that human beings can learn from nature?

5. Which imagery in the poem creates awareness of exploitation?

6. Identify and explain the figure of speech in: put on clean clothes and walk about with their
brothers in the shade?
7. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:

Perhaps the Earth can teach us

as when everything seems dead
and later proves to be alive
Now I’ll count upto twelve
and you keep quiet and I will go.

(a) What does the Earth teach us?

(b) What does the poet mean to achieve by counting upto twelve?
(c) What is the significance of ’keeping quiet’?
(d) What is always alive, even when everything seems to be dead?

INSTRUCTIONS:
Copy the summary and questions and answers from Q1 to 4 in your notebook.
Assignments must be done in the notebook and pictures / pdf of the same
uploaded to Assignments in MS TEAMS by 08.08.2020 (Saturday). Alternately, the
notes will also be available in the school ERP which may be accessed using
personal login id.