Keeping Quiet

Questions & Answers

Question 1.
What will counting up to twelve and keeping still
help us achieve ?

Answer:
Counting upto twelve and keeping still gives us
time to introspect ourselves. In this way, we can
recuperate our energy and restart our activities
with fresh energy and zeal.

Question 2.
Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and
death ?

Answer:
No, the poet does not advocate total inactivity and
death. He only wants us to keep quiet and
suspend all our activities for a few seconds. In this
way we can introspect ourselves and restart our
activities with renewed enthusiasm and vigour.

Question 3.
What is the ‘sadness’ that the poet refers to in the
poem?

Answer:
When people don’t introspect themselves they fail
to understand themselves, then ‘sadness’ arises.
The poet wants that people should overcome this
sadness by introspecting themselves and
connecting with the
surrounding environment with a sense of
compassion.

Question 4.
What symbol from Nature does the poet invoke to
say that there can be life under apparent
stillness ?

Answer:
In this poem, the poet uses the symbol of the earth
to say that there can be life under apparent
stillness. He says that the earth appears to be
dead in the winter season. But when the spring
season comes it becomes alive with all its new
plants. It never takes rest.

Question 5.
How would keeping quiet affect the life in and
around the sea ?

Answer:
It would affect the life in and around the sea in two
ways. The fishermen would stop fishing for some
time. The man gathering salt would get some time
to see his hurt hands get healed.

Question 6.
‘Life is what it is about'
How is keeping quiet related to life ?
Answer:
Keeping quiet is related to life not death. The poet
says that by keeping quiet we get some time to
introspect ourselves. Keeping quiet helps us to
recuperate our energy. In this way
we can start our activities with fresh zeal and
energy.

Question 7.
What are the different types of wars mentioned in
the poem ?
Or
What is Neruda’s attitude towards these wars?

Answer:
The poet says that there are green wars. He
means to say that the people who destroy forests
also wage a war against their own coming
generations. There are wars with fire, chemical
weapons and poisonous gases. The wars bring so
much destruction that no side can be called
victorious. The poet wants that all these wars
should be stopped. These wars bring nothing but
destruction.

Question 8.
How does the earth teach us that there is activity
even in apparent stillness ?

Answer:
We think that earth is dead as it remains still. But
many changes are taking place under the surface
of the earth. A seed that seems dead germinates
under the earth and a new life springs from it.
Question 9.
Write down the summary of the poem "Keeping
Quiet".

Answer:
The poet wants everyone to count up to twelve in
their mind.
He wants us to be calm and still. The poet doesn't
want us to talk in any language, as he thinks
language can create barriers. He means to say
that everyone should be quiet for a moment and
reflect upon their life in silence. There should not
be any rush. There should be no jarring sounds of
machines and engines. Only silence should
prevail.

The poet does not want the fishermen to hunt

whales in the sea in that moment of silence and
stillness. He also wants salt gatherers to suspend
their activities for a moment and notice their burnt
hands.

The poet says that people who destroy forests

also wage a war against their own coming
generations. There are wars with fire, chemical
weapons and poisonous gases. Wars bring about
untold destruction of the environment. The poet
knows that soldiers have to follow orders. He
implores them to leave the army and wear clean
clothes instead of uniforms. They should walk with
their civilian brothers and suspend their all war-
related activities and walk idly under the shade.

The poet believes that we should not be self-

centred. He says that the people are rushing to
complete their tasks. But he says that by keeping
quiet for a few seconds, they can understand the
true purpose of life. The poet wants that we should
not be self-centred. He says that people are
always in a rush to complete their own tasks. He is
of the view that by keeping quiet for a while they
can brood over the true purpose of life. We should
remain in close touch with nature. The earth can
provide us with the guidance that we need in order
to find the meaning and purpose of our lives.
 The poet says that it appears dead and lifeless
in winter. But when the summer season comes
everything comes to life again. Similarly, after
taking a short pause we can restart our activities in
a new way with a new approach. Therefore,
towards the end of the poem the poet reminds us
to take a pause, to count up to twelve, and to look
within ourselves so as to connect with the world
outside in a moment of strange silence.