Keeping Quiet - Flamingo - Class 12 - CBSE English

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About the Author - Keeping Quiet | Flamingo | Class 12 Literature | CBSE English

Pablo Neruda was a Chilean poet, diplomat, and politician who was born on July 12, 1904. He is considered one of the most influential and celebrated poets of the 20th century. He began writing poetry at the age of 13, and his early works were published in literary journals under the pen name Pablo Neruda. He gained worldwide recognition for his poetry collections, such as "Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair" and "Canto General." Neruda was a member of the Communist Party of Chile and served as a senator in the Chilean government. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1971 for his poetry that "arouses and maintains high ideals." Neruda died in 1973, shortly after the military coup in Chile led by General Augusto Pinochet.

Summary - Keeping Quiet | Flamingo | Class 12 Literature | CBSE English

"Keeping Quiet" is a poem by Pablo Neruda that encourages the reader to take a break from the busyness of life and to embrace stillness and silence. The poem is structured in five stanzas of varying lengths and does not follow a specific rhyme scheme. 

1️⃣ First Stanza

The poem begins with the speaker's invitation to the reader to "now we will count to twelve / and we will all keep still." This counting to twelve is symbolic of taking a moment to pause and reflect, rather than rushing headlong into action. The speaker then invites the reader to experience the sensation of being still, suggesting that in this state, we can better hear our thoughts and connect with our inner selves. 

2️⃣ Second Stanza

In the second stanza, the speaker describes how being quiet and still can help us recognise our interconnectedness with others. By "listening to others' voices," we become more aware of our shared humanity, which can lead to a greater sense of empathy and understanding. 

3️⃣ Third Stanza

The third stanza further explores this idea of connection, as the speaker urges us to "recognise what we are not." In other words, by setting aside our individual identities and egos, we can better appreciate the common threads that bind us all together. 

4️⃣ Fourth Stanza

In the fourth stanza, the speaker turns his attention to nature, describing how even the earth can benefit from stillness and quietness. By "stopping the machinery of the World," we can give the planet a moment of respite from modern life's constant progress and pollution. 

5️⃣ Fifth Stanza

Finally, in the fifth and last stanza, the speaker returns to the idea of stillness to connect with our inner selves. He suggests that in this state of quiet, we can better understand our own thoughts and feelings and, by extension, the thoughts and feelings of others. The poem ends with the speaker urging us to take this sense of connection and empathy out into the World, saying, "let's try to live life without any death / let's try to live life / as if we were eternal." 

Overall, "Keeping Quiet" reflects the power of stillness and silence to help us connect with ourselves, others, and the natural World. 

The poem encourages us to take a moment to pause, reflect, and appreciate the interconnectedness of all things. 

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Themes - Keeping Quiet | Flamingo | Class 12 Literature | CBSE English

The themes of the poem "Keeping Quiet" by Pablo Neruda include: 

  1. Introspection: The poem emphasizes the need for introspection and self-reflection to gain a better understanding of ourselves and others. 
  2. Unity and brotherhood: The poet talks about the need for people to come together and create a feeling of mutual understanding and 

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Symbols - Keeping Quiet | Flamingo | Class 12 Literature | CBSE English

There are several symbols in the poem "Keeping Quiet" by Pablo Neruda:  

  • The number twelve: The poet asks the reader to count up to twelve and keep quiet. The number twelve symbolises completeness and unity. 
  • Silence: Silence represents introspection, self-reflection, and the need to understand oneself and others. 
  • Language: The poet asks people not to speak in any language, which symbolises the need for humans to come together beyond language barriers. 
  • Fishermen, whales, and salt gatherers: These symbols represent a 

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Vocabulary - Keeping Quiet | Flamingo | Class 12 Literature | CBSE English

  1. Introspection (noun): thoughtful self-examination. 
  2. Strangeness (noun): the state or quality of being strange or unfamiliar. 
  3. Exotic (adjective): strikingly strange or unusual. 
  4. Survivor (noun): a person who continues to live or exist after a difficult or dangerous experience. 
  5. Inactivity (noun): a lack of activity or movement. 
  6. Single-minded (adjective): having a single 

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Poetic Devices & Rhyme Scheme - Keeping Quiet | Flamingo | Class 12 Literature | CBSE English

Poetic Devices  

The poem "Keeping Quiet" by Pablo Neruda uses several poetic devices to convey its themes and messages. Here are some of the main ones: 

  • Imagery: The poem is full of vivid imagery that helps create a sensory experience for the reader. For example, the line "Fishermen in the cold sea / would not harm whales" creates a mental image of a peaceful, harmonious world. 
  • Metaphor: The poem uses metaphor to represent complex ideas in a simple way. For example, the line "Perhaps a huge silence / might interrupt this sadness" uses silence as a metaphor for introspection and self-awareness. 
  • Repetition: The poem repeats the phrase 

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Keeping Quiet - Questions and Answers | Flamingo | Class 12 Literature | CBSE English

  • 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.
    1. What does 'count to twelve' imply?
    2. What advantage does the poet see in keeping quiet?
    3. How would humanity benefit if people did not speak in any language?
    4. Why does the poet ask men to stop all movement?
    5. Why does the poet want men on Earth to keep quiet?

    1. The poet attempts to encourage introspection and meditation by initiating a moment of silence and calmness, allowing everyone to focus and reflect on their thoughts. The reference to "count to twelve" is symbolic of a year, 12 hours on a clock, and provides sufficient time to capture the attention of the audience.
    2. The poet anticipates that when people around the world are quiet, a positive atmosphere will emerge, fostering a sense of brotherhood and providing an opportunity for self-reflection on our mistakes.
    3. The poet believes that language can lead to discrimination, as people can be overly proud of their own language. By not speaking for a moment, these differences may fade away, promoting unity.
    4. The poet suggests ceasing all movement to provide mankind with an opportunity to contemplate and evaluate the damage caused by its continuous pursuit of progress. He wishes for all movement to be temporarily halted.
    5. The poet feels that a tranquil state of existence would encourage love and brotherhood. As an advocate for world peace, he believes that a moment of stillness would create an environment where people can reflect on their shortcomings and work towards improving themselves, ultimately contributing to a better world.

  • It would be an exotic moment without rush, without engines,
    we would all be together in a sudden strangeness.
    1. What would be an 'exotic moment' for the poet?
    2. Explain: 'Without rush, without engines.
    3. How, according to the poet, can men be brought together?
    4. Explain: 'sudden strangeness'.
    5. How can man experience this 'exotic moment'?

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  • Fishermen in the cold sea 'Would not harm whales and 
    the man gathering salt would look at his hurt hands.
    1. What would happen in this moment of silence?
    2. What are 'Fishermen' symbolic of?
    3. What would happen when fishermen do not harm whales?
    4. What message does the poet convey in these lines?
    5. What image does the poet create in the last lines?

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  • 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.
    1. Whom does 'Those' refer to here '?
    2. Explain: 'green wars, wars with gas, wars with fire'.
    3. What does the poet mean by 'victory with no survivors'?
    4. What would happen when men 'put on clean clothes'?
    5. What lesson will man learn when he just walks about with his brothers doing nothing?

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  • What I want should not be confused
     with total inactivity. 
    Life is what it is about; 
    I want no truck with death.
    1. What does the poet want?
    2. What does 'total inactivity' imply?
    3. Why does the poet say that he does not want his 'wish' to be confused with 'total inactivity'?
    4. What is life 'all about'?
    5. Explain: "I want no truck with death",

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  • 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.
    1. Who does 'we' refer to here?
    2. What is man 'single-minded' about?
    3. Explain: 'keeping our lives moving'.
    4. How would man benefit if he did nothing and kept quiet?
    5. What is the sadness of never understanding ourselves?
    6. How has man threatened himself with death?

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  • 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.
    1. What can Earth teach us?
    2. What does 'everything seems dead' imply?
    3. How will it later 'prove to be alive'?
    4. Why does the speaker count upto twelve?
    5. Explain: 'you keep quiet and I will go'.

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  • Why does Neruda ask humanity to keep quite?

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  • What are some of the things that would follow if Neruda's command were obeyed?

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  • What kind of wars does the poet refer to in the poem?

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  • What does the poet mean when he says that a chemical war will result in a 'victory with no survivors'?

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Back Questions - Keeping Quiet | Flamingo | Class 12 Literature | CBSE English

  • What will counting upto twelve and keeping still help us achieve?

    Counting up to twelve and keeping still in the poem symbolizes taking a momentary pause from the constant rush and noise of life. By doing this, it helps us achieve a sense of introspection, mutual understanding, and connection with others and our surroundings. This brief moment of stillness allows us to reflect on our actions, foster empathy, and potentially reconsider harmful behaviors. It also serves as a reminder of the beauty and lessons that can be found in the natural world when we take the time to observe and learn from it.

  • Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death?

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  • What is the ‘sadness’ that the poet refers to in the poem?

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

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Keeping Quiet - Line by line explanation in Hindi | Flamingo | Class 12 Literature | CBSE English

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Quiz - Keeping Quiet | Flamingo | Class 12 Literature | CBSE English

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