Keeping Quiet - Flamingo - Class 12 - 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.

"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. 

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 

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 

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 

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