12 English - Keeping Quiet - Notes

KEEPING QUIET
- By Pablo Neruda (1904-1973)
THEME: Necessity of quiet introspection and creating a feeling of mutual understanding among
humans. Emphasis on meditation.
Main Points
 The poet requests readers to keep quiet till he counts up to twelve

 He requests us not to use any language and move our arms so much for a while as it will
become a hurdle in keeping quiet.
 When there is no rush; no movement and noise of engines, the threat of sudden strangeness
will tie all of us together into an exotic moment.
 This will bring about relief to the fishermen in cold sea and the salt gatherer also will be able to
look after their injured bleeding hands.
 A good sense will also prevail on the war-mongers as they will understand the futility of the
wars.
 When environment is in jeopardy; human-existence is threatened on the earth, the survivor of
the war will face fatal consequences.
 Such war-mongers are also exhorted to put on clean clothes and walk about with their
brothers. The poet urges us not to mistake inactivity advocated by him for death.
 He clarifies that single-minded indulgence in the rat-race of self-centered goals leading to
materialism is unwarranted.
 Keeping quiet and discharging our duties peacefully will evolve better understanding in us. The
achievement of mental peace will lead us to introspection and mutual understanding. The
absence of these two traits amounts to various conflicts in the world.
 With the development of mutual understanding comes empathy and then our life becomes a
pleasant experience.
 The poet says like the earth the potentials may not be exhibited all the time. Finally, he declares
his departure while persuading us to keep quiet.
Poetic Devices
i. Irony- Green wars; wars with gas, wars with fire; victory with no survivors
ii. Repetition -Let’s not speak in any language/let’s stop for a second.
iii. Metaphor- Put on clean clothes ,In the shade
iv. Symbol -Count to twelve
v. Euphemism- No truck with death

Keeping Quiet Summary
Introduction
Pablo Neruda in this poem has emphasised the importance of introspection. Man has become
very selfish and his own actions cause him many miseries. The world today stands divided by the
man-made boundaries of caste, creed, race, religion, language, cultures, nationality and
geographical divisions. We need to rise above these 'shadow lines' and look at the larger picture.
The poet talks about the necessity of creating a feeling of mutual understanding among human
beings.
Interpretation of the Poem
"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."
Explanation: The poet urges each one of us to count up to twelve and then be quiet. He wants a
moment of silence on the Earth when no language is spoken. In this way there will be no
language barrier between people. No harsh words will be spoken. In this moment of silence the
poet doesn't want anyone to move their arms. He wants us to remain motionless.
"It would be an exotic moment

without rush, without engines,
we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness."
Explanation: The poet feels that such a moment of silence would be an unusual and exciting
one. It will have miraculous consequences. There will be no hurry or the sound of machines to
pollute the atmosphere. It will be a strange and unfamiliar moment with stillness all around. In
this unusual period, the bonds of humanity will get stronger.
"Fishermen in the cold sea

would not harm whales
and the man gathering salt
would look at his hurt hands."
Explanation: In this moment of inactivity, the fisherman would not be catching fish. Hence, the
whale in the cold water will be safe. This idea is suggestive of the thought that human beings
would not destroy nature. Also, the man who gathers salt will be able to tend to his wounded
hands for which he had no time earlier. Thus, both nature and humans will be able to recover
from their wounds.
"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."
Explanation: The poet now speaks of those who wage wars against humanity or environment,
wars of all kinds including the use of chemicals or poisonous gases, wars that bring death and
destruction, wars that leave none to celebrate victory. He says that such men should stop their
activity, shed their clothes stained with the blood of humanity, put on new clothes and walk with
their brothers, building brotherhood. The poet implies that the war-torn world should be replaced
by one with an atmosphere of peace, brotherhood and harmony.
"What I want should not be

confused
with total inactivity.
Life is what it is about;
I want no truck with death."
Explanation: The poet makes a clarification that though he is advocating the need for silence,
his advice should not be confused with total inactivity. He does not want any association with
death. He says that life is meant to be lived.
"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."
Explanation: The poet further advises that people should stop being self-centred and selfish. For
one moment they should not think of keeping their lives moving, meeting their ends and
fulfilling their duties. That huge silence, which will arise from such a moment, will only serve to
help the people. It will help them introspect and overcome their sadness of failing to understand
themselves.
People have been threatening themselves with death by their activities. This moment of silence
will give them time to understand themselves better.
Short Question and Answers:
Q.1:- What does count to twelve imply?

A.1:- The poet through this expression commences the session of introspection and meditation.
Q.2:- Explain 'without rush, engines'.
A.2:- The expression are symbol of the Hubbub of the modern life. In the modern competitive
world of advancement, there is a rat-race to outshine others. Life can be peaceful only if this
thoughtless advancement' can be stopped.
Q.3:- Explain 'sudden- strangeness'.

A.3:- The exotic moment of introspection will build a sudden and strange feeling of universal
brotherhood.
Q.4:- What is fisherman symbolic of?

A.4:- The fisherman symbolizes man's indiscriminate exploitation of nature for his vested
interests.
Q.5:- Whom does 'those' refer to here?

A.5:- Those' refers to the politicians, the statesmen and the scientists who are involved in
initiating and aggravating wars.
Q.6:- Explain 'green wars, wars with gas, wars with fire'.
A.6:- The expression refers to the chemical wars which man is waging against man and against
nature. Man's activities are polluting the nature and the chemical and nuclear weapons created by
him have brought mankind to its dead end.
Q.7:- What does the poet mean by 'victory with no survivors'?

A.7:- Man's activities are indeed heading him he is getting victorious but the war which a man is
waging will soon turn the 'living planet' into a dead one and the war may be the victory of man's
scientific knowledge but there would be no survivors to celebrate this victory.
Q.8:- What does 'total inactivity' imply?

A.8:- 'Total Inactivity' implies a phase of complete stagnation when no destructive activity is
taking place.
Q.9:- What is life 'all about'?

A.9:- 'Life is an ongoing process and thus is all about being up and doing'. Life cannot come to
standstill under any circumstances.
Q.10:- Explain "I want no truck with death".
A.10:- The poet does not believe inactivity. Life is 'on going process' and so he does not want to
associate it with death, or bring it to a dead end.
Q.11:- What is man single minded about?

A.11:- Man has targeted himself single mindedly towards scientific progress and advancement.
He has so focused himself that pays no heed to the pros and cons of reckless progress and moves
ahead without reflecting on the consequences.
Q.12:- What can Earth teach us?

A.12:- The Earth can teach us the lesson of preserving and resurrecting life. Earth teaches us how
new life emerges from ashes of the dead remains.
Q.13:- Explain 'You keep quiet and I will go'.

A.13:- The poet asks men to keep quiet and experience the ecstatic moment of silence which
create a rejuvenation of thoughts and a transition of mindset. He himself quietly departs leaving
the meditator in this exotic moment.

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KEEPING QUIET

- By Pablo Neruda (1904-1973)

 The poet requests readers to keep quiet till he counts up to twelve

iii. Metaphor- Put on clean clothes ,In the shade

iv. Symbol -Count to twelve

v. Euphemism- No truck with death

Interpretation of the Poem

"Now we will count to twelve

"It would be an exotic moment

"Fishermen in the cold sea

"Those who prepare green wars,

"What I want should not be

"If we were not so single-minded about

Q.1:- What does count to twelve imply?

Q.2:- Explain 'without rush, engines'.

Q.3:- Explain 'sudden- strangeness'.

Q.4:- What is fisherman symbolic of?

Q.5:- Whom does 'those' refer to here?

Q.7:- What does the poet mean by 'victory with no survivors'?

Q.8:- What does 'total inactivity' imply?

Q.9:- What is life 'all about'?

Q.11:- What is man single minded about?

Q.12:- What can Earth teach us?

Q.13:- Explain 'You keep quiet and I will go'.

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