About
the Poet :
Pablo
Neruda (1904-1973) is the pen name of Neftali Ricardo Reyes Basoalto who was
born in the town of Parral in Chile. Neruda’s poems are full of easily
understood images which make them no less beautiful. He won the Nobel Prize for
Literature in the year 1971. Among his noticeable works some are A Song of
Despair, Book of Twilights & Ardent Patience.
Theme
of Keeping Quiet :
The poet urges from the reader to know
the need of quiet introspection and creating a feeling of universal
brotherhood. The poem is an anti-war poem discussing the disastrous effects
caused by war, the role of human being from the lowest strata (laborers) to the
highest level (i.e. politicians, army and power hungry people). For all the
humans of the world the post has suggested a unanimous concept to remain
silent, still, counting one to twelve & introspect ourselves so as to
ensure a better future for us all. He urges from man to establish a balance
between his progress and the conservation of natural resources for the
forthcoming generations or the other animal species of this earth.
Leaving behind all individual
differences of cast, creed, race, complexion, language and nationality the poet
wishes from man to introspect upon our past events and plan his future
activities for the establishment peace, unity and universal brotherhood. It has
been urged of the war mongers, politicians, army and the persons seeking power
to stop the war and divert their energy for the betterment of man, else the
resultant effect of war would lead to victory but without anyone to celebrate.
The poet pleads that we should stop all our activities even for a moment and
unanimously observe the concept of silent introspection. He made his intention
clear that “doing nothing” doesn’t mean total inactivity but not at the cost of
our own future. Man has destroyed the natural resources upto an alarming level
and even ceased the share of other animal species, which is leading him to his
own death.
In the concluding lines the poet makes his concept of silent introspection through the image of the Earth, which has latent seeds in its soil for the whole winter but just the arrival of spring season life will grow, new roots and shoots grow. He has tried to made his intention clear that quiet introspection does not mean total inactivity but analyzing the past events so as to create a better world for tomorrow.
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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. |
At the very onset the
poet urges from all to be still and count from one to twelve. The symbol of
‘Twelve’ has been brought to represent 12 divisions of a clock or 12 zodiac
signs or the 12 months of a year. The poet urges from man to leave aside the
barriers of language, caste, creed and nationality and work for the universal
concept of peace on the whole Earth. ‘Language’ is the symbol to represent a
country or a race. His earnest desire is the universal peace, harmony and
brotherhood which is quite apparent from the word “Earth” It is the solemn
prayer from the whole humanity to not to wedge war against each other. Alliteration – “We will” in line 1,2 Pun – “Arms” indicating 2 meaning ‘hands’ & ‘weapons’ |
It would be an
exotic moment without rush,
without engines, we would all be
together in a sudden
strangeness.
|
The poet tries to
clarify that the moment of quiet introspection will be a unique moment. He
also urges from man to stop their rush and the industry as well. In that
moment poet visualize the universal peace and the sense of brotherhood. Alliteration = “Sudden strangeness” Repetition = “without rush, without engines” |
Fishermen in the cold sea would not harm
whales and the man
gathering salt would look at his
hurt hands. |
In the strange moment
of silent introspection we would be able to look at our past activities.
Fishermen is used here as a symbol to represent all hunters who destroy the
natural resources just for their meager profit. Poet pleads them to stop this
devastating activity. Whale is the
representative of all the animal species present on the Earth. The lowest
strata of society poor labourers represented by “man gathering salt”
who are always ready to work in the direst conditions, are also been urged to
look for their own health issues. Alliteration = “his
hurt hands” |
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. |
The poet talks about
the end product of war through the paradox of “Victory with no survivors”.
The word “Those” represents here the warmongers, politicians, power
hungry people, scientists and army who are intentionally wedging war leading
to the devastation of human society. The appeal of the poet
is the follow the path of peace, purity and serenity represented by clean
clothes leaving behind all barriers of cast, creed, race, nationality or
language. The path of universal brotherhood is suggested by the poet. He
appeals each and every to follow the path of “doing nothing”. Paradox = “victory
with no survivors” Repetition = “wars
with gas, wars with fire” |
What I want
should not be confused with total
inactivity. Life is what it
is about; I want no truck
with death. 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. |
The poet explains the
concept of “doing nothing” and express that it does not mean total
inactivity. The poet presents the idea of sustainable development through ‘Life
is what it is about’ which is devoid of war and death. The reason behind
the phenomenon of war is single mindedness of man i.e. his working day and
night just for his own progress, extorting all the natural resources just for
his cause. Man shares the earth with millions of animal species, which have
their own importance in the maintenance of the earth. Man has never
understood himself and the nature as well, making unrestricted use of the
natural resources for his comfort only. This is an open invitation to the “death”
of whole human race with the extinction of natural resources. Alliteration = “we
were” |
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. |
In the concluding
stanza the poet personifies Earth as a teacher to preach us a lesson of quiet
introspection with an example of seeds, which lay hidden and latent in soil
for the whole winter but germinate with the arrival of spring season. The
poet sets an example with himself to follow this simple method of quiet
introspection and stillness Personification = “Earth” |
Questions from
previous years’ CBSE Paper of AISSCE :
Q. 1 ‘Life
is what it is all about;….’ How is keeping quiet related to life ? CBSE AI 2015-1
(3M)
–
people pursue their goals single-mindedly on keeping their lives moving
–
would be better if they give themselves some time for rest
–
keep quiet – will help when they are sad / don‟t
understand themselves / threaten themselves with death
–
silence is productive and stillness is progress
–
how earth seems still but nurtures life under apparent stillness
(any
2)
Q. 2 Why
does one feel ‘a sudden strangeness’ on counting to twelve and keeping quiet ?
CBSE AI 2015-2 (3M)
–
counting upto twelve and introspection will build a sudden and strange feeling
of universal brotherhood / enjoy a unique moment / exotic moment / unusual /
everything has come to a standstill / no talk / no activity
Q. 3 How will ‘keeping quiet’ protect our environment ? CBSE AI 2015-3
(3M)
–
in a moment of inactivity fishermen will not harm the whales / man will not
indiscriminately exploit nature for his vested interests and harm himself (man
gathering salt will look at his own hands) / e.g. no green wars, no wars with
gases
Q. 4 Read the extract given below and answer the questions that
follow : CBSE AI 2016 (4 M)
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.
a)
What is the significance of the number
‘twelve’
b)
Which two activities does the poet
want us to stop?
c)
What does the poet mean by ‘let’s not
speak in any language ‘?
d)
Describe the pun on the word, ‘arms’
Value
Points in M.S.:
a) |
-
the twelve divisions in the clock / measure of time -
twelve months in the year -
at twelve o’clock the hands in the clock unite suggesting amity and unity -
twelve zodiac signs covers all people. (any
one) |
b) |
-
not to speak in any language and not to move our arms so much. |
c) |
-
Pleads to be silent and
introspect -
Sudden silence an opportunity
to introspect -
Different language symbolize differences -
Silence would break barriers
between communities -
Silence symbolic of amity and
brotherhood (any
one) |
d) |
-
Arms refer to weapons and the
arms in the human body |
Q. 5 How would keeping quiet affect life in and around the sea ? CBSE
AI 2017–1 (3 M)
-whales
/sea life wouldn’t be harmed
-helpful
in maintaining ecological balance
-person
gathering salt would look at his hurt hands- gives everyone time for introspection
(any
two)
Q. 6 How is the Earth a source of life when all seems dead on it ? (Keeping
Quiet) CBSE AI 2017-2 (3 M)
-
the seeds lie dormant through Winter
-
spring to life with the advent of Spring
-
celebrating life
Q. 7 How is total inactivity on the Earth in the winter months full of
life ? (Keeping Quiet) CBSE AI 2017-3 (3M)
-
the seeds lie dormant through Winter
-
spring to life with the advent of Spring
-
celebrating life
Q. 8 Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow
: 1x4=4M CBSE AI 2019 1-2-1
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.
(a) Name the poem and its poet.
1
(b) What does the Earth teach
us ? 1
(c) What does the poet want to
achieve by counting up to twelve ?1
(d) Give an
example of what now seems to be dead
but
later on becomes alive. 1
Value
Points suggested in CBSE Marking Scheme :
a) |
Keeping
quiet; Pablo Neruda (½ + ½) |
b) |
There
is always life under apparent stillness / stillness doesn’t mean inactivity /
seems dead but later proves to be alive |
c)
|
To
stop for a while and reflect / understand ourselves / to introspect |
d) |
Seed
that is there inside the earth seems to be dead but later in the month of
spring germinates as a new life / nature is eternal, it creates, reproduces,
dies and regenerates. |
Q. 9 Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow
: 1X4=4M CBSE AI 2019 1-3-1, 1-5-1
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.
(a) Whom does the word ‘those’ refer to ? 1
(b) What does the poet mean by : ‘put on clean clothes’ ? 1
(c) Describe the irony in the third line. 1
(d) When can a person walk about with ‘their’ brothers ? 1
Value
Points suggested in CBSE Marking Scheme :
a) |
-
Warmongers / power hungry
people / politicians / scientists / army |
b) |
-
Change of attitude from war to
peace / clean soul / change from negative to positive / getting away from
malicious feelings like hatred, jealously etc. / clothes unsoiled by blood |
c) |
-
Victory but no survivors to
enjoy it / futility of war / although victorious, no one left to celebrate. |
d) |
-
When there is harmony /
brotherhood / mutual understanding / when he introspects and realizes his
folly (mistake) |
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