Q1. Why does Pablo Neruda urge us to keep still?

Ans: Stillness is essential for calm reflection and quiet introspection. We hear the voice of
conscience in moments of silence. The poet is convinced that most of human ills and
miseries are caused by man’s hurry and rush to do things. The poet wishes that we may
withdraw ourselves from our undesirable actions and keep still for a moment.
Q2. Why shouldn’t we “speak in any language” and “not move our arms so much”?
Ans: People of the world speak in different languages. They indulge in unnecessary debates
and disputes. Most of these arguments lead to destructive wars. The poet urges people to
stop speaking in any language. They must speak through their hearts. So far men have
moved their arms only to harm others. Therefore, the poet wants that they should not
move their arms so much. Let these arms rest for once. Let a feeling of mutual
understanding , be created among human beings.
Q3. Pablo Neruda says:“we would all be together in a sudden strangeness.”
When can we experience such a moment? Why will that be an exotic moment?
Ans: Non-stop activity, unnecessary rush and noise have made our lives unpleasant and full
of misery, pain and troubles. We must stop rushing, hurrying, worrying and running. Even
the noise of engines and machines must stop for once. Then all of us will enjoy the sudden
strangeness of that moment. It will be a unique moment. In that exotic or fascinating
moment we shall feel totally relaxed, physically as well as mentally.
Q4. What does the poet ask the fisherman and the man collecting salt to dot What docs In-
exactly want to convey by this?
Ans: Pablo Neruda is against any kind of violence. He addresses the fishermen and asks
them not to harm whales living in the cold seas of the polar regions. He is also against any
kind of self torturing. The man who is gathering salt has hint his hands. He asks this man to
look after himself and take care of his injured hands.
Q5. What are the different kinds of war mentioned towards war?
Ans: The poet is against wars of all kinds. He wants a total stoppage of war. Green wars
against the environment, wars with poisonous gases and wars with fire must be terminated
(stopped) at once.
Q6. What alternative does Pablo Neruda suggest instead of indulging in wars?
Ans: Instead of indulging in wars, the people must come out in their best dresses with then-
brothers. They should go out for a walk under the shady trees and enjoy themselves doing
nothing. This would bring the feeling of togetherness among them.
Q7. How does the poet distinguish ‘stillness’ from ‘total inactivity’? Why does Neruda saw I
want no truck with death?
Ans: Pablo Neruda is in favour of stillness or silence. We remain still and quiet for
sometime. On the other hand, total inactivity is a permanent suspension of work. It is just
like death. ‘Stillness’ should not be Confused with ‘total inactivity’. Life goes on as usual.
There can’t be anything like total inactivity. The poet refuses to associate with death or deal
with it.
Q8. Why does the poet fee! that we should not be so single-minded’?
Ans: People are generally single-minded. They want to focus on only one thing. They want
to keep their lives going. They are ever busy in their pursuit. The poet wishes that they
would not be so much absorbed with always remaining on the move. They must have some
respite or rest. They too need peace or silence.
Q9.Why do men become sad? How can this sadness be overcome?
Ans: Men fail to understand themselves. They are always threatening themselves with
death. When they realise their failure to understand themselves they become sad or
helpless. Fear of death also makes them sad. Only a huge silence’ can interrupt this sadness.
Such silence will do them good.
Q10. How might a huge silence interrupt the sadness of men?
Ans: Men never understand themselves. Nor are they ever sure of their actions. They face
another tragedy. Due to their own actions, they are threatening themselves with death. This
realisation makes them helpless and sad. Only a huge (long) silence might interrupt this
sadness and do them some good.
Q11. Under the apparent stillness there is life. Justify this statement giving an example from
the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’.
Ans: Neruda does not equate stillness with total inactivity. He believes that under this
apparent stillness there is life. We can learn it from the earth. When everything seems dead,
the earth still remains alive. The earth is never dead. The life on the earth goes on as usual
under the apparent stillness.
Q12. Justify the title ‘Keeping Quiet’.
Ans: The title of the poem is quite appropriate and logical. It suggests the necessity of quiet
introspection. The people of the world are overactive and always on the move. Their
activities have caused untold troubles and sufferings. Keeping quiet will do them a lot of
good. It will save them from many harmful and violent activities. Moreover, it will help in
reflecting over the fate of man and help in creating a feeling of mutual understanding
among human beings.
Q13. Which is the exotic moment that the poet refers to in ‘Keeping Quiet’:
Ans: The poet talks about the exotic moment when everyone keeps quiet. There will be no
rush for a second. The machines must stop for a moment. That moment will be fascinating
for all of us. All of us shall enjoy the sudden strangeness of the moment together.
Q14. What will counting up to twelve and keeping still help us achieve?
Ans: Counting up to twelve takes very short time. Keeping still for this brief interval of time
gives us a momentary pause to introspect and review the course of action. It is generally
observed that most of the ills and troubles of the world are caused by our rush or hurry.
Violence is caused by anger. Keeping quiet and still will give us necessary respite and
ensure peace.
Q15. Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death?
Ans: No, he doesn’t advocate either total inactivity or death. He makes it quite clear that
‘stillness’ should not be confused with “total inactivity or equated to it. Total inactivity
brings death. But Neruda has ‘no truck with death’. His stillness means halting of harmful
and hostile human activities.
Q16. What is the ‘sadness’ that the poet refers to in the poem?
Ans: Man’s sadness is formed out of his own actions and thoughts. It is quite ironical that
man who understands so much fails to understand himself and his action. Rash actions
prove harmful and disastruous. Man is the creator of all disasters. He is always threatening
himself with death because of his thoughts and actions. This is the tragedy of his life.
Q17. What symbol from Nature does the poet invoke to say that there can be life under
apparent stillness?
Ans: The poet wants to prove that there can be life under apparent stillness. The poet
invokes the earth as a living symbol to prove his point. The earth never attains total
inactivity. Nature remains at work all the time even under apparent stillness. It keeps earth
alive. This idea is beautifully illustrated by the following lines:“as when everything seems
dead and later proves to he alive.”

Q. What are the poetic devices used in the poem Keeping Quiet?
Ans: Following literary devices/figures of speech have been used in the poem Keeping
Quiet:

1. Alliteration: It is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words. e.g.

“we will count”, “sudden strangeness”, “stop for one second”, “his hurt hands”, “clean
clothes”.
2. Repetition: It is the repetition of phrases in the poem for poetic effect. e.g. “without
rush, without engines“.
3. Symbolism: The poet uses various symbols in the poem. e.g. “Brothers” symbolise
mankind, “green wars” refer to deforestation, “wars with gas” refers to pollution,
“clean clothes” symbolise change of perspective, “shade” symbolises protection etc.
4. Antithesis: It is the juxtaposition of opposing or contrasting ideas. e.g. “count to
twelve and we will all keep still”. Here counting and keeping still are contrasting
activities and are put together.
5. Personification: it is the attribution of human characteristics to non-human things
and animals. e.g. “Earth can teach us as when everything“.
6. Metaphor: It is used to make a comparison between two things that aren’t alike but
do have something in common. e.g. “shade” refers to protection.
7. Enjambment: It is the continuation of a sentence to the next line/stanza. In the
poem, many sentences continue to multiple lines. e.g. “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.” etc.