Keeping Quiet
-Pablo Neruda
1. How will counting up to twelve and keeping still help us?
(or) What will count up to twelve and keeping still help us?
(or)Why does the poet Pablo Neruda 'wish to count to twelve'?
Ans:-
The poet feels that taking a break from our humdrum daily routine and
'counting up to twelve' and 'keeping still' will help us to have a
better understanding of ourselves and those around us. The quietness
will bring about favourable changes in the trouble-torn world and make
people appreciate the value of peace and tranquility in a situation in
which most troubles and ills are caused by our rush and hurry.
2. What is the "sadness" that the poet refers to in the poet?
Ans:-
The "sadness" that the poet refers to in the poem is man's failure to
understand himself and his rash and reckless actions responsible for
causing troubles and disasters. Man is paving the way for his own
downfall and ruin due to rush, hurry and lack of retrospection.
3. What symbol from Nature does the poet invoke to say that there can be life under apparent stillness?
Ans:-
The poet makes it clear that 'stillness' should not be considered
synonymous with 'total inactivity'. Life goes on under apparent
stillness. The poet invokes the earth as a living symbol and says that
the earth never attains total inactivity when everything seems to be
dead. During winter no growth takes place on the snow covered parts of
the earth. But when snow melts away, the seeds sprout and the grass
grows. Nature remains at work even under apparent stillness and the
earth remains alive.
4. What is the "exotic moment" the poet Pablo Neruda wishes for?
OR
According to Pablo Neruda, how would keeping quiet be an exotic moment? HS-2024
Ans:-
The "exotic moment" that the poet Pablo Neruda wishes for,is a rare
moment of peace and tranquility created by everybody's withdrawal from
noise and redundant movement. The noise of engines and machines will
cease and an extraordinary calmness will prevail everywhere on earth.
This is the moment when mankind will be free from rush, noise and
subversive actions.
5. Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death?
Ans:-
No, he doesn't. The poet makes it clear that 'stillness' should not be
misinterpreted as inactivity, idleness and death. Neruda's "stillness"
means abstinence from hostile and subversive human activities. This
cessation of noise and movement will make people realize a rare bliss of
living in peace and harmony.
6. According to the poet Pablo Neruda what important lesson can the Earth teach us?
(or) How is 'stillness' not equal to total inactivity? Why does Neruda say: 'I want no truck with death'?
Ans:-The
Earth can teach us an important lesson on the idea of stillness and
inactivity. When everything appears to be dormant and dead ,the Earth
continues to live. 'Stillness' should not be confused with inactivity or
death. Nature continues its mission unnoticed. Life and living never
stop on earth.
7."Those who prepare green wars
Wars with gas, wars with fire
Victory with no survivors..........
.......................doing nothing"
(i) What are the different kinds of wars mentioned by the poet in the passage?
(ii) What kind of victory do they achieve?
(iii) What should the warmongers do?
(iv) Find words from the passage which mean (a) those left alive, (b)wear &(c) Win
(v) Who are the brothers mentioned in the stanza?
Ans:-
(i) The different kinds of wars mentioned here are green wars, wars
with toxic gases and wars with fire. These are targeted at destroying
the biological resources, the flora and fauna of a particular area.
(ii) They achieve a meaningless victory as no one survives to celebrate it.
(iii)
The warmongers should put on clean clothes and give up thinking about
wars. They should come out with their brothers and spend some
pleasurable time lying quietly in the shade of trees.
(iv) (a) survivors (b) put on (c) victory
(v) The 'brothers' mentioned in the stanza are all the people on the earth bound together by a chain of universal brotherhood.
8. "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."
(i) What can the Earth teach us?
(ii) Why does the poet count up to twelve?
(iii) What will 'keeping quiet' help us achieve?
Ans:-
(i) The Earth can teach us that there is always life under apparent
stillness. Total inactivity should not be misinterpreted as death.
(ii)
The poet counts up to twelve because it represents the highest point on
the clock. He seems to suggest a day-long period of absolute stillness.
(iii)
'Keeping quiet' will help us experience the tremendous positive impact
of abstinence from all kinds of ills and troubles invited by our rush
and hurry. It will pacify our trouble-torn mind and purge it of its
negativity and hatred.
9."It would be an exotic moment
without rush, without engines,
We would all be together
In a sudden strangeness"
(i) Name the poem and poet.
(ii) What will happen if there is no rush or running of engines?
(iii) Why would it be an exotic moment?
(iv) How would all of us feel at that time?
(v) Find words from the stanza which mean----
(a) Enticing (b) machines (c) at once
Ans:- (i) 'Keeping Quiet' is the poem and Pablo Neruda is the poet.
(ii) If
there is no rush or running of engines, the Earth will be free from
environmental pollution and man made disasters. People will be able to
think clearly and reflect on the unnecessary troubles and evils brought
about by their reckless actions.
(iii) It would be an exotic moment
due to people's abstinence from rush, noise and harmful actions. Mutual
understanding, peace and tranquility would prevail, making it a rare
moment.
(iv) All of us would feel happy and enjoy the bliss of this beautiful moment.
(v) a. charming b. engines c. Sudden
10.'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."
(i) Why does the poet ask us to count to twelve?
(ii) How long does the poet want to stay still?
(iii) Why does he ask us to keep still and not use any language?
(iv) What does the poet mean by 'not move our arms so much'?
Ans:-
(i) The poet asks us to count to twelve because he desires us to
consecrate one full day to the grand cause of abstinence from noise, and
other man-made disasters.
(ii) The poet wants to stay still until everyone counts to twelve.
(iii) The
poet wants us to develop our power of introspection and reflection
which will help us judge the consequences of our reckless actions. This
is possible only in an ambiance of absolute peace and tranquility.
11. Why does the poet ask everyone to count up to twelve?
Ans:- The poet asks everyone to count up to twelve for self-introspection so that they can realize the importance of silence for universal peace and mutual understanding.
Syllabus of HS Second year English (Prose)
Syllabus of HS Second year English (Poetry)
Syllabus of HS Second year English (Supplementary Reader : Vistas)
2. The Enemy
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