Summary of Keeping Quiet
Keeping Quiet summary discusses peace, humanity, and brotherhood. This poem is by the author Pablo Neruda. The poem is explosive as well as quiet at the same time. Neruda speaks of a world of wisdom in a calm fashion. Neruda believes that staunch activism is not the best way to get into the heart and minds of the masses. Consequently, the author speaks with much serenity. Furthermore, this serenity creates an aftermath of thought ripples in the minds of the reader. The poet wants the readers to take time out of their busy lives for retrospection and introspection. The poem is symbolic of stopping all activities and understanding the purpose of the world. Keeping Quiet appeals to the heart of the readers in contrast to the intellect. Through this poem, Neruda aims to get his readers thinking and pondering as opposed to intellectual stimulation.
Keeping Quiet Summary in English
This poem emphasizes the importance of self-introspection and silence. Furthermore, these two can transform the life of an individual. Moreover, they can also transform the face of the earth. The poet says that self-introspection and silence do not take much time to look within. Any individual can do it and examine oneself. This is easy and takes only as long as it will take someone to count to twelve. During this time of introspection (self-examination), it is important for the individual to keep quiet. The individual must say nothing at all. Without silence and keeping quiet, self-introspection will not work. Silently introspecting will give the individual a strange feeling of unity and togetherness with all others.
In the beginning, it will certainly feel a little strange. However, eventually, it has the power to bring us all together. This silence will be free from the annoying sounds of engines. Furthermore, this silence will also be free from the people rushing to get their work done. The author feels contentment while imagining the change that will take place in those moments. The men who have to deal with the pain while collecting salt will get a little relief. Even the people who desire war and destruction will put on clean clothes and an opportunity to walk among their brothers. They will get to experience a life that is free of enmity and hatred. There will be a halt to their destructive and dangerous activities. Peace and tranquillity will prevail everywhere once such harmful activities come to a stop, even if it is for a short time.
The poet clarifies that his wish should not mean “total inactivity”. The poet only desires to interrupt the violent, cruel, and sad activities taking place all over the world for a few moments and let individuals introspect their actions. In fact, there is a connection to what he says with life rather than death. Activity is the very essence of life whereas inactivity is symbolic of death. However, for a new, improved, and useful activity, a little stillness is quite important.
The poet makes use of the image of the earth to explain how life exists in things that seem dormant. In winter, the earth becomes very silent and it seems to be dead. The Earth becomes lively again in spring. Furthermore, in spring, the addition of fresh new beauties and colours takes place. In a similar fashion, man can resume his activities in a better manner after a little silence and quietness.
Conclusion of Keeping Quiet
Keeping Quiet summary tells us about the big impact of silence and self-introspection in making this world a better place.
FAQs
The poet says that self-introspection and silence do not take much time to look within. Any individual can do it and examine oneself. This is easy and takes only as long as it will take someone to count to twelve. During this time of introspection (self-examination), it is important for the individual to keep quiet.
What is the summary of a thing of beauty Class 12 flamingo? ›
A Thing of Beauty summary tells us the value of beautiful things that are all around us and that one must cherish them. They provide us timeless joy and leave an unforgettable imprint on our minds, therefore every beautiful thing is worth preserving.
What does the poem Keeping quiet teach us answer? ›
In conclusion, Keeping Quiet is a poem that teaches us about the importance of silence, reflection, peace, and brotherhood. It encourages us to take a break from the noise and distractions of our daily lives and to embrace stillness, so that we can gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and our place in the world.
What is the central idea of the poem keeping quiet answer the following question in about 75 words? ›
The central idea of the poem is the realization of importance of silence in our lives. It is an anti-war poem that asks humanity to stop violence and harming other humans or animals, and this could be achieved through self-introspection.
What is the summary of keeping quiet in simple words? ›
Pablo Neruda's poem "Keeping Quiet" highlights the importance of sustaining peace and silence. He emphasizes being peaceful and non-harmful to humans, animals, and the environment. He claims that to sustain peace and harmony, we must take time to pause and reflect.
What are the main points of the poem keeping quiet? ›
The poem “Keeping Quiet” written by Pablo Neruda discusses the need of maintaining peace and silence. He stresses upon being quiet and harmless to the human beings, animals and environment. He suggests that in order to maintain peace and harmony, it is required to stop and introspect ourselves.
What did Roger's mother decide finally? ›
Roger was a skunk and so he must smell like one. She did not care for the fact that all the other animals kept away from him because he smelled badly. She decided to take him back to that 'awful' wizard so that he could get back his old smell.
Should wizard hit mommy? ›
Should Wizard Hit Mommy Class 12 summary suggests how the mommy skunk reacted to the rosy smell. For her, the skunk smell was normal and she found her son smelled horrible. Her mother becomes infuriated that Roger chose to smell like roses and became disgusting. He even paid the wizard.
What will never pass into nothingness? ›
The poet says the beauty of certain things stays forever. "Never pass into nothingness" means that this beauty never goes off with the passing time, rather it beautifies more and more. The poet says beauty is a source of endless joy.
What is the significance of 12 in keeping quiet? ›
Answer: Number 12 has a great significance as the clock has 12 hours and round o clock we're busy in some activities,thus poet want us to keep quiet for a while not for very long time but a few minutes.
The poet asks to keep still to hear the voice of conscience.
The poet is persuaded that hurry and rush is responsible for most human problems and miseries and wants people to refrain from undesirable acts and to sit still for a moment.
What is the importance of the dramatic count to 12 in keeping quiet? ›
The poet links silence with hope for a moment of togetherness. The repetition of the poet's request to count to twelve in the first and last stanzas creates a personal space of silence in the poem. The poet seeks the moment of silence as a moment to introspect and mediate,to share a feeling of oneness.
What is the significance of the title keeping quiet answer in 120 150 words? ›
The title 'Keeping Quiet' has a message in itself of what can happen as a result of keeping quiet. It stresses the importance of introspection, solitude and of stopping our work or any activity for some time. The title throws light on the power of quietness in resolving our personal issues.
What is the conclusion of the poem keeping quiet? ›
In the last two lines the poet leaves us and urges us to keep quiet for a while so that we can introspect our mistakes and wrong doings for bringing peace to the earth. The poet uses the symbol of the earth to illustrate the point that there can be life under apparent stillness.
What will counting up to 12 and keeping still help us achieve? ›
According to the poet, taking a break from our monotonous routine by 'counting up to twelve' and 'keeping still' will help us understand ourselves and those around us better. The quietness will aid our understanding of the significance of peace and tranquility in this age of futile activities.
What according to Pablo Neruda in the poem Keeping quiet is the lesson that we should learn from Mother Earth? ›
The correct answer is -In the poem 'Keeping Quiet', Pablo Neruda suggests that the lesson we should learn from mother earth is the importance of stillness and contemplation. He encourages the readers to take a moment to stop all activities and remain silent, listening to their own breath and the world around them.
What is the summary of the thing of beauty? ›
These give us hope even amongst the sorrow we experience in our lives on earth. In a nutshell, A Thing of Beauty summary is all about the values of the beautiful things that surround us. We very often fail to admire them but, as the poet emphasizes, we must cherish them as “an endless fountain of immortal drink”.
What does without rush without engines mean? ›
Answer: The 'exotic moment' referred to in these lines is that moment when everyone keeps quiet and there is no movement. 2. That moment would be strange because there will be no rush or engines and it will bring the whole of humanity together for the first time.
What lesson can the earth teach us? ›
Answer: Earth can teach a lesson to mankind on the preservation and resurrection of life and how new life is believed to rise from the ashes of the dead remains. The Earth never attains total inactivity.
