Hint: The above lines have been taken from the poem “Keeping Quiet” written by Pablo Neruda. The main theme of the poem revolves around reflection on our actions in silence, peace with others and ourselves and promotion of brotherhood.
Complete answer:
Meanings:
Inactivity- idleness;lifelessness
Single-minded- concentrating only on one aim
Short Explanation of the given lines
The poet says that sitting and spending time in silence must not be compared with death/lifelessness. Being silent must not mean to stop living. He only wants the people to take some time off from the work and analyze their acts and the consequent results of their acts. He finds that everyone is in a rat race to keep their lives moving by accomplishing their personal goals.
If for once, they stop and do nothing then they will have time to understand their own selves. The silence will interrupt their sadness to relieve them from their day-to-day worries of survival and fears of death. The silence will allow them to take a moment to relax, introspect, understand and be happy.
Answer A) The poet wants all the humans to sit in silence for some time. He wants them to stop the wars and the activities that damage our environment. He wants people to resort to peace, kindness and humanity as a new approach to life. He wants people to introspect and reflect on the consequences of their actions. However, he does not want them to think that sitting in silence implies death. He only wants them to adopt a new way of living which is peaceful.
Answer B) By the phrase ‘I want no truck with death’,the poet means, he does not want lifelessness i.e. complete inactivity. Silence has to be only a brief moment of introspection.
Answer C) People pursue their personal goals single-mindedly. Such goals that keep up with their survival and keep them from death. As per the poet, the better course of action is to take a break, sit in silence and adopt a life of kindness.People should become kind towards each other and nature. The people must introspect and understand each other to make this world a peaceful living place.
Answer D) Huge silence can do us good by interrupting our sadness that arises due to our worries of survival and death. It can help us in understanding ourselves, healing our wounds and celebrating our achievements. In the silence we will be able to think beyond ourselves, think about others and the environment. It will help us to live in peace with everyone and nature instead of living in the fear of death.
Note: The poem was originally written in Spanish. Poet Pablo Neruda was a poet as well as a politician. He advocated feelings of social change through his works in literature. He was also a recipient of the Nobel prize in literature.
I am an avid reader and enthusiast of literature, particularly poetry, and I have delved deeply into the works of Pablo Neruda. My knowledge extends beyond mere familiarity; I've analyzed and interpreted Neruda's poems, including "Keeping Quiet," with a keen eye for nuances and underlying themes.
In the given lines, the poet encourages people to embrace moments of silence for introspection without equating it to inactivity or death. He urges individuals to temporarily step away from the relentless pursuit of personal goals and engage in self-reflection. Now, let's delve into the concepts presented in the provided information:
Meanings:
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Inactivity (idleness; lifelessness): The poet emphasizes that silence should not be associated with complete inactivity or lifelessness. It is a pause for reflection, not a cessation of life.
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Single-minded (concentrating only on one aim): People are depicted as pursuing their personal goals single-mindedly, focused on survival and personal achievements. The poet advocates for a shift towards a more considerate and peaceful way of life.
Short Explanation of the Given Lines: The poet suggests that silence is not equivalent to death or idleness but is, in fact, a necessary pause for introspection. He highlights the rat race of individuals striving to achieve personal goals and emphasizes the importance of taking a break to understand oneself and others.
Answer A: The poet desires a collective pause in human activity, urging people to abandon wars and environmentally damaging pursuits. He advocates for peace, kindness, and humanity as a new approach to life, encouraging introspection and reflection on the consequences of actions.
Answer B: The phrase 'I want no truck with death' signifies the poet's rejection of complete inactivity. Silence is intended as a brief moment of introspection, not a cessation of life.
Answer C: The poet observes that people are dedicated to pursuing personal goals relentlessly. He suggests that a better course of action is to take a break, embrace silence, and adopt a life of kindness, fostering understanding among individuals to create a more peaceful world.
Answer D: Huge silence, as proposed by the poet, can be beneficial by interrupting the sadness stemming from worries about survival and death. It facilitates self-understanding, healing, and celebrating achievements. Silence encourages thinking beyond oneself, fostering a sense of peace with others and the environment.
Additional Information:
- The poem was originally written in Spanish.
- Pablo Neruda, the poet, was not only a literary figure but also a politician advocating for social change through his works.
- Pablo Neruda was honored with the Nobel Prize in Literature, recognizing his significant contributions to the literary world.
