Keeping Quiet- Notes

 Keeping Quiet’- Notes

Poetic Devices

Pun: ‘Arms’ is an instance of pun. In puns, duplicity of sense is created because of the unity of sound. Arm here stands for a body part as well as weaponry.

Anaphora- Repetition of a word/phrase at the beginning of successive clauses. (Let’s…/ Let’s)
Personification –“The Earth can teach us”. Earth is given the human attribute of teaching.

Alliteration: we will”, “we would”, “once on”, “we would”, “his hurt hands” clean clothes”, “Sudden Strangeness”

Antithesis – (juxtaposition of opposing or contrasting ideas.) “count to twelve and we will all keep still”, ‘When everything seems dead and later proves to be alive”
Repetition – “without rush, without engines”
Imagery – “Cold Sea”, “Hurt hands”, “walk about with their brothers in the shade”

Enjambment: (continuation of a sentence to the next line/stanza)
Symbolism: Symbolism is abundant in Keeping Quiet.

Fisherman and whale -oppressor and oppressed.

Salt gatherer – humanity/oppressor and oppressed

Clean clothes – peace / change of perspective

Brothers - mankind

Green wars -deforestation

Wars with gas - pollution

Shade – protection

Rhyme Scheme: Just like most of Pablo Neruda’s poems, even Keeping Quiet has no rhyme scheme. The poem has been written in free verse.

1. Which is the exotic moment that the poet refers to in ‘Keeping Quiet’? (Delhi 2014)
Answer. The poet refers to the moment of stillness and quietness as an exotic moment. It would be an exotic moment, as such a tranquility will initiate peace and brotherhood. There would be no movement, no talk, no activity and consequently, no violence.

2. What is the sadness that the poet refers to in the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’? (2014, 2011)
Answer. The poet refers to the sadness which surrounds man due to not having any time for himself, the pain of not understanding what he or his fellow human beings want. He has no time for introspection; as a result, he is unable to analyse his own actions and understand its consequences.

3. Which images in the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’ show that the poet condemns violence? (Compartment 2014)
Answer. The images of fishermen not harming the whales in the sea, and wars with no survivors show that the poet condemns violence. The poet wants the warmongers to change their blood-stained clothes to clean ones. The poet’s refusal to have any association or dealing with death also shows that he is not in favour of any form of violence.

4. What symbol from nature does the poet use to prove that keeping quiet is not total inactivity? (Foreign2014, 2010)
Answer. The poet uses nature as a symbol to explain his idea that there can be life under apparent stillness. According to him, keeping quiet is not total inactivity. A seed may appear to be dead and inactive, but one day, the same seed may turn into a fruitful tree. The Earth is never in a state of total inactivity. Nature carries on its work even where there is stillness all around.

5. How, according to Neruda, can keeping quiet change our attitude to life? (Compartment 2014)

OR                    How can suspension of activities help? (All India 2012, 2009)
Answer. Keeping quiet and suspending all our activities for a brief moment will give us time to introspect and analyse our own actions. We will develop a new understanding of our surroundings and thus change our attitude to life. We will check our destructive ways and try to be more positive and constructive.

6.What are the different kinds of wars mentioned in the poem? What is Neruda’s attitude towards these wars? (Delhi 2013)
Answer. The poet has written about wars against humanity and nature. Green wars, wars with poisonous gases and wars with fire are the different kinds of wars mentioned in the poem. Wars do good to no one. Pablo Neruda feels that such wars may bring victory, but there are no survivors. It means that there is heavy loss on both sides.

7. Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death? (Delhi 2011)
Answer. No, the poet clearly states that his asking for stillness should not be confused with total inactivity or death. He perceives life to be a continuous process, where man’s activities should not lead to destruction of fellow human beings or nature, but should be channelized in a resourceful way.