2. Keeping Quiet - Peotry - Class 12 - Flamingo

Author: Pablo Neruda

Textbook Name: Flamingo

Genre: Poem

Summary 

The poem Keeping Quiet by Pablo Neruda is a call for introspection and inner peace through silence and stillness. The poet urges all human beings to pause their frantic activities and be quiet for a moment, regardless of language, nationality, or occupation. This brief moment of silence would be “exotic” because it would allow humanity to break away from the constant rush and mechanical routines of life.

Neruda imagines a world where fishermen stop harming whales, salt-gatherers look at their injured hands, and those involved in wars step back to experience peace. The poet clarifies that he is not promoting total inactivity or death, but rather a moment of self-reflection and unity. He emphasizes the need for balance in life by disconnecting from constant movement and destruction. The silence can be healing—it might help humans understand themselves better and learn how to live more meaningfully.

Using the Earth as a metaphor, the poet points out that nature appears still during winters but renews itself with life in spring. In the same way, humans too can find growth through calmness. The poem ends with the poet counting to twelve and then quietly leaving—symbolizing a gentle invitation to thoughtful reflection.

Character Sketch

(Not Applicable – Reflective Poem)

Themes

✨ Literary Devices / Poetic Devices

Title Justification

The title Keeping Quiet is highly appropriate as it captures the core message of the poem: a momentary pause from all human activity and speech to reflect and introspect. Pablo Neruda is not promoting silence for its own sake but as a means to deeper understanding, peace, and harmony. The act of “keeping quiet” becomes symbolic of inner awareness, empathy, and collective responsibility. Through quietude, the poet believes we can understand ourselves better, avoid self-destruction, and reconnect with both humanity and nature. Hence, the title is both literal and metaphorical.

One-Mark Questions

1. What does the poet suggest we do for a moment on Earth?

   → He suggests that we all keep quiet and still, without speaking or moving, for a brief moment to reflect and connect as humans.

   
   

2. Why does the poet mention fishermen and salt-gatherers?

   → To show that even people doing everyday labor can pause and recognize the harm or suffering around them.

   
   

3. What kind of wars does the poet refer to as ‘green wars’?

   → He refers to environmental wars or conflicts that damage nature and life using gas or fire.

   
   

4. Does the poet support complete inactivity or death?

   → No, the poet clearly says he wants no association with death; he only promotes a temporary pause for awareness.

   
   

5. What can the Earth teach us, according to the poet?

   → The Earth teaches us that apparent stillness can be full of life, as seen in nature’s seasonal cycles.

   
   

Three-Mark Questions

1. Why does the poet emphasize stillness and silence?

   → Pablo Neruda believes that silence and stillness can bring peace, clarity, and unity among humans. He feels that by stopping our constant rush, we can reflect on our actions and connect with others meaningfully. Stillness also gives us a chance to understand the damage we cause—to ourselves and the Earth—and motivates us to change. The poet imagines a moment when the entire world pauses together, creating a powerful sense of collective harmony. It is through this silence that understanding and healing can begin.

   
   

2. How does the poem contrast violence with peace?

   → The poet presents a world filled with wars—using gas, fire, and machinery—where humans destroy each other and nature. In contrast, he dreams of a world where people wear clean clothes, walk peacefully in the shade, and do nothing to harm others. Fishermen stop killing whales, and salt-gatherers notice their own suffering. These images offer a vision of peace, showing how a moment of reflection can replace violence with empathy. The poet suggests that true victory lies in survival, peace, and understanding—not destruction.

   
   

3. What is the message of the poem for modern society?

   → The poem advises modern society to slow down, reflect, and practice mindfulness. People today are always in a rush—working, competing, and fighting without truly understanding themselves or others. Pablo Neruda suggests that by being still, we can see the value of life, stop causing harm, and reconnect with nature. The message is to prioritize humanity, introspection, and peace over noise, aggression, and endless movement. This simple pause can bring deep change in how we live.

Value-Based Question

Q: What moral lesson does the poem Keeping Quiet teach us about our role as individuals in society?

Answer:The poem teaches us that silence and reflection are powerful tools for personal and societal transformation. Each individual must take responsibility for their actions and recognize how constant activity can lead to harm—whether to nature, others, or oneself. By pausing to reflect, we become more compassionate, self-aware, and peaceful. The lesson is to value stillness as a means of healing, to foster harmony rather than conflict, and to live with empathy and mindfulness.

End

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