Keeping Quiet Extra Question Answer English

Keeping Quiet Extra Questions and Answers

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Extra Questions, Notes, Assignment and study material for Class 12th as Per CBSE Syllabus

Chapter- 3 English Language and Literature

Keeping Quiet Extra Question Answer English

                                                                                                                      By- Pablo Neruda

 About the Author – Pablo Neruda  Keeping Quiet

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Pablo Neruda (12 July 1904 – 23 September 1973) wrote in a variety of styles, including surrealist poems, logical epics, overtly political manifestos, a prose autobiography and passionate love poems such as the one’s obis collection 1Wenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair. Neruda won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971.

 Theme / Central Idea of the Lesson. Analysis of Keeping Quiet

Keeping Quiet Extra Question Answer English

The poet, Pablo Neruda, urges mankind to cease all activity for a little while. During these few moments of silence and inactivity, all human beings would be one, united, and in harmony with each other and nature. This togetherness and oneness is most desirable for the survival of the earth and of human beings. Neruda believes that the soul housed within the human body is capable of performing this feat if given a chance to shine out through introspection, for which absolute silence and stillness is essential.

Theme of the lesson- Keeping Quiet (2)

keeping Quiet is a simple poem about the need for a little bit of soul-searching which may help us to make peace with ourselves and others. It tells us how a moment of silent introspection will make us realize the utter of our aggressive endeavours.

Summary of the lesson- Keeping Quiet

Take a look at the following summary example to better understand the chapter Keeping Quiet crafted through careful summary writing.

In the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’, Pablo Neruda talks about the need for introspection and to create a feeling of mutual understanding, love and respect in the human world. He speaks about life where human beings are engrossed in their selfish motives and are living a life full of strife and destruction.

Keeping Quiet Extra Question Answer

The poet asks everyone in the world to keep still for twelve seconds to create a togetherness. He wants all the people on the earth, not to talk in any language but to maintain a silence to communicate with each other’s heart. He believes that this sudden moment of silence will be an exotic moment. There will be no noise and no movement. The fishermen in the sea will stop killing the whales and the men who gather salt will stop their work and look at their hurt hands. This kind of break will enable both nature and man to embalm their rounds. Due to this break, human beings will start looking and caring for themselves rather than their work. Moreover, those who are fighting with each other, will stop and walk about their fellow brethren.

Pablo Neruda clarifies that he does not want to advocate total inactivity or death. He is concerned that we all are running blindly in a rat race and, in this process, we have completely missed our true goal to keep a balance between man and nature. This is a dangerous situation and can bring catastrophic results. So our survival in this world depends upon our ability to understand and rectify this. This can be done only when we introspect and develop a feeling of understanding with each other.

Form of the lesson- Keeping Quiet

 Keeping Quiet is written in blank verse and has no rhyme scheme.




Moral/ Message of the lesson Keeping Quiet

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`Keeping Quiet’ leaves a message of universal brotherhood and peace. It urges people to stop all sorts of aggression, including that towards the environment. If we think of ourselves as the hands of the clock on the face of this earth, moving in our routine ways, won’t it be a good thing to stop at twelve and do some introspection?

Poetic Devices of the lesson- Keeping Quiet

 `Count to twelve’ — symbolizes a measure of time. The clock has twelve markings on it, the year has twelve months and the day has twelve hours. `Fishermen in the cold sea…hurt hands’-symbolic image showing how man is ruthlessly destroying nature for his selfish need. The ‘hurt hands’ of the salt gatherer symbolises how he is harming himself by his mindless activities.

 Fisherman and whale stand for the oppressor and oppressed respectively. ‘Cold sea’ — transferred epithet.

 Put on clean clothes’- Alliteration

Introspection will make us comprehend the destructive nature of wars. Man would cleanse his heart purging it of hatred.

`Brothers’ — a symbol of mankind

`In the shade’ — metaphor — just as shade protects us from the harsh sun, we will protect and shelter each other as brothers, thus live in peace and harmony.

`Clean clothes’ symbolize peace and change in one’s perspective.

`Earth can teach us as when everything’ — Personification. Earth is personified as a teacher. When the earth appears to be dead, it is actually dormant and carefully preserving the seeds of life, human beings too need to keep still and quiet to re-awaken the life forces to be productive.

We hope you are enjoying the Keeping Quiet Extra Questions and Answers




The poet urges people to get into a mode of total inactivity for some seconds. There should only be silence, no movement and a mood of introspection. He condemns the mundane activities. He says that we should not indulge in any mindless activity or speak in any language, nor does he want any gestures of arms that can distract or disturb. He says that we should commit ourselves to complete silence and inactivity

This moment of complete inactivity would be an extraordinary, memorable or cherished moment. There would be no rush of activity, no noise and no disturbance. Man would not have to cope with the fast pace of life. This would be a profound moment of bonding and togetherness. There would be a complete relaxation of mind, body and soul.

The poet talks about a metaphorical concept when he says that fishermen would not harm marine life. ‘Cold sea’ denotes the coldness of fishermen who do not bother about protection of sea life and in moments of inactivity, they would not be able to disturb the sea animals. The salt gatherers would also stop to look at their calloused hands that hurt due to this activity. They too would pause to think about their mindless activities and their effects.




 The poet feels that the whole speculation of wars and their destructive qualities would be negated during those moments of silence. ‘Green wars’ refers to environmental degradation caused by human activities, ‘wars’ with gases and fires refers to wars fought with nuclear and bioweapons. A man may get the satisfaction of being victorious but ironically, wars leave behind no survivors.

Those human beings who wage wars would be cleansed of all the murk and dirt from their minds. They would then walk about with other individuals and exhibit amity, brotherhood and harmony. They would do nothing to harm mankind or nature.

The poet does not wish to advocate total inactivity or silence, which may be misunderstood, and confused with death. Life continues to remain what we make of it. If we were not so concerned about keeping our lives active, i.e., doing things mindlessly and waging wars. We perhaps would not lose sight of our goals. Our desire to achieve goals makes us single-minded and desperate. It is then that we lose all perspective. The poet feels that silence for a while might alleviate sadness from our lives. Quiet productivity in place of all activities is desirable. The end of all activities does not mean death but just a break from the monotony of a stressful life.




The poet, in the last lines, feels that we can learn a lesson from earth. It can teach us how silence is productive. The earth appears calm and quiet but is actually nurturing life. Things may die but are reborn and the cycle goes on because the earth brings forth new life. The poet appeals to all human beings to make an effort to keep inactive/ quiet. He has initiated the state of inactivity and now it is the human beings who can carry on with this idea while he makes a quiet exit.




Figures of Speech of the lesson- Keeping Quiet

1.Alliteration

 – sudden strangeness (stanza 3)

 – clean clothes (stanza 5)

(Referring to clean minds and bodies)

  1. Transferred Epithet

– Cold sea (stanza 4)

CHAPTER NUTSHELL of the lesson- Keeping Quiet

Theme

  1. The urgent need for mankind to introspect, buy time to start afresh.
  2. To put an end to all destructive activities, be at peace, in universal brotherhood.
  3. The need to live in peaceful co-existence with nature, to stop harming animals and avoid annihilation of the human race.

Content

  1. The poet counts up to 12, as a countdown to stop all activity (12 indicating the twelve markings on the clock/12 months signifying the passage of time) people all over the world stop working, bound in an `exotic’ moment as it has never happened before.
  2. Fishermen don’t kill whales and the man stops extracting salt hurting his hands in the process. Men indulging in wars, chemical or otherwise, harming the environment, stop their destructive activities, don’t clean clothes and are at peace with each other, `in the shade’ as against the fiery wars where there would be no survivors.
  3. The poet wants productive inactivity, not inactivity per se which would be a death-like a state. He thinks men are single-minded in the following a routine, without introspecting and gauging to see where they are going with their lives, there is a vacuum in their lives, a deep sadness as they have no time to ponder over what they want from life.
  4. The Earth, he thinks can teach us the need to take a break (as it seems to hibernate in winter, seems dead but comes back to life in full force in spring) to resurrect our life and start afresh. After conveying his message, the poet feels he can pass on the mantle of responsibility to mankind who can follow his path shown by him.

 Imagery of the lesson- Keeping Quiet

  1. Use of repetition with a difference in the first and last lines of the poem.
  2. ‘put on clean clothes’ metaphorical—cleanse one’s soul, remove traces of bloodshed.
  3. Image of the earth-nurturer and life-giver.

Following is the complete question bank for – Keeping Quiet

MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS of the lesson- Keeping Quiet

Tick the correct answer:

  1. The poet appeals to the readers to keep quiet for

 (a) twenty seconds                        (b) 1 hour

(c) thirty seconds                             (d) twelve seconds

  1. He advises the people not to speak

 (a) French                                          (b) Spanish

(c) any language                               (d) English

  1. What kind of a moment would it be when everyone is silent

(a) terrible                                          (b) painful

(c) exotic                                             (d) unforgettable

  1. Sudden strangeness is one of the following poetic devices:

 (a) simile                                             (b) personification

(c) alliteration                                    (d) repetition

  1. Fishermen in the cold sea would not harm

 (a) seahorses                                    (b) mermaids

 (c) whales                                          (d) tortoises

  1. Who would look at his hurt hands?

 (a) man gathering salt                   (b) man gathering stones

(c) boys picking rags                        (d)grave-diggers

  1. The types of wars the poet talks about are

 (a) green wars, wars with gas, wars with fire (b) verbal wars

(c) technological warfare                              (d) nuclear wars

  1. The men in clean clothes would be walking with their

 (a) wives                             (b) brothers

(c) nephews                       (d) friends

  1. Where would they be walking?

 (a) in the park                                   (b) along the river

(c) in the shade                                                 (d) on the road

  1. What, according to the poet, would interrupt the sadness of man’s life?

(a) great laughter                             (b) huge silence

(c) arguments                                    (d) fights

  1. What does man threaten himself with?

(a) death                                             (b) birth

(c) robbery                                         (d) suicide

  1. We can learn a lesson from

 (a) the trees                                      (b) nature

(c) animals                                          (d) The earth

  1. The poet advocates the balance of nature to be

 (a) maintained                                                 (b)destroyed

 (c) temporarily disturbed            (d) ignored

  1. In the end, he again appeals to the people that he would

 (a) initiate the state of inactivity (b) will not bother at all

 (c) completely ignore everyone (d) destroy the earth

  1. ‘Have no truck with death’ means

 (a) will not die of the truck accident        (b) remove poverty and illiteracy

 (c) have no association or deal with death (d) will not drive a truck

  1. The poet of ‘Keeping Quiet’ is

(a) P.B Shelley                                   (b) Vikram Seth

(c) Pablo Neruda                              (d) Kamala, Das

  1. The poet wants the entire humanity to

 (a) keep talking                                (b) keep running

 (c) keep laughing                            (d) keep still

  1. When the poet says ‘we will’ count to twelve he means

(a) entire mankind                          (b) his own family

(c) his friends                                     (d) his wife and himself

  1. Without rush, without engines’ refers to

 (a) no noise                       (b) no hurry to go to the office

(c) no travelling                 (d) no holidaying

  1. ‘Fishermen not harming whales’ means

(a) not causing extinction of whales        (b) not disturbing balance in nature

(c) not going for fishing                                                 (d) not disturbing the sea

  1. ‘Cold sea’ is a poetic device

 (a) personification                          (b)transferred epithet

(c) metaphor                                     (d) alliteration

  1. The man looking at his hurt hands is a

 (a) salt gatherer                               (b) diamond cutter

(c) rag-picker                                     (d) surgeon

  1. According to the poet wars that are fought have no

 (a) soldiers                                         (b) weapons

(c) fighter planes                              (d) survivors

  1. A man should be – with nature

 (a) totally compatible                                    (b) at war

(c) confused                                                       (d) irresponsible

  1. Man needs to learn a lesson from

 (a) moon                                            (b) stars

(c) earth                                                (d) sun

  1. What will counting up to twelve help us with?

(a) achieving harmony, brotherhood      (b) achieving goals and ambitions

(c) fulfilling wishes                                            (d) winning a race

  1. The last line of the poem is

(a) and later proves to be alive                  (c) I want no truck with death

(b) life is what it is about                               (d) and you keep quiet and I will go

  1. The poet evokes a symbol in order to invoke that there can be life even with stillness. The symbol is

(a) earth                              (b) rain

(c) storm                              (d) cloud

  1. The poet uses conversational style and personal pronouns as ‘you’, ‘we’ and `I’ because

 (a) he wants to be intimate with mankind           (b) he tries to read out to the readers

 (c) he wants to establish contact easily                                 (d) third person is ineffective

  1. The poetic device used in the last line ‘when everything seems dead and later proves to be alive’ is

(a) imagery                                         (b) irony

(c) paradox                                         (d) transferred epithet

 ANSWERS

1.(d) twelve seconds 2. (c) any language                     

 3. (c) exotic               4.(c) alliteration

5. (c) whales               6. (a) man gathering salt

7.(a) green wars, wars with gas, wars with fire  8. (b) brothers

9.(c) in the shade 10. (b) huge silence                      

11. (a) death        12. (d) the earth

13. (a) maintained  14. (a) initiate the state of inactivity

15.(c) have no association or deal with death

16.(c) Pablo Neruda 17. (d) keep still

18. (a) entire mankind  21.(a) no noise

20.(a) not causing the extinction of whales  21. (b) transferred epithet

22.(a) salt gatherer 23. (d) survivors

24.(a) totally compatible 25. (c) earth

26.(a) achieving harmony, brotherhood

27.(d) and you keep quiet and I will go  28. (a) earth

29.(b) he tries to read out to the readers  30. (b) irony

 Read the extracts of the lesson- Keeping Quiet and answer the questions that follow.

Here are comprehension passage question and answer sets from the chapter Keeping Quiet Class 12,” provided to deepen your understanding and help you prepare for exams.

                               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.

(a)What does the poet appeal for?

Ans. The poet appeals for peace and harmony on the earth.

(b) To attain this, what does he expect all of us to do?

 Ans. He expects all human beings to be silent, totally inactive and introspect.

 (c) Why does he advocate silence?

 Ans. He advocates silence so that human beings could introspect about themselves without any external disturbance.

 (e)What kind of activity does the poet feel the man is involved with?

 Ans. The poet feels that man is leading a very monotonous and dull existence. He is also engaged in destructive activities that harm himself and nature too.

  1. It would be an exotic moment                                                                                       (1 x 4 = 4 Marks)

                                         Without rush, without engines,

                                          We would all be together

                                          in a sudden strangeness.

                                          Fishermen in the cold sea

                                         Would not harm whales

                                         And the man gathering salt

                                        Would look at his hurt hands.

 (a) What does he mean by ‘exotic moment’?

 Ans. By ‘exotic moment’ the poet means that this moment will be worth cherishing as it would be extraordinary.

(b) How could man achieve this exotic moment?

 Ans. In this exotic moment, man would be able to stop all activity, remain silent and introspect. He would feel enlightened and be in harmony with man and nature.

 (c) What kind of a feeling would this exotic moment evoke?

Ans. It would be an extraordinary moment as a man would be at peace with himself and his surroundings. This moment might reduce man’s sadness at having generated negative thoughts.

(d)What harm do the fishermen do and why do salt gatherer’s hands hurt?

 Ans. The fishermen kill the whales and cause their extinction while salt gatherers’ hands hurt due to the course and rough feel of the salt causing pain to their hands.

  1. Those who prepare green wars,                                  (1 x 4 = 4)

                                    Wars with gas, wars with fire,

                                    Victory with no survivors

                                    Would put on clean clothes

                                    And walk about with their brothers

                                   In the shade, doing nothing.

(a)What are the kinds of wars mentioned in the above lines?

Ans. The poet mentions three types of wars, i.e. green wars that man wages against nature and the environment. He also mentions wars with gas and wars with fire meaning that man kills other human beings with the help of biological and nuclear weapons.

(b)What are green wars?

Ans.`Green wars’ refers to the environmental degradation caused by man’s mindless activities.

(c)How would the wars affect our lives?

Ans. Apart from the death of thousands of innocent people, the war would not leave anyone victorious because there would be no survivors.

(d)What could be the ideal situation?

Ans. An ideal situation would be one in which human beings would be seen happily walking with others hence depicting a feeling of oneness, unity and brotherhood. There will peace and universal brotherhood.

  1. What I want would not be (1 x 4 = 4)

 Confused

 With total inactivity.

 Life is what it is about;

I want no truck with death.

If we were not so single-minded about keeping our lives moving, and for once could do nothing,

Perhaps a huge silence

 Might interrupt this sadness 

Of never understanding ourselves 

And of threatening ourselves with death.

  • What does the poet mean by inactivity?

Ans. By ‘inactivity’ the poet means a period of total silence, no work, no disturbance. He visualizes a calm and quiet atmosphere where man introspects and there is productive silence.

  • How is inactivity different from death?

 Ans. The poet only wishes for a few moments of inactivity and man be able to reflect on his actions. Death, on the other hand, is the end of life, which the poet does not advocate.

(c)What makes us sad and what are we single-minded about?

 Ans. We are single-minded about moving on with our lives and focus only on our ambitions and goals. The mechanised lifestyle and the feeling that we cause a threat to our own destruction makes us feel sad.

  • What does the poet mean by ‘to have no truck with death’?

 Ans. The poet wants to have no association with death as death is the end of life. He only appeals that we should be more productive and give up endless and futile pursuits that cause unhappiness.

  1. Perhaps the Earth can teach us (1 x 4 = 4)

 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

 (a) What can the Earth teach us?

 Ans. The earth can teach us how to be in harmony with others while remaining silent and productive.

(b) How does it teach us this lesson?

Ans. The earth continues to nurture life despite all the harm done to it by man. It silently goes about its work and this is the lesson that we should learn from it.

 (c)How does the Earth ‘prove to be alive’?

 Ans. The Earth nurtures life and ensures that the life cycle of birth, life and death moves on and the process of regeneration goes on unhampered.

(d)What is the poet’s appeal?

 Ans. The poet appeals to man to make an effort to keep silent for a few seconds and introspect in order to make amends for a harmonious environment.

This content has been designed by the experts keeping in mind the exam score.  Go through Keeping Quiet Extra Questions and Answers and add highest value to your studies.

 Short Answer Type Questions  of the lesson- Keeping Quiet (30 to 40 words)

1. What is the poet’s appeal to the people?

 Ans. The poet appeals to all the people to count up to twelve and then to be completely silent. During this period of silence, he urges them to remain calm and stop all physical activity. He only wants peace during this time.

2. To attain this, what does he expect all of us to do?

 Ans. The poet expects all mankind to shun all activity, remain silent and indulge in introspection in order to understand the meaning of life, their own destructive activities and make amends.

3. Why does he advocate silence?

 Ans. He advocates silence because according to him, it is only during the few seconds of silence and inactivity, that man will be able to take stock of his harmful activities and then try to practise harmony and brotherhood in the world.

4. What kind of activity does the poet feel is a man involved in?

Ans. Man is involved in a large number of destructive activities. He is creating noise pollution, environmental pollution, destroying wildlife and marine life. He is waging wars and is also destroying his own fellow men.

5. What does the poet mean by ‘exotic moment’ and how can man achieve it?

 Ans. By ‘exotic moment’ the poet means the moments of silence and inactivity which will be extraordinary and memorable because man will reflect on his activities and hence be able to make amends. This exotic moment can only be achieved through total silence and inactivity even it is for a few seconds.

6. What kind of a feeling would this exotic moment evoke?

 Ans. This feeling may be strange because it is not easy to imagine a situation of complete peace and silence. According to the poet, this moment might remove our sadness of never understanding ourselves and indulged in self-destructive activities.

7. What harm do the fishermen do and why do the salt gatherers hands hurt?

 Ans. The fishermen harm marine life by killing the whales in the seas and hastening their extinction. The salt gatherers’ hands hurt because the harsh and coarse feel of salt causes discomfort and pain to their hands.

8. What are the kinds of wars mentioned in the poem?

Ans. The poet mentions green wars, i.e., wars that man is waging against nature hence causing environmental degradation, wars with gas and fire or using harmful biological and nuclear weapons to cause maximum destruction to life and property. War with fire refers to the conventional mode of combat.

9. What can be the consequence of the war in our lives?

Ans. The poet observes that wars cause death and destruction. It leaves behind no survivors and hence no victory for anyone. It is an ironical situation which can be avoided if a man takes action and decides never to wage wars.

10. What could be an ideal situation according to the poet?

Ans. The poet strongly maintains that the ideal situation would be when people can happily walk hand in hand under shady trees i.e. amidst a cool and harmonious atmosphere. They will then practise oneness, unity and brotherhood.

11. How is inactivity different from death? What does the poet mean by `to have no truck with death’?

 Ans. According to the poet total inactivity only means a temporary stillness, whereas death means the end of life. ‘No truck with death’ means that the poet does not want any association with death. He only urges mankind to halt harmful activities for a few seconds.

12. What are we single-minded about?

Ans. The poet feels that individuals only think about keeping our lives moving at all costs, and in the process lose sight of their goals. People only yearn for progress and fulfilment of ambitions, and that remains the only focus while they are alive. Man is single-minded in his pursuit of wealth, supremacy and territorial acquisition.

13. What, according to the poet, causes sadness?

Ans. Mindless destructive activities cause sadness in our lives. Behaviour that threatens mankind leads to sadness and unhappiness.

14. What can the Earth teach us? How?

 Ans. Earth can teach us to be productive and useful even when there is silence. The Earth nurtures all living beings, plants and animals and quietly maintains the balance in nature. It helps in the rebirth of a new life. We can all learn to be productive yet silent.

15. How does Earth prove to be alive?

 Ans. The earth nurtures life and brings forth a new form. There is a regeneration of every living thing on this earth and all things that die, are reborn and the cycle of life moves on.

16. How would keep quiet affect life in and around the sea?  [All India 2017]

Ans. In the state of stillness and silence, the fishermen will not harm the already endangered whales. In the same way, the salt gatherers whose hands get hurt during the salt gathering process, will stop for a while and rest their hands and do some introspection.

17. What will ‘counting up to twelve and keeping still’ help us to achieve?

Ans. Counting up to twelve and keeping still will help us to reach an understanding with each other and to introspect. We will be able to realize the real impact of our selfish actions on each other and, finally, on the entire humanity.

18.  Which symbol from nature does the poet invoke that there can be life under apparent stillness?

Ans. The poet uses ‘Earth’ as a symbol to invoke that there can be life under apparent stillness. The Earth seems ‘still’ from outside but is alive and vibrant deep within. Similarly, our silence can help us to maintain a harmonious life on Earth and stop the destruction.

19. ‘Life is what it is all about.’ How is keeping quietly related to life?

Ans. ‘Keeping quiet’ is related to life because, in order to live a complete life, one must live life Atoll India In order to live a quality life, which is full of happiness, peace and satisfaction, we must develop a habit of thinking deeply and this can be achieved through introspection.

20. Why does one feel a sudden strangeness on counting to twelve and keeping quiet?

Ans. When one keeps quiet and stops all his selfish actions and takes a break from the monotonous routine’ one gets time to introspect and analyse one’s actions. This brings a feeling of sudden strangeness’

21. How will keeping quiet protect our environment?        

Ans. Keeping quiet refers to as stopping all activities for a moment and introspect. This will help us to analyse the kind of deeds we are doing for our selfish purpose but which harm nature. This moment will make us understand the fact that harmony with nature is very essential for the survival of mankind.

22.who will possibly be the effect of ‘keeping quiet’?                            

Ans. Keeping quiet will result in a mutual understanding among all human beings. We will be able to understand the fact that the balance between nature and human beings is essential for our existence on Earth.

23. Which is the exotic moment that the poet refers to in ‘Keeping Quiet’?

Ans. The poet refers to the exotic moment when everyone would be silent and still and there would be no noise or mad race. It will evoke an environment of peace and quietness with no conflicts, quarrels, agreements or wars. This moment will bring a sense of togetherness among all human beings.

24. What is the sadness the poet refers to in the poem “Keeping Quiet”?

Ans. The poet refers to the sadness which will arise due to the total destruction of mankind. According to the poet, if the people have no time to think and retrospect, it will lead to the end of life on earth and a huge silence will follow.

25. How, according to Neruda, can keeping quiet change our attitude to life?

Ans. According to the poet, if we keep quiet for a moment to introspect and cease our selfish and destructive actions, it will lead to a change in our attitude to life.

26. Which images in the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’ show that the poet condemns violence?

Ans. Pablo Neruda gives the images of ‘green war’, ‘war with gas’ and ‘wars with fire’ and then associate these wars with ‘victory with no survivors’. This is to emphasise the fact that wars will bring an end to the entire human race. This shows that he condemns violence.

27. What are the different types of wars mentioned in the poem? What is Neruda’s attitude towards them?                                                                                             

Ans. Pablo Neruda has mentioned ‘green wars’, ‘wars with fire’ and ‘wars with gas’. The poet does not appreciate the concept of war. He condemns it by saying that these wars will result in victory with no survivors. So instead of these wars and conflicts, we must develop the concept of mutual understanding and co-existence.

28. How can the suspension of activities help?                                                

Ans. The suspension of activities will help us to introspect. It will provide enough time from the mad rush and selfish actions, when we all are able to ponder and analyse our own actions and attitude and finally develop mutual understanding and realise the importance of co-existence.

29. Do you think the poet, Pablo Neruda, advocates total inactivity and death? Why/Why not?

Ans. The poet does not advocate ‘total inactivity because he has a firm belief in life. He wants everyone to live a complete life full of peace and contentment. He wants everyone to take a break from the hectic schedule and introspect for a while to improve the quality of life.

30. Why is Pablo Neruda against total inactivity?

Ans. The poet is against total inactivity because it means death whereas the poet has a firm belief in only wishes us to take a break from the hectic, aimless life and introspect.

31. What does the poet want all the perpetrators of war to do?

Ans. The poet wants them to make their conscience clean from envy and selfish motives. They shook’ stop fighting and develop an understanding of peace among human beings.

32. What, according to the poet, will be the ultimate end of a man if the present scenario of wars and conflict continues?

Ans. According to Neruda, if the present scenario of war and destruction continues, it will lead to total destruction of humanity. We all will perish and nobody will be left to celebrate the victory.

33. How, according to the poet, our state of mind will be changed if we maintain silence and suspend activity for a white?

Ans. The poet believes that if we all stop for a moment to introspect and realize the impact of our actions. then we will be able to understand the need to be together and develop a mutual understanding for the survival on earth. This realization will bring a change in our state of mind and our attitude towards each other.

Important Long/ Detailed Answer Type Questions of the lesson- Keeping Quiet – to be answered in about 100 -150 words each Value-based questions-

 Q1. What does the narrator mean by ‘green wars’? What will be the consequence of such a war?

Ans. ‘Green wars’ means the war against the environment. In our pursuit of progress and materialism, we forget the harm we cause to the world. Our resources are depleting. If we don’t take measures to save our environment, our children will not enjoy the resources available to us.

Q2. What according to Pablo Neruda would be the ultimate end of a man if the present scenario of wars continues?

 Ans. If the present scenario of conflict continues, there will be a victory but no ‘survivors’. Pablo Neruda suggests that we must all keep still and introspect so that there is peace and world unity. It is only during the few seconds of silence and inactivity, that man will be able to take stock of his harmful activities and then try to practise harmony and brotherhood in the world.

 

 

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