Keeping Quiet Summary with NCERT Solutions For Class 12 English’s Flamingo’s Poem “Keeping Quiet” for revision. And also for better performance in tests and exams. The poet, Pablo Neruda, in this poem, highlights the theme of the poem i.e. the necessity of quiet introspection and developing a mutual understanding among human beings. Below you can find a brief explanation of the lesson and NCERT Solutions For Class 12 English Poem Keeping Quiet.
We also provide Notes and Lesson Plan. Our Study Rankers specially made them for better understanding. Students may read the PDF of NCERT Class 12 English Flamingo Poem Keeping Quiet to practice concepts with NCERT Solutions and Extra Questions and Answers. We prepared these by keeping in mind the latest CBSE curriculum. Shine among your friends after scoring high in Quiz, MCQ, and Worksheet.
Table of Contents
Summary : Keeping Quiet Poem
(Also find NCERT Solutions For Class 12 English Flamingo Poem Keeping Quiet given below).
Quick Overview Of Keeping Quiet
The poem begins on a note of quiet introspection. The poet ask the readers to count 12 and then sit still. He implores them not to speak any language and for some time not involve themselves in any movement. In this moment of silence, one can experience the strength of togetherness, a sudden strange relationship to which humanity binds itself. In this blissful moment of extreme silence, humans and nature will have time to heal their wounds.
people who are all the time engaged in the exploitation of nature and are preparing themselves for chemical was coma which will leave no survivors behind coma shall find time to wear clean clothes and walk around with their brothers strengthening the message of peace and brotherhood.
The poet cautions that his thoughts should not be confused with total inactivity. Life certainly is an ongoing dynamic process and should not be associated with death. In this hour of introspection and silence, we will find time to understand ourselves better and escape from the threatening cause of death. The poet feels that the Earth teaches us how everything comes to a dead end and then comes to life again. In the same manner from this hour of silence, one can learn the need to bring all evil thoughts to their end and to revive a new life of peace and tranquility. The poet bring an end to his session of introspection instructing men to keep quiet and then leaves them in the tranquility.
Stanza-Wise Explanation of the Poem
(All the italicized lines given below have been taken from Pablo Neruda’s poem, ‘Keeping Quiet’. Also, find NCERT Solutions For Class 12 English Flamingo Poem Keeping Quiet below.)
Stanza 1
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 a second,
and not move our arms so much.
The poet urges each one of us to count up to twelve and then be quiet. He wants a moment of silence on the earth when no language is spoken. In this way, there will be no language barrier between people. No harsh words will be spoken. In this moment of silence, the poet does not want anyone to move their arms. He wants us to remain motionless.
Stanza 2
It would be an exotic moment
without rush, without engines;
we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness.
The poet feels that such a moment of silence would be an unusual and exciting one. There will be no hurry or sound machines to pollute the atmosphere. It will be a strange and unfamiliar moment. In this unusual period, the bonds of humanity will get stronger.
Stanza 3
Fishermen in the cold sea
would not harm whales
and the man gathering salt
would not look at his hurt hands.
In this moment of inactivity the fisherman would not be catching fish. Hence, the whales in the sea will be safe. The man who gathers salt will be able to tend to his wounded hands for which he had no time earlier. Thus, human beings will not destroy nature and both nature and humans will be able to recover from their wounds.
Stanza 4
Those who prepare green wars,
wars with gas, wars with fire,
victories with no survivors,
would put on clean clothes
and walk about with their brothers
in the shade, doing nothing.
The poet now speaks of those who wage war against humanity or environment. They create war of all kinds. He says that such men should stop their activity, shed their clothes stained with the blood of humanity, put on new clothes and walk with their brothers, building brotherhood. The poet implies that the war-torn world should be replaced by one with an atmosphere of peace, brotherhood and harmony.
Stanza 5
What I want should not be confused
with total inactivity.
Life is what it is about…
I Want No Truck With Death
The poet makes a clarification that though he is advocating the need for silence, his advice should not be confused with total inactivity. He does not want any association with death. He says that life is meant to be lived.
Stanza 6
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.
The poet further advices that people should stop being self-centred and selfish. He says that this huge silence, which will arise from such a moment, will only serve to help the people. It will help them introspect and overcome their sadness of failing to understand themselves. This moment of silence will give them time to understand themselves better.
Stanza 7
perhaps the earth can teach us
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.
The poet feels that the Earth can enlighten us and guide us in the process of keeping quiet. He wants us to observe that there is some activity under apparent stillness. For example, the huge fruit bearing trees are ‘born’ from such seeds lying ‘dead’ here and there. At the end, he wants us to keep quiet while he is counting to 12, after which he will leave.
Poem Analysis Of Keeping Quiet Poem From NCERT Book of class 12
- Form (structure or pattern) of the poem –
- Tone (the poet’s or reader’s attitude towards the subject) of the poem – The poem has a calm tone.
Poetic Devices
- Imagery – Descriptive language that can function as a way for the reader to better imagine the poem. From the poem:
- “Cold Sea”.
- Repetition – The recurrence of a word or phrase to create emphasis. From the poem:
- “Without rush, without engines”
- Alliteration – The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. From the poem:
- “We will”
- “We would”
- “Once on”
- “His hurt hands”
- Antithesis – An opposition or contrast of ideas is expressed. From the poem:
- “Count to twelve and we will all keep still”
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NCERT Solutions Class 12 English Flamingo Poem Keeping Quiet
Q. 1. What will counting up to twelve and keeping still help us achieve?
A) Counting to twelve and keeping still will help us put a brake on rush of our life. It will also help us to introspect, reflect and experience silence and peace. In such moment we can find solution to our problems and predicaments.
Q. 2. Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death?
A) No, the poet doesn’t advocate total inactivity. Admitting life to be an ongoing process, he wants that man’s activities should be positively channelized. Infect, man should put an end to his hostile and destructive activities and promote constructive activities.
Q. 3. What is the ‘sadness’ that the poet refers to in the poem?
A) The sadness the poet refers to emanates from the isolation of which the modern man has become a victim man. This sadness has made man selfish. Thus, he fails to understand the need of his fellow beings to lead a healthful life. Instead, he threatens others with the sorrows of death.
Q. 4. What symbol from Nature does the poet invoke to say that there can be life under apparent stillness?
A) The poet wants to invoke the symbol of automatic self-regeneration from nature. Life remaining still in winter under the cover of snow and frost in the form of seeds and leaves, automatically comes from life in spring. Thus, there’s life under apparent stillness.
Some Frequently Asked Questions
Q. 1. What would be an exotic moment for man?
A) The poet says that if man keeps quiet for sometime, and indulges in introspection, doing away with his progressive attitude, he would experience an exotic moment. In this exotic moment, he will enjoy the bliss of silence away from the chaos of life.
Q. 2. What is the poet trying to convey through the images of ‘the fishermen’ and ‘men gathering salts’?
A) Through these images the poet is highlighting the harm man is causing to nature and himself in his efforts to add comfort to his life. The fishermen cause harm to the fish and the man gathering salts’ hurt their hands in the effort to gather salt.
Q. 3. How would man be together in a sudden strangeness?
A) Man has become a stranger to his fellow beings owing to his excessive involvement in the chaos of modern living. In the moment of introspection, he will realise the power of mankind and in that sudden strangeness the strength and togetherness of his race.
Conclusion: Keeping Quiet
In the poem, the poet advocates to keep quiet to introspect and to build a peaceful and harmonious world. He asks all the human beings to stop all worldly activities for a while and spend few quiet moments in tranquility..
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