NCERT Solution: Poem 3 - Keeping Quiet

Before you Read

Q1: What does the title of the poem suggests to you? What do you think the poem is about?
Ans: The title "Keeping Quiet" suggests a moment of silence and stillness. It encourages us to pause our busy lives and reflect on our actions. The poem is about introspection, self-realisation, and creating a sense of mutual understanding and harmony among human beings. It also highlights the need to stop destructive activities and live peacefully.

Think it Out

Q1: What will counting up to twelve and keeping still help us achieve?
Ans: Counting up to twelve takes very short time. Keeping still for this brief interval of time gives us a momentary pause to introspect and review the course of action. It is generally observed that most of the ills and troubles of the world are caused by our rush or hurry. Violence is caused by anger. Keeping quiet and still will give us necessary respite and ensure peace.

Q2: Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death?
Ans: No, he doesn't advocate either total inactivity or death. He makes it quite clear that 'stillness' should not be confused with 'total inactivity' or equated to it. Total inactivity brings death. But Neruda has 'no truck with death'. His stillness means halting of harmful and hostile human activities.

Q3: What is the 'sadness' that the poet refers to in the poem?
Ans: The poet refers to the 'sadness' of failing to understand oneself in the monotonous every day existence. He also finds it sad that the humanity is moving towards its own ruin owing to its unanalyzed actions. He regrets the rush of outdoing others that has made us forget the values of humanity.

Q4: What symbol from Nature does the poet invoke to say that there can be life under apparent stillness?
Ans: The poet uses the Earth as a symbol from Nature. He explains that even when everything on Earth appears to be dead or still, life continues beneath the surface and later emerges again. This suggests that stillness does not mean inactivity or death, but can be a phase of renewal and life.