Pablo Neruda’s real name is Neftalí Ricardo Reyes Basoalto. He was born on 12 July 1904, in the town of Parral in Chile. His father was a railway employee and his mother, who died shortly after his birth, a teacher. Some years later his father, who had then moved to the town of Temuco, remarried Doña Trinidad Candia Malverde. The poet spent his childhood and youth in Temuco. At age 13, he began his literary career as a contributor to the daily La Mañana, where he published his first articles and poems. In 1920, he contributed to the literary journal Selva Austral under the pen name Pablo Neruda, which he assumed in honor of Czech poet Jan Neruda.
Neruda died just two years after receiving his Nobel Prize on September 23, 1973, in Santiago, Chile. Though his death was officially attributed to prostate cancer, there have been allegations that the poet was poisoned.
In 2011, Neruda’s chauffeur alleged that the writer said he’d been given an injection at a clinic by a physician that worsened his health. Chilean judge Mario Carroza later authorized an official investigation into the cause of death. Neruda’s body was exhumed in 2013 and examined, but a forensics team found no initial evidence of foul play.
Keeping Quiet Poem
And 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.
It would be an exotic moment
without rush, without engines.
We would all be together
in a sudden strangeness.
Fisherman in the cold sea
would not harm whales
and the man gathering salt
would not look at his hurt hands.
Those who prepare green wars,
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.
What I want should not be 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.
Perhaps the earth can teach us
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.
Keeping Quiet Introduction
The poet talks about the necessity of quiet introspection as it can develop a feeling of mutual understanding among human beings. Stillness and silence will help men in creating these feelings. Pablo Neruda divides his poems into stanzas but there is no rhyme or meter. lengths of lines differ in different stanzas. Moreover, there is a shift in thought as we go from stanza to stanza.
Keeping Quiet Word Meanings
Still = quiet
Exotic = enticing
Green wars = war against the environment
Truck = association
Inactivity = doing nothing
Single-minded = focus on one thing only
Apparent = clear
Keeping Quiet Theme
It is basically an anti-war poem. The poet is deeply concerned about violence, cruelty to animals, and plight of manual workers. The poet offers a very simple solution to many of our social, political, and religious problems. The solution is self-introspection. If it is acted upon, it will be the first major step towards uniting people. The second step is that everyone should look within and analyze what is wrong and who is the wrongdoer. This will cleanse every heart and ennoble all people.
Keeping Quiet Summary
This poem advocates the importance of silence and self- introspection. It can transform not only the life of an individual but also the face of the earth. The poet says that it does not need much time to look within and examine oneself. It will take only as long as it will take to count to twelve. During this time of introspection (self-examination), one should keep quiet and say nothing at all. It will give him a strange feeling of togetherness with all others.
Although it may seem a little strange in the beginning, it will eventually bring us all together. This silence will be free from ‘the disturbing sounds of engines and people rushing to get their work done’ for some time. He feels contended imagining the change that will be brought about in those moments. The men who hurt their hands while collecting salt will get a little rest. Even the people who seek fresh wars, using fatal gas and weapons, will put on clean clothes and get a chance to walk among their brothers. They will lead a hatred-free and calm life, giving a halt to their destructive activities.
The poet clarifies that his wish should not be considered as a case for “total inactivity”. He only wants to interrupt the sad, cruel and baleful activities of the world for a few moments and make the people introspect their actions. In fact what he says is connected with life, not with death. Activity is very essence of life. Inactivity is death but for a fresh, better and useful activity, a little stillness is essential.
The poet uses the image of the earth to show how life exists in seemingly dormant things. In winter, the earth becomes so still and silent that it seems to be dead. But later in spring, it seems to be lively again. It has new beauties and colours added to it. Similarly, after a little quietness and silence, man can resume his activities in a fresh and better manner.
Keeping Quiet Main points
1. The poem talks about the necessity of quiet introspection.
2. It will help people to understand themselves & will create a feeling of mutual love & relationship.
3. By quiet introspection, the poet doesn’t mean total inactivity, instead, he wants full involvement with life.
4. The reason for the discard & war is the imbalance between man & nature.
5. Quiet introspection will establish a spiritual & physical union that is most desirable for the survival of the earth & of human beings.
Keeping Quiet Important Extracts
Keeping Quiet Extract – 1
1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
It would be an exotic moment
without rush, without engines
we would be all together
in a sudden strangeness.
Questions
Q1. Which moment is referred to here and how will it be?
Ans. it will be a moment of peace and introspection. It will be a strange and attractive moment that will bring us closer.
Q2. How would we feel at that moment?
Ans. We will realize a feeling of oneness.
Q3. How will it bring all of us together?
Ans. By keeping quiet and still, we all will feel alike as if we are together.
Keeping Quiet Extract – 2
2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
What I want should not be confused
with total inactivity.
Life is what it is about;
I want no truck with death.
Questions
Q1. What is it that should not be confused with total inactivity?
Ans. It is the moment of silence that should not be confused with total inactivity.
Q2. What is life about?
Ans. Life is about actions and dynamism. It must go on. The efforts to keep the race alive cannot be suspended even for a day. Action is the essence of life.
Q3. Explain: “no truck with death”.
Ans. Total inactivity is a synonym of death and he has no association with death. This short silence is very much alive and preparation for renewed hectic activity.
Keeping Quiet Extract – 3
3. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Those who prepare green wars,
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.
Questions
Q1. In which wars are there no survivors?
Ans. There are no survivors in the wars of poisonous gases and the war of firearms.
Q2. Who would put on clean clothes?
Ans. The war-wagers would put on clean clothes.
Q3. What does ‘put on clean clothes’ signify?
Ans. ‘Put on clean clothes’ signifies the feelings of their mutual understanding.
Keeping Quiet Extract – 4
4. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
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.
Questions
Q1. What will happen if we go on thinking single-minded?
Ans. In case we go on thinking single-minded, we will remain busy in worldly activities, thereby we won’t find time for self-introspection. It will be a sad situation.
Q2. How can we understand ourselves?
Ans. We can understand ourselves through self-introspection.
Q3. In what way can huge silence dispel sadness?
Ans. Huge silence will remove all our tension, violence, and warfare. It will do away with all our sadness.
Q4. What is the ‘sadness’ that the poet refers to in the poem?
Ans. The poet Pablo Neruda refers to ‘sadness’ which we form out of our own thinking and actions. We understand a lot of things but fail to understand ourselves and our actions and this becomes the creator of all disasters. This is the ‘sadness’ that the poet refers to in the poem
Q5. Why does the poet want us to ‘do nothing’ for once?
Ans. The poet wants to do nothing for once, here he specifies that we should cease all our activities in order to have introspection within ourselves so that we can realize the exotic moment.
Q7. How we can know ourselves?
Ans. We can know ourselves through introspection.
Q8. Identify ‘we’.
Ans. ‘We’ here refers to all human beings.
Keeping Quiet Extract – 5
5. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Perhaps the Earth can teach us a
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.
Questions
Q1. What does the earth teach us?
Ans. The earth teaches us how life springs from dead things. It further teaches us to realize life under stillness.
Q2. What does the poet mean to achieve by counting up to twelve?
Ans. He wants us to achieve peace by counting up to twelve.
Q3. What is the significance of ‘Keeping Quiet’?
Ans. ‘Keeping quiet’ means that we should avoid all those activities which hurt nature.
Keeping Quiet Questions and Answers (2 Marks)
Q1. Why does the poet want us to keep quiet?
Ans. Keeping quiet will develop a better understanding among human beings and allow us to establish communion with our fellow beings at a spiritual level.
Q2. Does the poet advocate total inactivity and death by suggesting being quiet?
Ans. No, the poet does not advocate it. He wants no truck with death. In fact he wants to live life full-blooded. But by advocating quietness he wants to mix the physical and spiritual aspects of life.
Q3. Why does not the poet want us to speak in any language?
Ans. The poet wants us not to speak in any language to introspect and know what we are about- know the meaning of our existence. He wants everybody to know his spirit and have spiritual contact with others for sometimes for which no language is required.
Q4. What will counting up to twelve and keeping still help us achieve?
Ans. Counting up to twelve and keeping quiet will assist us in attaining a state of peace in which we will be able to introspect and thus, see and appreciate the benefits of the symbiotic relationship that would exist between humans and between man and nature.
Q5. Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death?
Ans. The poet does not advocate total inactivity and death, but he does advise that we introspect deeply and not indulge in activity that is mindless and thus potentially destructive for human beings and for the balance that should exist between man and nature.
Q6. What is the ‘sadness’ that the poet refers to in the poem?
Ans. Man fails to understand themselves. They are always threatening themselves with death. When they do not understand themselves, they become sad. Only silence might interrupt this sadness and make them happy.
Q7. What symbol from Nature does the poet invoke to say that there can be life under apparent stillness?
Ans. Life under apparent stillness can be seen in nature. During the winter season, the earth under the snow looks dead, with no activity and no growth. But when the spring comes, the snow melts away, the seeds sprout and the grass grows. All activities of life start again.
Q8. According to the poet, what is that human beings can learn from nature?
Ans. Nature teaches us a lot of things. We must learn that all things are bound together and depend on each other for their survival. We should introspect ourselves by remaining calm and composed. So it teaches us to be quiet and still. It is no use to hinder others. We should grow and develop at our own Place. We must be contented with what we possess. There is no need for greed. Nature always remains alive.
IMPORTANT STANZAS FOR COMPREHENSION
Read the stanzas given below and answer the questions that follow each:
1.Now we will count to twelve and we will all keep still.
Questions
(a)Name the poem and the poet of these lines.
(b)Why does the poet ask us to count to twelve?
(c)Why does the poet ask us to keep still?
(d) Find words from the passage which mean.
(ii) say number (iii) quiet and motionless.
Answers:
(a)The name of the poem is Keeping Quiet. The name of the poet is Pablo Neruda.
(b)There are only twelve signs on the clock to measure hours. Therefore, the poet asks us to count till the clock measures these horns.
(c)Too much activity and rush has only brought misfortunes to mankind. Hence, it is better to be quiet and still.
(d) (i) count (ii) still
2. 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.
Questions
(a)Name the poem and the poet of these lines.
(b)‘Let’s not speak in any language’, says the poet. Why?
(c)What should we not do for a second?
(d) What do you understand by ‘the face of the Earth ?
Answers:
(a)The name of the poem is Keeping Quiet. The poet is Pablo Neruda.
(b)The people of the world have been indulging in wars and bloodsheds on minor excuses. If they keep quiet, they may not indulge in reasoning, disputes and quarrels. So, let them keep quiet and not speak in any language. This will ensure peace and prosperity.
(c)We should cease all activities for a second. Man has used his arms only to kill and destroy others. Therefore, let them not move their arms so much as to harm others.
(d) The expression “the face of the Earth’ refers to the various countries on the surface of the earth.
3.It would be an exotic moment without rush, without engines, we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness.
Questions
(a)Name the poem and the poet of these lines.
(b)What will happen if there is no rush or running of engines?
(c)What sort of moment will it be?
(d)How would all of us feel at that moment?
Answers:
(a)The name of the poem is Keeping Quiet. The poet is Pablo Neruda.
(b)There will be peace all around if there is no rush or the sound of the running of engines and machines.
(c)It will be a very enticing and beautiful moment.
(d) All of us will enjoy the unusualness and sudden strangeness of that moment.
4. Fishermen in the cold sea would not harm whales and the man gathering salt
would look at his hurt hands.
Questions
(a)What do fishermen usually do in the cold sea?
(b)What does the poet ask fishermen not to do?
(c)What has happened to the man gathering salt?
(d) What should the man gathering salt do?
Answers:
(a)Fishermen usually catch fish, particularly whales, in the cold seas.
(b)The poet asks fishermen not to hurt or injure the whales in the seas.
(c)The man gathering salt has injured his hands.
(d)He must take care of his hurt hands.
5. Those who prepare green wars,
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.
Questions
(a)Name the poem and the poet of these lines.
(b)What sort of wars are mentioned in the above lines?
(c)What kind of victory will it be?
(d) How should the lovers of war behave?
Answers:
(а)The name of the poem is Keeping Quiet. The poet is Pablo Neruda.
(b)Green wars, wars with poisonous gases and wars with the fire are the different kinds of wars.
(c) It will be a victory where no survivors will be left to celebrate it. Such a victory will be meaningless.
(d) They should put on clean clothes and walk with their brothers under the trees leisurely doing nothing.
6.What I want should not be confused
with total inactivity. i 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.
Questions
(a)What does the poet want? What should it not be confused with?
(b)Explain: 7 want no truck with death’.
(c)What do people pursue single-mindedly? Which is the better course the poet suggests?
(d)When can a huge silence do us good?
Answers:
(а)The poet is advocating for silence or stillness. Stillness should not be confused with total inactivity.
(b)Total inactivity brings death. The poet refuses to associate (or deal) with death. Thus, he is not advocating for death.
(c)People pursue single-mindedly on keeping their lives moving. ..The poet suggests that it would be better if they give themselves rest for sometime. For once they may do nothing.
(d)A huge silence can do us a lot of good when we are disappointed at not understanding ourselves or threatening ourselves with death.
7. Perhaps the Earth can teach us 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.
Questions
(a)What can the Earth teach us?
(b)What remains alive when everything seems dead?
(c)Who is the poet? What does he want to do?
(d)What does the poet ask us to do?
Answers:
‘(a) The earth can teach us a lesson how to live on it.
(b)Only the earth remains alive when everything seems dead.
(c) The poet is Pablo Neruda. He wants to count upto twelve.
(d) He asks us to keep quiet while he is counting upto twelve.
QUESTIONS FROM TEXTBOOK SOLVED
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? [All India 2014]
Ans: Man’s sadness is formed out of his own actions and thoughts. It is quite ironical that man who understands so much fails to understand himself and his action. Rash actions prove harmful and disastruous. Man is the creator of all disasters. He is always threatening himself with death because of his thoughts and actions. This is the tragedy of his life.
Q4. What symbol from Nature does the poet invoke to say that there can be life under apparent stillness?
Ans: The poet wants to prove that there can be life under apparent stillness. The poet invokes the earth as a living symbol to prove his point. The earth never attains total inactivity. Nature remains at work all the time even under apparent stillness. It keeps earth alive. This idea is beautifully illustrated by the following lines:“as when everything seems dead and later proves to he alive.”
Q5. Choose a quiet corner and keep still physically and mentally for about five minutes. Do you feel any change in your state of mind?
Ans: Extension Activity: For self-study.
MORE QUESTIONS SOLVED
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (Word Limit: 30-40 words)
Q1. Why does Pablo Neruda urge us to keep still?
Ans: Stillness is essential for calm reflection and quiet introspection. We hear the voice of conscience in moments of silence. The poet is convinced that most of human ills and miseries are caused by man’s hurry and rush to do things. The poet wishes that we may withdraw ourselves from our undesirable actions and keep still for a moment.
Q2. Why shouldn’t we “speak in any language” and “not move our arms so much”?
Ans: People of the world speak in different languages. They indulge in unnecessary debates and disputes. Most of these arguments lead to destructive wars. The poet urges people to stop speaking in any language. They must speak through their hearts. So far men have moved their arms only to harm others. Therefore, the poet wants that they should not move their arms so much. Let these arms rest for once. Let a feeling of mutual understanding , be created among human beings.
Q3. Pablo Neruda says:“we would all be together in a sudden strangeness.”
When can we experience such a moment? Why will that be an exotic moment?
Ans: Non-stop activity, unnecessary rush and noise have made our lives unpleasant and full of misery, pain and troubles. We must stop rushing, hurrying, worrying and running. Even the noise of engines and machines must stop for once. Then all of us will enjoy the sudden strangeness of that moment. It will be a unique moment. In that exotic or fascinating moment we shall feel totally relaxed, physically as well as mentally.
Q4. What does the poet ask the fisherman and the man collecting salt to dot What docs In-exactly want to convey by this?
Ans: Pablo Neruda is against any kind of violence. He addresses the fishermen and asks them not to harm whales living in the cold seas of the polar regions. He is also against any kind of self torturing. The man who is gathering salt has hint his hands. He asks this man to look after himself and take care of his injured hands.
Q5. What are the different kinds of war mentioned towards war?
Ans: The poet is against wars of all kinds. He wants a total stoppage of war. Green wars against the environment, wars with poisonous gases and wars with fire must be terminated (stopped) at once.
Q6. What alternative does Pablo Neruda suggest instead of indulging in wars?
Ans: Instead of indulging in wars, the people must come out in their best dresses with then- brothers. They should go out for a walk under the shady trees and enjoy themselves doing nothing. This would bring the feeling of togetherness among them.
Q7. How does the poet distinguish ‘stillness’ from ‘total inactivity’? Why does Neruda saw I want no truck with death?
Ans: Pablo Neruda is in favour of stillness or silence. We remain still and quiet for sometime. On the other hand, total inactivity is a permanent suspension of work. It is just like death. ‘Stillness’ should not be Confused with ‘total inactivity’. Life goes on as usual. There can’t be anything like total inactivity. The poet refuses to associate with death or deal with it.
Q8. Why does the poet fee! that we should not be so single-minded’?
Ans: People are generally single-minded. They want to focus on only one thing. They want to keep their lives going. They are ever busy in their pursuit. The poet wishes that they would not be so much absorbed with always remaining on the move. They must have some respite or rest. They too need peace or silence.
Q9.Why do men become sad? How can this sadness be overcome?
Ans: Men fail to understand themselves. They are always threatening themselves with death. When they realise their failure to understand themselves they become sad or helpless. Fear of death also makes them sad. Only a huge silence’ can interrupt this sadness. Such silence will do them good.
Q10. How might a huge silence interrupt the sadness of men?
Ans: Men never understand themselves. Nor are they ever sure of their actions. They face another tragedy. Due to their own actions, they are threatening themselves with death. This realisation makes them helpless and sad. Only a huge (long) silence might interrupt this sadness and do them some good.
Q11. Under the apparent stillness there is life. Justify this statement giving an example from the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’.
Ans: Neruda does not equate stillness with total inactivity. He believes that under this apparent stillness there is life. We can learn it from the earth. When everything seems dead, the earth still remains alive. The earth is never dead. The life on the earth goes on as usual under the apparent stillness.
Q12. Justify the title ‘Keeping Quiet’.
Ans: The title of the poem is quite appropriate and logical. It suggests the necessity of quiet introspection. The people of the world are overactive and always on the move. Their activities have caused untold troubles and sufferings. Keeping quiet will do them a lot of good. It will save them from many harmful and violent activities. Moreover, it will help in reflecting over the fate of man and help in creating a feeling of mutual understanding among human beings.
Q13. Which is the exotic moment that the poet refers to in ‘Keeping Quiet’:[Delhi 201]
Ans: The poet talks about the exotic moment when everyone keeps quiet. There will be no rush for a second. The machines must stop for a moment. That moment will be fascinating for all of us. All of us shall enjoy the sudden strangeness of the moment together.
MCQ Questions for Class 12 English Flamingo Poem 3 Keeping Quiet with Answers
Question 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
Answer
Answer: (b) he tries to read out to the readers
Question 2.
The last line of the poem is
(a) and later proves to be alive
(b) life is what it is about
(c) I want no truck with death
(d) and you keep quiet and I will go
Answer
Answer: (d) and you keep quiet and I will go
Question 3.
Man needs to learn a lesson from
(a) moon
(b) stars
(c) earth
(d) sun
Answer
Answer: (c) earth
Question 4.
According to the poet wars that are fought have no
(a) soldiers
(b) weapons
(c) fighter planes
(d) survivors
Answer
Answer: (d) survivors
Question 5.
‘Cold sea’ is a poetic device
(a) personification
(b) transferred epithet
(c) metaphor
(d) alliteration
Answer
Answer: (b) transferred epithet
Question 6.
Without rush, without engines’ refers to
(a) no noise
(b) no hurry to go to the office
(c) no travelling
(d) no holidaying
Answer
Answer: (a) no noise
Question 7.
The poet wants the entire humanity to
(a) keep talking
(b) keep running
(c) keep laughing
(d) keep still
Answer
Answer: (d) keep still
Question 8.
‘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
Answer
Answer: (c) have no association or deal with death
Question 9.
The poet advocates the balance of nature to be
(a) maintained
(b) destroyed
(c) temporarily disturbed
(d) ignored
Answer
Answer: (a) maintained
Question 10.
What does man threaten himself with?
(a) death
(b) birth
(c) robbery
(d) suicide
Answer
Answer: (a) death
Question 11.
Where would they be walking?
(a) in the park
(b) along the river
(c) in the shade
(d) on the road
Answer
Answer: (c) in the shade
Question 12.
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
Answer
Answer: (a) green wars, wars with gas, wars with fire
Question 13.
Fishermen in the cold sea would not harm
(a) seahorses
(b) mermaids
(c) whales
(d) tortoises
Answer
Answer: (c) whales
Question 14.
What kind of a moment would it be when everyone is silent
(a) terrible
(b) painful
(c) exotic
(d) unforgettable
Answer
Answer: (c) exotic
Question 15.
The poet appeals to the readers to keep quiet for
(a) twenty seconds
(b) 1 hour
(c) thirty seconds
(d) twelve seconds
Answer
Answer: (d) twelve seconds
Question 16.
What can human beings learn from nature?
(a) beauty
(b) keeping quiet
(c) to be happy
(d) working with silence
Answer
Answer: (d) working with silence
Question 17.
What symbol from nature the poet uses to prove that keeping quiet is not total inactivity?
(a) Sun
(b) Soil
(c) earth
(d) Nature and earth
Answer
Answer: (d) Nature and earth
Question 18.
How will silence benefit the man and nature?
(a) both will be friends
(b) man will know nature better
(c) man will be healthy
(d) man will stop hurting nature and both will heal themselves
Answer
Answer: (d) man will stop hurting nature and both will heal themselves
Question 19.
While gathering salt, what will happen to the man if he keep silent for a moment?
(a) he will stop dropping it
(b) he will look at the ground
(c) he will walk carefully
(d) he will think of the harm the salt is doing to his hands
Answer
Answer: (d) he will think of the harm the salt is doing to his hands
Question 20.
Why is the poet asking everyone not to speak any language?
(a) to avoid noise
(b) to avoid loud voices
(c) to avoid people
(d) to avoid conflicts and misunderstandings
Answer
Answer: (d) to avoid conflicts and misunderstandings
Question 21.
What would everyone feel at that exotic moment?
(a) happy
(b) content
(c) dancing
(d) strange blissful oneness
Answer
Answer: (d) strange blissful oneness
Question 22.
What will happen if there are no engines and no crowd?
(a) noise will be lessened
(b) no crowd on roads
(c) no traffic rush
(d) it will create a perfect, happy moment
Answer
Answer: (d) it will create a perfect, happy moment
Question 23.
What does the poet want people to do for one second?
(a) to sing
(b) to close eyes
(c) to stand quietly
(d) to be silent and motionless
Answer
Answer: (d) to be silent and motionless
Question 24.
What is always alive even when everything seems to be dead or still?
(a) mountains
(b) rivers
(c) Sun
(d) Earth and nature are always alive
Answer
Answer: (d) Earth and nature are always alive
Question 25.
What is the sadness in the poem that the poet speaks about ?
(a) violence because of unthoughtful ness of the people
(b) unnecessary movements
(c) speaking aloud
(d) fighting
Answer
Answer: (a) violence because of unthoughtful ness of the people
Question 26.
What should not be confused with total inactivity or death?
(a) no movement
(b) a statue
(c) talking people
(d) Stillness and silence
Answer
Answer: (d) Stillness and silence
Question 27.
Not move our arms’ what does this expression refer to?
(a) sit quietly
(b) stand quietly
(c) to be inactive
(d) sitting still without any movement
Answer
Answer: (d) sitting still without any movement
Question 28.
What does number 12 represent?
(a) hours of the day and months of a year
(b) earth
(c) clock
(d) cricket players
Answer
Answer: (a) hours of the day and months of a year
Question 29.
How will keeping quiet protect our environment?
(a) by creating peace and brotherhood feelings
(b) no noise will be there
(c) people will not fight
(d) none
Answer
Answer: (a) by creating peace and brotherhood feelings
Question 30.
What is the rhyming scheme used in the poem?
(a) enclosed rhyme
(b) Monorhyme
(c) sonnet
(d) Free verse
Answer
Answer: (d) Free verse
Question 31.
According to the poet what creates barriers?
(a) interactions
(b) reactions
(c) fighting
(d) languages
Answer
Answer: (d) languages
Question 32.
What is the essence or message of the poem ?
(a) introspection and retrospection to be more peaceful and be in harmony
(b) to prosper
(c) to be happier
(d) to reach out more people
Answer
Answer: (a) introspection and retrospection to be more peaceful and be in harmony
Question 33.
What does the style of the poem symbolise, that the poet used to write with?
(a) desires
(b) happiness
(c) hope
(d) desire and hope
Answer
Answer: (d) desire and hope
Question 34.
What does counting upto 12 signify and how will it help?
(a) hours of the day
(b) months of a year
(c) it will help to create peace and harmony
(d) all
Answer
Answer: (d) all
Question 35.
What does the title of the poem suggest?
(a) Inactivity
(b) noise
(c) unhappiness
(d) Maintenance of silence
Answer
Answer: (d) Maintenance of silence
Question 36.
How does the poet perceive life?
(a) as stillness
(b) as silence
(c) a noisy place
(d) a continuous evolution of nature
Answer
Answer: (d) a continuous evolution of nature
Question 37.
What are the different kinds of wars mentioned in the poem?
(a) War against humanity
(b) War against nature
(c) War with gases and fire
(d) All these
Answer
Answer: (d) All these
Question 38.
Which images in the poem show that the poet condemns or hate violence?
(a) fishermen not harming whales
(b) wars leaving behind no survivors to celebrate
(c) poet’s refusal to deal with death
(d) All these
Answer
Answer: (d) All these
Question 39.
What does hurt hand refer to ?
(a) Growing needs of the man
(b) growing greed of man
(c) unfulfilled desires
(d) growing insensitivity of man to pain
Answer
Answer: (d) growing insensitivity of man to pain
Question 40.
What is the poet expecting from fishermen?
(a) to find more fish
(b) to go deeper into the sea
(c) to think and stop harming the fish
(d) none
Answer
Answer: (c) to think and stop harming the fish