Keeping Quiet

Pablo Neruda

Think It Out

Question 1: What will counting upto twelve and keeping still help us achieve?

Answer: Counting upto twelve and keeping still for a small period of time can be helpful in many ways. It will give us the desired break from the humdrum of life. It will allow us the time to introspect about our true worth, happiness and real goal in life.

Question 2: Do you think the poet advocates inactivity and death?

Answer: The poet clearly says that he wants to have no truck with death, i.e. no association with death. So, it is clear that the poet does not advocate inactivity and death. He says that life is all about activity and not about inactivity.

Question 3: What is the ‘sadness’ that the poet refers to in the poem?

Answer: The poet refers to the sadness of constant struggles in life. Someone may be sad because of pressure of study. Someone else may be sad due to pressure at the workplace. Another person may be sad because of her inability to get the desired gift on her birthday.

Question 4: What symbol from Nature does the poet invoke to say that there can be life under apparent stillness?

Answer: The poet has used the symbol of the Earth to say that there can be life under apparent stillness. Biologists have proved that life forms are found even at unlikeliest places. Some of the microorganisms are found to be living in the harshest possible habitats, e.g. sulphur springs and in highly saline water.