Pablo Neruda: Index

-Pablo Neruda
(1904-1973)
INDEX
1. About the Poet
2. Introduction
3. Theme & Sub-Theme
4. Summary & vocabulary
5. Explanation
6. Summary
7. Points to Ponder
8. Poetic Device & Rhyme Scheme
-Pablo Neruda
(1904-1973)
About the Poet : Pablo Neruda is
the pen name of Neftali Ricardo Reyes
Basoalto who was born in the town of
Parral in Chile. Neruda’s poems are full
of easily understood images which
make them no less beautiful. He won
the Nobel Prize for Literature in the year
1971. In this poem Neruda talks about
the necessity of quiet introspection and
creating a feeling of mutual
understanding among human beings.
Keeping quiet
Introduction
The poem reveals the consequences of
inhuman acts. The poetis deeply
concerned about violence,
animals and cruelty to manual workers. He
plight of
offers a very simple solution to many of
our social, political and religious problems.
He advocates the necessity of quiet
introspection as it can develop a feeling of
mutual understanding among human
beings. If self-introspection is acted upon,
it will be the first major step towards
uniting people. The poet urges everyone
to look within and analyse what is wrong
and who is the wrong doer. This will
cleanse every heart and ennoble all
people.
Keeping Quiet
Theme – Self-introspection for peace and harmony
Sub-Theme – Universal brotherhood
The speaker/narrator – the poet himself (like a messiah)

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.
Fishermen in the cold sea

would not harm whales
and the man gathering
salt
would 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.
T
O
What I want should not be T
confused A
with total inactivity. L
Life is what it is about;
I want no truck with death. I
N
A
C
T
I
V
I
T
Y
T
What I want should not be O
confused T
A
with total inactivity.
L
I want no truck with death. I
If we were not so N
single-minded about keeping A
our lives moving, C
T
and for once could do nothing,
I
perhaps a huge silence V
might interrupt this sadness I
of never understanding ourselves T
and of threatening ourselves Y
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.
SUMMAR
Y
The poet talks about the need of silence and quiet introspection and the
importance of tranquility and calmness. He also talks about creating a feeling
of mutual understanding among human beings. The poet asks us to keep still
and count up to twelve. He also asks us to sit still. For a moment we should
not speak any language. We should not move our arms so much. It will be a
moment of complete silence without rush or worry. This would be an exotic
moment. Then a sudden strangeness will prevail which we will all enjoy. It will
be a bliss. The fisherman would not harm the whales on the cold sea. Even
the man gathering salt would stop working and look at his hurt hands and
reflect at the pain and harm his strenuous task has caused him. All kinds of
wars must be stopped at once. The green wars against the environment, wars
with poisonous gases, firearms, must be stopped at once. People who are all
the time preparing for wars leaving no survivors behind ought to find time to
wear clean clothes and walk around with their brothers strengthening the
message of peace and brotherhood.
SUMMAR
At the Y
same time the poet cautions not to confuse stillness with total inactivity.
Life
is an ongoing process and it should not be associated with death. It is to be lived
with positive attitude. He does not want us to ruminate over death. But he feels
that if for once we do not focus ourselves single-mindedly to keep our lives
moving, but do some introspection or spend some time in silence doing nothing,
we can understand ourselves better and escape from the threatening calls of
death. The earth can teach us a lesson about how, even after a dead end,
everything comes back to life again. In the same manner a quiet introspection can
bring all evil thoughts to an end and bring in a new life of peace and tranquility.
The poet says that now, he will count up to twelve and we should all keep quiet
and he will go. Thus the poem “Keeping Quiet” celebrates the necessity of
introspection and the advantage of doing nothing and maintaining silence for some
time and in the vast treasure of deep silence all depression will vanish and peace
would be attained for one would be with oneself at one’s
peaceful best. VOCABULARY
on the face – on the surface
exotic – strange, especially in an exciting way
truck – association
single-minded – focusing on only one interest
NOTES
About the Poet: Columbian novelist Gabriel Garcia Marquez called Pablo Neruda,
the greatest poet of the 20th century of any language. Pablo Neruda always wrote
with green ink which according to him was the colour of hope. He appeals to
readers to take some time out of their busy lives for introspection and retrospection.
The aim is to return to our routines with renewed vigour and awareness of
ourselves and our actions.
Theme: In this deceptively simple poem, the poet has emphasized the need to
introspect and bring in the spirit of brotherhood among the people of the world.
Values: Introspection, retrospection, universal brotherhood, sensitivity to the

environment, peace, empathy, unity etc.
Title: The title is very appropriate as the poem celebrates the necessity of quiet
introspection and silence. This moment of silence will act as an antidote to war,
violence, hatred, exploitation and turmoil. By keeping quiet, mankind can try to
understand itself and stop harming himself and others with death and destruction.
Now we will count to
twelve
and we will all keep
still.
For once on the face of the POINTS TO
Earth let’s not speak in any
language, let’s stop for one
PONDER
second,
What I want should not be
and not move our arms so
confused
much.
It would be an exotic
I want no truck with death.
moment without rush,
If we were not so
without engines, we would
single-minded about
all be together
keeping our lives moving,
in a sudden strangeness.
and for once could do
nothing, perhaps a huge
Fishermen in the cold
silence
sea would not harm
might interrupt this sadness
whales and the man
of never understanding
gathering salt
ourselves and of threatening
would look at his hurt hands.
ourselves with death.
Those who prepare green
Perhaps the Earth can teach
wars, wars with gas, wars
us as when everything
with fire, victory with no
seems dead and later
survivors, would put on
Poetic Device/Figure of Speech
Alliteration - we will, we would, his hurt
hands, clean clothes
Repetition – without rush, without engines ; wars with
gas,
wars with fire
Imagery – cold sea
Symbol – Earth
Pun - not move our arms so much (hands/weapon)
Rhyme Scheme
The poem does not follow any rhyme or rhythm. It is
written in free verse.
Designed by : R Shrama Courtesy : various sites for pics
& info
ASSIGNMENT : QUESTIONS TO TEST COMPREHENSION
Short Answer Questions (30-40 words)
What I want should not be
confused
I want no truck with death.
i. What is it that should not be confused with 'total inactivity'? ii. What is life all about?
iii. Explain “no truck with death”? iv. What should be the aim of our life?
1. What does the fisherman not harming whales actually symbolise?

2. How can the idea of wars and the vanquished be negated?
3. How do you know that the poet is not advocating complete inactivity and death?
4. What is the sadness that the poet refers to? What does the poet recommend to
overcome it?
5. What will counting up to twelve and keeping still help us achieve?
6. What symbol from nature does the poet invoke to say that there can be life under
apparent stillness?
7. “Let’s not speak in any language.” Explain.
8. Why does the poet say that keeping still for sometime would be an ‘exotic moment’?
9. “Victory with no survivors”. Explain.
10. Justify the title of the poem.

Pablo Neruda: Index

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-Pablo Neruda

Sub-Theme – Universal brotherhood

The speaker/narrator – the poet himself (like a messiah)

For once on the face of the Earth

Fishermen in the cold sea

Now I’ll count up to twelve

Values: Introspection, retrospection, universal brotherhood, sensitivity to the

1. What does the fisherman not harming whales actually symbolise?

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