KEEPING QUIET (POEM)

PABLO NIRUDA

Poetic devices:

1. Alliteration

(Eg) we will, to twelve, we would

2. Assonance

Now we will count to twelve

Victory with no survivors

would put on clean clothes

3. Antithesis

1. Now we will count to twelve

and we will all keep still.

2. as when everything seems dead

and later proves to be alive.

4. Repetition:

Eg: Now we will count to twelve

And we will all keep still.

2. without rush, without engines

Wars with gas, wars with fire.

5. Anaphora

Let’s not speak in any language

Let’s stop for one second

6. pun – a word with multiple meanings

And not move our arms so much

7. symbolism

Now we will count to twelve

2. fisherman in the cold sea

would not harm whales (oppressor and oppressed)

8. Transferred epithet

Fishermen in the cold sea

9. Metaphor

Clean clothes

Shade

10. Personification

The earth can teach us

10. Imagery – evokes a sensory experience

Fisherman in the cold sea

Would not harm whales

And the man gathering salt

Would look at his hurt hands

11. Enjambment

Now we will count to twelve

and we will all keep still.

Summary:

In this poem, the poet urges everyone to count till twelve and to stop and keep calm for a
while. He wants us all to self-reflect and examine our actions to see how ethical or atrocious
they actually are.

Our silence will act as a unifying force, as the differences in languages spoken in different
parts of the world can create a barrier between us all.

When everything will come to a standstill, it will be an unusual moment. People will not be
in a rush to get their work done, and there will be no annoying engine noises. It'll be an
unfamiliar situation as the world will be in sudden calmness and tranquility.

Fishermen would also stop harming whales in the sea, and the man who gathers salt will get
the time to look at his hurt hands and see the damage he has caused to himself.

The people who cause harm to nature by their destructive activities and those who seek wars -
a threat to human life

would introspect into the consequences of their actions and see life with a new perspective.
They'll realise the futility of war, and there will be brotherhood and unity among people.
The poet clarifies that total inactivity is not what he wants, but that we stop for a while and
analyse the results of our deeds. We are living a life where we want to achieve various things
one after another. But now we should stop for a while and celebrate what we have achieved
so far. This will help us stop feeling sad and be grateful for everything that life has gifted us
with.

We should learn from Earth how everything appears lifeless at one moment and then comes
back to life again. In the winter, everything freezes and seems dead, but at the onset of the
spring season, the world revives and everything gets life. It reminds us of how beautiful
"change" can be. Similarly, we should take a pause, introspect into our lives, and start a fresh
beginning.

Rhyme scheme

Keeping Quiet poem is written in free verse and has no rhyme scheme. It does not have a
consistent metrical pattern or a fixed structure.

Theme of the poem

The poem conveys a message of empathy and compassion towards our fellow beings and the
world around us. It encourages us to take a moment to look inward and evaluate our actions
and their impact on ourselves and others. The poet highlights the negative consequences of
cruelty, violence, and destructive behaviour, and emphasizes the importance of finding
peaceful solutions to conflicts. By promoting mutual understanding and harmony, the poem
suggests that we can create a more compassionate and empathetic society.

The poem also highlights the idea that material success and wealth should not be the sole
focus of our lives. Instead, we should prioritise our physical and mental well-being, as well as
the well-being of those around us. By doing so, we can create a more peaceful, harmonious
and compassionate world for ourselves and future generations.

Think it out

1. What will counting up to twelve and keeping still help us achieve?

Answer - Reflecting in silence while counting upto twelve can help us review our actions and
understand ourselves better. This introspection can make us realise how our actions affect us
and those around us. The silence can also inspire empathy and brotherhood between people
with conflicting views. This simple practice can help us be more aware of ourselves, feel
calmer, and be kinder to others.

2. Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death?

Answer - The poet clearly states that what he wants shouldn't be compared to or confused
with 'total inactivity' which would result in death. Life is defined by our actions and we
cannot simply stop. Rather, the poet suggests taking a pause to reflect on our actions and our
own selves. By doing so, we gain a deeper understanding of who we are, and can start again
with renewed clarity and purpose. The poet encourages us to celebrate our accomplishments
and take time to reflect, rather than mindlessly moving from one task to another.
3. What is the 'sadness' that the poet refers to in the poem?

Answer - The poem refers to a feeling of 'sadness' that arises when we fail to appreciate the
things we already possess and become consumed by an insatiable desire for more. This sense
of dejection is a direct consequence of our own actions and behaviour. Often, we pursue our
goals relentlessly without pausing to reflect on the impact of our actions, the quality of our
lives, and our overall level of happiness. Unfortunately, this approach can lead us down a
path of self-destruction, both in terms of our actions and our thoughts.

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

Answer - The poet utilises the Earth as a symbol to emphasise that life can exist even in
apparent stillness. The Earth teaches us about the cycle of rebirth and regeneration. During
the fall season, trees and flowers shed their leaves, and everything in nature gradually goes
dormant. In the winter, everything freezes and appears lifeless. However, with the arrival of
spring, flowers blossom, trees begin to grow and reproduce, and nature comes back to life.
It's as if the Earth has undergone a rebirth. The poet encourages people to pause and reflect to
realise their purpose and experience a similar renewal that could transform their lives.

5. Analyse the importance of the dramatic count to twelve in ‘Keeping Quiet.’

The poet wishes that in this selected moment, the fishermen would not kill the whales and the
men gathering salt would give rest to their injured hands. The threat of destruction of the
world would come to a halt. In this chosen moment we would have time for self assessment.
The number ‘twelve’ is dramatically significant to represent our clock time, a moment in real
life.

6. How is the poet’s appeal for keeping quiet different from absolute sluggishness?
Answer:
The poet, in his appeal for keeping quiet, emphasizes the importance of self-introspection in a
man’s life. He urges us to seek a moment to understand ourselves and analyse our actions as
we experience the sadness of death. The poet’s appeal for a moment of silence or stillness
should not be mistaken as a plea, as a moment of inactivity or absolute sluggishness.

He seeks a silence where people are not obsessed with work and give a personal moment of
time to think about their actions. This moment of silence will help them to overcome their
woes and defects. The poet even feels that the Earth will enlighten men in this process, as
silence is only a moment captured where there is activity under apparent stillness.

*****************************HAPPY LEARNING*********************