keeping quiet-class 12:Pablo Neruda

JAMIA & CBSE BOARD:FLAMINGO

The poet says that the modern world's maladies are directly linked to the mad rush and the rat race everywhere.confusion,tension and stress make life unbearable.The poet wishes for pleasant idleness and relaxation away from the frantic rat race,destructive activities and futile wars.He wishes for a profound silence and stillness that would remove the sadness caused by lack of introspection i.e.,self understanding and self analysis.The poet suggests all of us should count to twelve and keep silent.He doesn't want people to talk in any language nor does he want any physical activity to disturb the calm.

He longs for this extraordinary moment when there is no rush,no noise,no harm,no destruction and no war.He also wishes to end environmental degradation caused by exploitation of resources.He feels that in such a war whether against nature or men,there will be no victory without loss of life.Instead of creating wars,people should co-exist in a peaceful situation.He asserts that silence and calmness should not be equated with absolute inaction or total inactivity.That would mean death.He wants that people should not be obsessed with motiveless progress-a progress where people simply exist and don't live.This pause might suspend the wretchedness(miserable existence)of  failing to understand ourselves and bringing on to ourselves self-destruction.Neruda(the poet) says that we need to learn this lesson from the earth.It seems quiet and yet it moves and nurtures so much life on it.The poet wants each of us to begin this exercise at our level.


questions & answers:
1-what is the poet's appeal to the people?
ans-The poet appeals to the people to keep quiet and be still for a few moment.He appeals to us not to speak in any language and not move our arms.

2-To attain this what does he expect all of us to do?
ans-To attain the silence the poet expect all of us to count to twelve and then keep silent.

3-why does he advocate silence ?
ans-The poet advocates silence so that we can get time for introspection.There is a mad rush in the world today.Confusion,tension and stress prevail everywhere.Relaxation is lacking in the world.The poet says us to keep quiet and introspect ourselves so that we can be freed from worldly maladies.