Class 12 English — Chapter 10: Keeping Quiet

What you'll learn

• ▸The Call for Quiet Introspection
• ▸The Concept of the 'Exotic Moment'
• ▸Humanity's Harmful Actions
• ▸Critique of War and Conflict
• ▸Stillness versus Total Inactivity
• ▸The 'Sadness' of Misunderstanding
• ▸The Earth as a Symbol of Rejuvenation
• ▸About the Poet: Pablo Neruda's Philosophy

Chapter Summary

--- PAGE 1 --- 2 Keeping Quiet About the poet Pablo Neruda (1904-1973) 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. Before you read What does the title of the poem suggest to you? What do you think the poem is about? 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. Reprint…

Practice Questions from this Chapter

Tap "Get Solution" on any question to ask our AI tutor.

1. Discuss inner peace's impact. Get Solution →
2. Explain silence's power on people. Get Solution →
3. Describe ways to achieve global unity. Get Solution →
4. What is the pen name of the poet Neftali Ricardo Reyes Basoalto? Get Solution →
5. In what year did Pablo Neruda win the Nobel Prize for Literature? Get Solution →
6. In the poem, what number does the speaker ask everyone to count to? Get Solution →
7. During the moment of stillness, what would the fishermen in the cold sea NOT do? Get Solution →
8. What would the man gathering salt do during the moment of quiet? Get Solution →

Did you know?

• 💡 Sound cannot travel in a vacuum, making outer space perfectly silent.
• 💡 The Earth's rotation is slowing, adding tiny fractions to each day.
• 💡 Ancient philosophers believed silence was essential for deep thought.
• 💡 The Olympic Truce calls for all conflicts to pause during the Games.
• 💡 Some plants and animals remain dormant for years, appearing completely still.

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