CBSE Class 12 English Chapter 11: Keeping Quiet NCERT Solutions

Solution:

(a) The poem is titled "Keeping Quiet", and the poet is Pablo Neruda.

(b) The poet suggests counting to twelve because it represents a complete cycle, perhaps symbolizing the twelve hours on a clock or the twelve months of a year. This count serves as a signal to pause and enter a state of stillness, breaking away from the usual rush of life.

(c) The poet asks everyone to keep still to encourage a moment of introspection and peace. This stillness is intended to halt the destructive activities and the constant, often meaningless, rush that characterizes human existence, allowing for a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world.

(d) The words from the passage that mean:

(i) say number: count

(ii) quiet and motionless: still

Solution:

(a) The poem is "Keeping Quiet", and the poet is Pablo Neruda.

(b) The poet suggests not speaking in any language to promote a universal moment of silence and unity. By refraining from communication, people can avoid misunderstandings, disputes, and the conflicts that often arise from verbal exchanges, fostering an atmosphere of peace.

(c) For one second, we should stop all physical activities, particularly those involving our arms. The poet implies that human arms are often used for harmful actions, such as fighting or destruction, and stopping their movement for a moment signifies a cessation of such violence.

(d) The expression 'the face of the Earth' refers to the entire surface of the planet, encompassing all humanity and all nations. It signifies the global community where these actions and pauses are to take place.

Solution:

(a) The poem is "Keeping Quiet", and the poet is Pablo Neruda.

(b) If there is no rush and the sound of engines stops, it implies a cessation of the frantic pace of modern life and industrial activity. This would lead to an atmosphere of profound peace and quiet across the Earth.

(c) It would be an 'exotic' and 'sudden strangeness' – a moment that is unusual, beautiful, and perhaps a little disorienting because it is so different from our normal, busy lives.

(d) At that moment, all of us would feel a sense of shared experience in this unusual quietness. The 'sudden strangeness' would likely evoke a feeling of wonder and perhaps a moment of collective realization about our usual way of living.

Solution:

(a) Fishermen typically engage in fishing activities in the cold sea, which often involves catching various marine creatures, including whales.

(b) The poet asks fishermen to refrain from harming the whales. This is part of the larger call to stop all destructive actions, emphasizing compassion towards other living beings.

(c) The man gathering salt has injured his hands. This suggests that his work is harsh and painful, and he has likely been performing it without pause, leading to injury.

(d) The man gathering salt should pause his work and attend to his hurt hands. This implies taking a moment for self-care and recognizing the physical toll his labor takes, rather than continuing blindly.

Solution:

(a) The poem is "Keeping Quiet", and the poet is Pablo Neruda.

(b) The lines mention destructive and modern forms of warfare: 'green wars' (which could refer to ecological destruction or biological warfare), wars fought with poisonous 'gas', and wars fought with 'fire'.

(c) It will be a 'victory with no survivors'. This signifies a hollow and meaningless triumph, as there will be no one left to celebrate or benefit from the victory, highlighting the ultimate futility of such conflicts.

(d) The poet suggests that those who engage in war should instead put on clean clothes, symbolizing purity and a fresh start, and walk peacefully with their fellow humans ('brothers') in the shade, engaging in 'doing nothing' – a state of quiet contemplation and non-violence.

Solution:

(a) The poem is "Keeping Quiet", and the poet is Pablo Neruda.

(b) The poet clarifies that his call for 'keeping quiet' should not be mistaken for advocating 'total inactivity' or a cessation of life itself. He emphasizes that life is precious and his intention is not to promote death or idleness, but a meaningful pause.

(c) The poet explicitly states, 'I want no truck with death.' This means he wants to avoid anything that leads to destruction, loss of life, or the end of existence, whether through war, pollution, or excessive, thoughtless activity.

(d) If we could stop our relentless, 'single-minded' pursuit of 'keeping our lives moving' and embrace a moment of doing nothing, a 'huge silence' might occur. This silence could interrupt the pervasive sadness stemming from our failure to understand ourselves and our tendency to threaten our own existence with destructive actions.