CBSE Class 12 English HOTs Keeping Quiet Set 02

Before you Read

Question. What does the title of the poem suggest to you? What do you think the poem is about?
Answer: The title of the poem suggests the importance of silence. The poem is about the importance of quiet introspection so that we can understand ourselves as well as our actions and their impact in a better manner.

Think It Out

Question. What will counting upto twelve and keeping still help us achieve? Or Why does Pablo Neruda want us to count till twelve and keep still?
Answer: Counting up to twelve and keeping still will help us get some time to stop all our normal activities and self-introspect our actions. This will help us change our destructive ways and promote brotherhood among men.

Question. Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death?
Answer: No, the poet does not advocate total inactivity and death. He clarifies that his concept of silence has no relation with death. According to him, life is meant to be lived to the fullest. He just wants the inhuman and destructive activities to stop.

Question. What is the ‘sadness’ that the poet refers to in the poem?
Answer: The poet refers to the sadness that arises from the failure to understand ourselves. Today, we are so engrossed in achieving materialistic success that we have no time to introspect about our actions and their consequences. Hence, we often end up hurting ourselves and which results in sadness.

Question. What symbol from nature does the poet invoke to say that there can be life under apparent stillness?
Answer: The poet uses nature as a symbol to explain his idea that there can be life under apparent stillness. An example from nature is the Earth itself as when everything seems dead, later proves to be alive.

Extract Based Questions

Question. 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.

(i) What is the poet propagating through the given lines?
Answer: Through the given lines, the poet is propagating the need for peace and brotherhood.

(ii) Margaret Atwood said, “Language divides us into fragments, I wanted to be whole.” Choose the option that correctly comments on the relationship between Margaret Atwood’s words and the line from the above extract - “let’s not speak in any language”.
(a) Atwood endorses Neruda’s call to not speak in any language.
(b) Atwood justifies Neruda’s request to not engage in any speaking.
(c) Atwood undermines Neruda’s intent to stop and not speak in any language.
(d) Atwood surrenders to Neruda’s desire for silence and not speak in any language.
Answer: (a) Atwood endorses Neruda’s call to not speak in any language.

(iii) Complete the following suitably. The poet uses the word ‘let’s’ to ............ .
Answer: invite readers as part of the poem’s larger call to humanity.

(iv) Select the correct option from those given in bracket to fill in the blanks. The poet has employed words like ‘exotic’ and ‘strangeness’ because ............ (it highlights the importance of everyone being together suddenly for once/it emphasises the frantic activity and chaos that usually envelops human life.)
Answer: it emphasise the frantic activity and chaos that usually envelops human life.

(v) Read the assertion and the reason below, with reference to the given extract.
Assertion: The poet wants everyone to stop speaking.
Reason: Not speaking would avoid any miscommunication and hard words.
Choose the correct option regarding their relationship.
(a) Both the Assertion and the Reason are true, and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(b) Both the Assertion and the Reason are true, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(c) The Assertion is true, but the Reason is false.
(d) The Assertion is false, but the Reason is true.
Answer: (a) Both the Assertion and the Reason are true, and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.

(vi) What do we mean by ‘arms’ in the given extract?
Answer: The word ‘arms’ in the given extract can refer to general movement and chaos in the world. It can also refer to the use of weaponry.

Question. “It would be an exotic moment
without rush, without engines,
we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness.

(i) Why will the moment be strange?
Answer: The moment will be strange because in our everyday lives we do not have a moment of silence or quiet. There is chaos all around which will not be there in the moment of silence.

(ii) Pick phrases that portray ‘exotic moment’ in the poem.
1. Fisherman would not harm whales.
2. Salt gatherers would not have hurt hands
3. Victory with no survivors
4. People would walk around with their brothers
5. I want no truck with death
(a) 1, 2 and 4
(b) 2, 3 and 5
(c) 1, 2 and 5
(d) Only 1 and 2
Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 4

(iii) Complete the sentence suitably. The moment will be exotic because ............ .
Answer: it will bring a break from the usual noise and activity.

(iv) Select the correct option from those given in bracket, to fill in the blank. The reference to ‘without rush, without engines’ indicate the ............ (monotony/ busyness) of everyday life.
Answer: busyness

(v) Read the assertion and the reason below, with reference to the given extract.
Assertion: The contrast between ‘without rush’ and ‘without engines’ juxtaposes the usual hurry of modern life with the idea of tranquillity.
Reason: The idea of being ‘together’ emphasises unity, while ‘sudden strangeness’ evokes a shared yet surreal experience.
Choose the correct option regarding their relationship.
(a) Both the Assertion and the Reason are true, and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(b) Both the Assertion and the Reason are true, but the Reason is not the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(c) The Assertion is true, but the Reason is false.
(d) The Assertion is false, but the Reason is true.
Answer: (b) Both the Assertion and the Reason are true, but the Reason is not the correct explanation of the Assertion.

(vi) Does the poet propagate total inactivity when he says ‘without rush, without engines’?
Answer: No, the poet does not propagate total inactivity as he himself later states in the poem that he does not want people to confuse his thoughts of being silent with total inactivity. He wants people to be silent to introspect.

Question. “Fishermen in the cold sea
would not harm whales
and the man gathering salt
would look at his hurt hands.”

(i) What does the poet expect of the fisherman?
Answer: The poet expects the fishermen to participate in his suggestion of being quiet and introspecting and stop killing whales in the sea.

(ii) How ‘Keeping Quiet’ is going to help the man who works as ‘Salt gatherer’?
(a) He will get time to take care of his wounded hands,
(b) He will not work as ‘salt gatherer’,
(c) He will introspect about the type of work he does.
(d) None of the options
Answer: (a) He will get time to take care of his wounded hands

(iii) Fill in the blank appropriately. The tone of the poet in the given extract is ............ .
Answer: hopeful and optimistic

(iv) Select the correct option from those given in bracket, to fill in the blank. The expression ‘the man gathering salt’ symbolises ............ (labour and human toil/exploitation of nature).
Answer: labour and human toil

(v) Read the Assertion and the Reason below, with reference to the given extract.
Assertion: ‘Fishermen in the cold sea’ evoke a harsh environment.
Reason: This sets the scene for the subsequent transformation.
Choose the correct option regarding their relationship.
(a) Both the Assertion and the Reason are true, and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(b) Both the Assertion and the Reason are true, but the Reason is not the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(c) The Assertion is true, but the Reason is false.
(d) The Assertion is false, but the Reason is true.
Answer: (b) Both the Assertion and the Reason are true, but the Reason is not the correct explanation of the Assertion.

(vi) What does the expression ‘hurt hands’ imply?
Answer: The expression ‘hurt hands’ imply the destruction that humans have caused to themselves and the nature in their pursuit of their selfish desires and greed.

Question. 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, 

(i) What is a common outcome of all the wars described?
Answer: A common outcome of all the wars that are described in the given lines is the gaining of victory without any survivors on any side.

(ii) What does the imagery of ‘walking about with their brothers in the shade’ primarily represent?
(a) The readiness for further conflicts.
(b) A return to normal activities post-conflict.
(c) A moment of unity and peaceful reflection.
(d) The physical environment of a typical war zone.
Answer: (c) A moment of unity and peaceful reflection.

(iii) Complete the following suitably. The putting on of ‘clean clothes’ by the warmongers, symbolises ............ .
Answer: a moment of pause and reflection which presents the possibility of transformation wherein they embrace a peaceful existence.

(iv) Select the correct option from those given in bracket, to fill in the blank. The excerpt tells us that the speaker ............ (condemns/glorifies) the destructive nature of modern warfare.
Answer: condemns

(v) Read the Assertion and the Reason below, with reference to the given extract.
Assertion: The poet advocates for ‘doing nothing’ as a way to prevent the devastation of war.
Reason: ‘Doing nothing’ refers to a time for stopping any action for a few moments.
Choose the correct option regarding their relationship.
(a) Both the Assertion and the Reason are true, and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(b) Both the Assertion and the Reason are true, but the Reason is not the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(c) The Assertion is true, but the Reason is false.
(d) The Assertion is false, but the Reason is true.
Answer: (b) Both the Assertion and the Reason are true, but the Reason is not the correct explanation of the Assertion.

(vi) How can the message in the excerpt, about the outcome of wars be applied to promote peace?
Answer: The message of peace presented in the extract can be applied by global leaders and communities to work toward more sustainable and peaceful solutions. They can advocate for non-violent or peaceful resolutions and negotiations in contemporary conflicts. They can also be used to promote dialogue and understanding over aggression and warfare.

Question. Select the line/s that suggests the following :
(i) The so-called victors of the wars are indifferent to the consequences of their actions.
Answer: The line that suggests the victors of wars are indifferent to the consequences of their actions is ‘Victory with no survivors’.

(ii) What does the imagery of ‘green wars’ not represent in the extract?
(a) Environmental conflict
(b) Harmful destruction
(c) Sustainable peace
(d) Continuous deforestation
Answer: (c) Sustainable peace

(iii) Complete the following suitably. ‘Clean clothes’ here refers to ............ .
Answer: a symbolic renewal of conscience and a fresh start, free from the stains of war and destruction.

(iv) Choose a word from the brackets to complete the following suitably. Phrases like ‘victory with no survivors’ illustrate the ............ (irony/satire) in the situation where those claiming victory actually achieve nothing of true value.
Answer: irony

(v) Read the Assertion and the Reason below with reference to the given context.
Assertion: The poet criticises the superficial actions of those involved in conflicts.
Reason: The actions described are meant to highlight the futility and destruction of wars.
Choose the correct option.
(a) Both the Assertion and the Reason are true and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(b) Both the Assertion and the Reason are true, but the Reason is not the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(c) The Assertion is true, but the Reason is false.
(d) The Assertion is false, but the Reason is true.
Answer: (a) Both the Assertion and the Reason are true, and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.

(vi) What is the message that you would give to the warmongers based on the given extract?
Answer: Message to warmongers is wars bring destruction, not true victory. Instead of engaging in violence, they should embrace peace, coexistence, and harmony. True progress lies in building, not destroying.

Question. “What I want should not be Confused
with total inactivity.
Life is what it is about;
I want no truck with death.”

(i) What is life about according to the poet?
Answer: According to the poet, life is something that is to be lived and experienced with brief pauses of introspection.

(ii) What should not be confused with ‘total unproductivity’?
(a) Putting on clean clothes
(b) Stopping wars
(c) Practicising to keep still and quiet
(d) Relaxing for a while
Answer: (c) Practicising to keep still and quiet

(iii) Fill in the blank appropriately. The use of double quotation in the extract indicates that ............ .
Answer: the poet is speaking to someone

(iv) Identify the phrase from the extract, that suggests the following: No association with death as life is to be lived fully. Stillness and inactivity for few minutes is different from death.
Answer: Life is what it is about I want. No truck with death.

(v) Read the Assertion and the Reason below, with reference to the given extract.
Assertion: The line break after ‘confused’ emphasises this distinction.
Reason: The syntactical break and enjambment create a pause that allows readers to consider the contrast between the two concepts.
Choose the correct option regarding their relationship.
(a) Both the Assertion and the Reason are true, and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(b) Both the Assertion and the Reason are true, but the Reason is not the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(c) The Assertion is true, but the Reason is false.
(d) The Assertion is false, but the Reason is true.
Answer: (a) Both the Assertion and the Reason are true, and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.

(vi) Complete the following analogy correctly by choosing the correct option from those given in bracket (What/Truck).
Confusion : Uncertain :: Relation : ............
Answer: Truck

Question. If we were not so single-minded
about keeping our lives moving,
and for once could do nothing,
perhaps a huge silence
might interrupt this sadness
of never understanding ourselves
and of threatening ourselves with death, 

(i) Select the phrase from the above extract that suggests the following: The ceaseless activity in our daily life.
Answer: The phrase that suggests ‘the ceaseless activity in our daily life’ is ‘keeping our lives moving’.

(ii) What does the imagery of ‘single-mindedness’ not represent in the given extract?
(a) Flexibility
(b) Unwavering determination
(c) Dedication
(d) Persistent efforts
Answer: (a) Flexibility

(iii) Complete the following suitably. In the line, ‘might interrupt this sadness’, the phrase this sadness refers to ............ .
Answer: the emptiness and lack of self-awareness caused by continuous, unreflective activity.

(iv) The poet has used phrases like ‘never understanding ourselves’ to illustrate ............ (irony/humour) in continuous movement without reflection.
Answer: irony

(v) Read the Assertion and the Reason below with reference to the given extract.
Assertion: The poet emphasises the need for productive reflection.
Reason: Purposeless and continuous movement leads to sadness and existential threats.
Choose the correct option from the following.
(a) Both the Assertion and the Reason are true, but the Reason is not the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(b) Both the Assertion and the Reason are true, and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(c) The Assertion is true, but the Reason is false.
(d) The Assertion is false, but the Reason is true.
Answer: (b) Both the Assertion and the Reason are true, and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.

(vi) State in one sentence what advice you would give to people who are always busy.
Answer: My advice to people who are always busy - Take time to pause, reflect, and embrace moments of silence to truly understand yourself and find peace.

Question. “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”,

(i) Where does the poet go?
Answer: The poet enters the moment of self introspection and goes to be silent.

(ii) What is the significance of ‘Keeping Quiet’?
(a) Very peaceful atmosphere
(b) No involvement in harmful activities
(c) Establishing peaceful coexistence
(d) All of the options
Answer: (d) All of the options

(iii) Complete the following sentence. The poet uses conversational style and personal pronouns or ‘you’, ‘we’ and ‘I’ because ............ .
Answer: he wants us to be friendly with whole mankind.

(iv) Select the correct option from those given in bracket, to fill in the blank. These lines introduces the Earth as a ............ (example/teacher).
Answer: teacher

(v) Read the Assertion and the Reason below, with reference to the given extract.
Assertion: The metaphor of ‘everything seems dead/and later proves to be alive’ underlines the theme of transformation, aligning with the idea of stillness leading to new perspectives.
Reason: Neruda wants to continue the poem by urging the reader to continue in silence as he departs, leaving them to reflect on the poem’s message.
Choose the correct option regarding their relationship.
(a) Both the Assertion and the Reason are true, and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(b) Both the Assertion and the Reason are true, but the Reason is not the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(c) The Assertion is true, but the Reason is false.
(d) The Assertion is false, but the Reason is true.
Answer: (c) The Assertion is true, but the Reason is false.

(vi) What message does the poet give in the extract?
Answer: The poet wants to give a message that there is life even in the moment of total inactivity. This moment of total inactivity leads one to grow and become a better version of oneself.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question. Which is the exotic moment that the poet refers to in ‘Keeping Quiet’?
Answer: The poet refers to the moment of stillness and quietness as an exotic moment because it will initiate peace and brotherhood. There would be no movement, no talk, no activity and consequently, no violence.

Question. Why does one feel ‘a sudden strangeness’ on counting to twelve and keeping quiet?
Answer: The sudden strangeness of counting to twelve and keeping quiet in ‘Keeping Quiet’ arises from the disruption of routine and the stillness it creates. This pause forces a reflection on the busy, often chaotic, nature of life, making the act of silence feel unfamiliar.

Question. How would keeping quiet affect life in and around the sea?
Answer: Keeping quiet would promote peace and harmony in the sea and its surrounding. It would allow marine life to thrive undisturbed, while humans reflect and reconnect with nature. The stillness would reduce noise pollution, fostering a healthier ecosystem and encouraging a deeper appreciation for the sea’s fragile beauty.

Question. What is Pablo Neruda’s complaint against fishermen? 
Answer: Pablo Neruda’s complaint against the fishermen is that they are failing to grasp the serene silence of the ocean. They are exploiting nature and disrupting the beautiful silence by their noisy endeavours.

Question. What are the different kinds of wars mentioned in the poem? What is Neruda’s attitude towards these wars?
Answer: The poet writes about wars against humanity and nature. Green wars, wars with poisonous gases and wars with fire are the kinds of wars mentioned in the poem. Neruda’s attitude towards war is one of rejection. He feels that such wars may bring victory but there are no survivors to celebrate the victory.

Question. How would humanity benefit if people maintained silence? Or What will possibly be the effect of keeping quiet? Or How, according to Neruda, can keeping quiet change our attitude to life?
Answer: Humanity would benefit if people maintained silence because it would encourage self-reflection, mutual understanding, and peace. Continuous activity and noise create stress and conflict, while moments of stillness allow people to connect with themselves and others, leading to a more compassionate and thoughtful society.

Question. ‘Life is what it is all about.’ How is keeping quiet related to life?
Answer: Keeping quiet does not mean complete inactivity but stillness and quietness to introspect on what we are doing. This means stopping our normal day-to-day activities to reflect on our actions. Thus it is related to life, although this may not be visible outwardly.

Question. ‘There is life under apparent stillness’. Explain. 
Answer: The given phrase means that even when everything seems inactive and almost still, there is some activity in the background that shows that everything is alive. In other words, 'stillness' is not death but a time wherein activity happens in the background to promote positive development.

Question. What, according to Pablo Neruda in the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’, is the lesson that we should learn from Mother earth? 
Answer: According to Pablo Neruda in the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’, the lesson that we should learn from mother earth is to remember that there is activity and positivity in the apparent stillness. He states that just like a seed that remains in a latent state but soon germinates into a plant, we can also learn many things during the moment of silence and retrospection.

Question. How is the Earth a source of life when all seems dead on it?
Answer: In the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’, the Earth is a source of life because it is never in a state of total inactivity even when there is silence all around. Nature continues to work even when everything is still and silent.

Question. In a world that is constantly running after ‘more’ chasing the next new thing, would it be fair to think of Neruda’s call as merely a fanciful idea?
Answer: In a world that is constantly running after more, Neruda’s idea would resonate with the people. Silence and stillness are therapeutic for the chaos that plagues modern life. In a place where yoga and meditation are becoming popular, Neruda’s idea would be readily accepted.

Question. The world has become a global village and people across boundaries, nationalities and communities are now connected to one another. With the advancement of technology, and the advent of social media, do you think that the task of keeping quiet, as envisaged by Neruda, has become easier or more complicated? Justify your stance.
Answer: It is precisely because we are more connected than ever before that the task of keeping quiet has become more complicated. Earlier, it was possible to divide day and night activities but now everything is on for twenty-four hours whether that is the media or the internet. Keeping quiet is necessary but also more difficult at this time.

Question. Give two Reasons why, according to Pablo Neruda, is ‘keeping quiet’ essential to attaining a better, more peaceful world. (Keeping Quiet) 
Answer: For Pablo Neruda, ‘Keeping Quiet’ is essential to attaining a better and more peaceful world because silence makes us introspect and reflect upon our exploitative actions. It helps us better understand ourselves and what we want. It also enables us to realise that many of our mindless actions are only harming us and not giving us happiness.

Question. The poem ‘Keeping Quiet’ centres around transformation and renewal. Substantiate.
Answer: The poem ‘Keeping Quiet’ centres around transformation and renewal. It implies that a moment of silence and inactivity can lead to personal and global transformation. By interrupting the busyness of life, a ‘huge silence’ might lead to a deeper understanding of ourselves and a break from the cycle of misunderstanding and conflict.

Question. What does the poet mean by ‘green wars’ in the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’? Answer in 20-30 words. 
Answer: Through the given phrase, the poet refers to man’s destruction of the environment and the Earth’s green cover, specifically trees and forests.

Question. Adi is constantly on his phone updating his life on social media to increase the number of followers he has. What advice would Pablo Neruda give to Adi based on the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’? Answer in 20-30 words. [Competency Based]
Answer: The poet Pablo Neruda would advise Adi to take a break from social media and put his phone aside. Just like he states in his poem ‘Keeping Quiet’, Neruda would urge Adi to spend some time with himself in solitude and learn to listen to his own voice, rather than the voice of the thousands of people online. Such introspection could lead Adi to identify the important things in life and move away from the fabrications of the social media.

Question. How can Earth play the role of a teacher according to Pablo Neruda?
Answer: According to Pablo Neruda, Earth plays the role of a teacher by demonstrating the power of stillness and renewal. Just as the Earth appears lifeless in winter but regenerates in spring, humans too can pause, reflect, and rejuvenate their lives through introspection and silence.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question. What kind of an imaginary and ideal world does the poet visualise?
Answer: The poet longs for a calm, quiet and peaceful world, devoid of all forms of violence, as he visualises ‘togetherness’ of the people in a moment of silence and peace. According to the poet, this moment will give us time in silence for self-introspection. It will bring in a moment when we can spiritually attain our moral self through a moment of meditation. This moment will bring an end to all destructive activities in the world. The fishermen will not be killing whales and the men gathering salt will have time to rest their injured hands. Environmental degradation will come to an end. The warmongers will be silenced in a moment of brotherhood to meditate and cleanse their souls. The poet hopes that it will be an ideal world where man will be able to come out from his self-centred attitude to gain moral peace.

Question. It could be said that the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’ presents the poet’s philosophy for a different kind of world. If you were asked to highlight elements of Neruda’s vision that resonate in your specific social, political and cultural context, which three main ideas would you engage with? Use relevant textual details to support your analysis. 
Answer: Pablo Neruda imagines a beautiful world in which silence and stillness becomes a regular part of one’s life and which increases understanding of oneself and reduces environmental conflict and war. Neruda’s vision can be adopted into a social, political and cultural context in the following ways. The first is Neruda’s suggestion of keeping quiet which can be adopted into the social context of a school curriculum. Students can devote thirty minutes of silence in a week which could be spent in a library or meditation hall. They would be taught to be still and silent under any circumstances. Second, Neruda’s suggestion of stillness can be suggested to political parties who can incorporate them into their political doctrine. Third, at a cultural level, stillness and silence can be adopted at a grassroots level movement starting with Stillness Clubs (where people go to stay still and be silent) for the public which can then be replicated in companies and neighbourhoods. Ideally, stillness and silence should be taught at home and from there, it should spread all over the world.

Question. The last two years of school tend to be about planning for life after school. This can be motivating, overwhelming or encouraging for some and stressful for others. Write a diary entry recording your thoughts on the following: Neruda’s ideas in ‘Keeping Quiet’ as a guide in this situation; Thinking differently about your decisions with reference to Neruda’s ‘Keeping Quiet’. 
Answer: Wednesday, 6th November, 20XX 9:00 p.m.
Dear Diary,
I reflected on something today. This reflection did not come out of the blue. It came about deliberately after reading the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’ by Pablo Neruda. In the poem, the poet promoted stillness and quietness for self reflection. Now, you know how I have been confused about my future career and life. So, I decided to follow the technique suggested by Neruda. And it worked. I locked myself in the study and just thought what I liked doing, whether I will be able to make my life in the field that I like and how will I go about it. It took me some days of research and thinking. But now I have a solution. I want to pursue hotel management and convert our old ancestral haveli into a hotel for business. I know the decision will not be met with optimism but I have thought about it as well. Now, I will take your leave.
XYZ

Question. Wars with gas, war with fire. Victory with no survivors. (Keeping Quiet) Pablo Neruda in the above lines, highlights the futility of war. Gandhi also brought about the change in the plight of the Champaran sharecroppers through Civil Disobedience and Non-Violence. Write an article on the ‘Importance of Peace’ and the right way to resolve issues. 
Answer: Importance of Peace
by XYZ
In a world rife with conflict and turmoil, the significance of peace cannot be overstated. Pablo Neruda’s ‘Keeping Quiet’ highlights the value of tranquillity and reflection in fostering harmony among humanity. Similarly, Mahatma Gandhi’s transformative approach to the plight of Champaran sharecroppers exemplifies the efficacy of non-violent resistance in resolving disputes. Peace serves as a catalyst for progress, allowing individuals and societies to channel their energies towards constructive endeavours. By advocating for Civil Disobedience and Non-Violent protest, Gandhi facilitated social change while upholding the principles of justice and compassion. The path to peace requires humility, empathy, and a commitment to dialogue and understanding. It entails transcending differences and embracing shared humanity. By eschewing violence and embracing peaceful means, individuals can forge lasting resolutions to conflicts, fostering a world characterised by harmony, justice and mutual respect.

Question. Why has the poet of ‘Keeping Quiet’ mentioned the concept of death? Justify with any two Reasons whether the thought of death helps people live a meaningful life or not. Answer in 120-150 words. 
Answer: In the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’, the poet mentions the concept of death and says that we never understand ourselves because we keep threatening ourselves with death. He feels that due to our awareness of our mortality and our impending death, we are in a mad rush of activity. We always want to do something or the other and never take the time to reflect on our lives. Thus, we become ‘single-minded’ to keeping ourselves alive going until we are alive. I think thinking about death can help us lead a meaningful life. It forces us to prioritise things that are important to us and let go of things that are not. So, one can let go of trivialities that do not serve any long term benefit. It also makes us appreciate everything around us even more as we understand that we are mortal and will one day cease to exist. However, I also understand that death can cease to be a good motivator and make one anxious.

Question. It could be said that the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’ presents the poet’s philosophy for a different kind of world. If you were asked to highlight elements of Neruda’s vision that resonate in your specific social, political and cultural context, which three main ideas would you engage with? Use relevant textual details to support your analysis.
Answer: Pablo Neruda imagines a beautiful world in which silence and stillness become a regular part of one’s life, which increases understanding of oneself and reduces environmental conflict and war. Neruda’s vision can be adopted into a social, political and cultural context in the following ways. The first is Neruda’s suggestion of Keeping quiet can be adopted into the social context of a school curriculum. Students can devote thirty minutes of silence in a week which could be spent in a library or meditation hall. They would be taught to be still and silent under any circumstances. Second, Neruda’s suggestion of stillness can be suggested to political parties who can incorporate them into their political doctrine. Third, at a cultural level, stillness and silence can be adopted at a grassroot level movement starting with Stillness Clubs (where people go to stay still and be silent) for the public which can then be replicated in companies and neighbourhoods. Ideally, stillness and silence should be taught at home and from there, it should spread all over the world.