Poem 2 Keeping Quiet (Class 12 Flamingo) — complete, exam-oriented, and written exactly in the way MP Board/CBSE asks in board exams:

🌿 Keeping Quiet — Summary, Analysis, Key Points, Central Idea

(English + Hindi)**

🔹 Poem by: Pablo Neruda

🔹 Type: Philosophical / reflective poem

🔹 Theme: Peace, silence, unity, self-introspection

✅ SUMMARY (IN ENGLISH)

“Keeping Quiet” is a reflective poem in which Pablo Neruda appeals to the whole world to observe a moment of silence. He asks everyone to keep still and count to twelve — a symbolic pause from the rush, violence, and conflicts of life.

The poet believes that silence will create a moment of understanding among humans. If people stop all activities — including work, wars, destruction, and harmful actions — they will be able to realize the real purpose of life.

Neruda says that this silence is not about death or total inactivity. Instead, it is a moment of self-introspection, where humans can examine their life, actions, and relationships. This pause will help create peace, harmony, and mutual respect. If humans understand themselves better, they will understand others too.

He concludes by saying that life continues like the earth — calm yet productive — and we must learn from nature to live peacefully.

🌸 SUMMARY (IN HINDI)

“कीपिंग क्वाइट” एक विचारशील कविता है जिसमें कवि पाब्लो नेरूदा पूरे विश्व से कुछ क्षणों के लिए शांत रहने की अपील करते हैं। वे चाहते हैं कि सभी लोग अपने कार्य रोककर केवल बारह तक गिनें — यह तेज़ जीवन से एक प्रतीकात्मक विराम है।

कवि मानते हैं कि इस क्षणिक शांति से मनुष्यों के बीच समझ, प्रेम और एकता बढ़ेगी। यदि लोग युद्ध, हिंसा, दौड़-भाग और विनाशकारी कार्य रोक दें, तो वे जीवन का वास्तविक उद्देश्य समझ पाएँगे।

नेरूदा बताते हैं कि यह शांति मृत्यु या निष्क्रियता नहीं है। यह आत्म-मंथन का समय है, जिसमें मनुष्य अपने कर्म, व्यवहार और संबंधों को समझ सकता है।

कवि अंत में पृथ्वी का उदाहरण देकर कहते हैं कि हमें प्रकृति की तरह शांत रहते हुए भी सृजनशील और शांतिपूर्ण जीवन जीना चाहिए।

🎯 IMPORTANT KEY POINTS (EXAM-FOCUSED)

Poem emphasizes silence, peace, and self-introspection.
“Counting to twelve” is symbolic — 12 months, 12 hours, 12 zodiac signs, entire world.
Suggests temporarily stopping all human activities to bring unity.
Silence will help humans understand themselves and others.
Poet rejects the idea that silence means death.
Encourages people to stop wars, violence, and destructive actions.
Earth teaches us to live calmly and productively.
Message: Peace begins with pause and thought.

📌 CENTRAL IDEA (IN ENGLISH)

The central idea of “Keeping Quiet” is that silence and stillness can lead to peace, unity, and self-realization. Pablo Neruda urges mankind to pause, reflect, and understand the value of peaceful coexistence. He believes that a brief moment of quietness can help humans overcome their selfishness, violence, and destructive behavior, leading to a better world.

📌 CENTRAL IDEA (IN HINDI)

“कीपिंग क्वाइट” का केंद्रीय विचार है कि शांति और स्थिरता मनुष्य को आत्म-चिंतन करने और दूसरों को समझने का अवसर देती है। कवि मनुष्यों से कुछ क्षण शांत रहने की अपील करते हैं ताकि वे हिंसा, लालच और विनाशकारी कार्यों से दूर होकर शांति और प्रेमपूर्ण जीवन जी सकें। यही मार्ग विश्व में सद्भाव लाता है।

✅ 20 MCQs From Keeping Quiet

1. Who is the poet of “Keeping Quiet”?

A. Stephen Spender
B. Pablo Neruda
C. Kamala Das
D. Robert Frost
Answer: B. Pablo Neruda

2. What does the poet ask everyone to do at the beginning?

A. Stop talking
B. Count to twelve
C. Close their eyes
D. Pray
Answer: B. Count to twelve

3. What is the main theme of the poem?

A. Love and romance
B. Joy and sorrow
C. Peace and introspection
D. Nature and seasons
Answer: C. Peace and introspection

4. The poet wants people to keep quiet for a moment to—

A. Sleep
B. Understand themselves and others
C. Fight better
D. Change religion
Answer: B. Understand themselves and others

5. According to Neruda, this moment of silence is NOT related to—

A. Death
B. Introspection
C. Peace
D. Understanding
Answer: A. Death

6. Why does the poet use the number “twelve”?

A. It is his lucky number
B. Symbol of the whole world
C. He liked twelve fruits
D. It sounds poetic
Answer: B. Symbol of the whole world

7. What will fishermen stop doing during the silence?

A. Counting fish
B. Hunting whales
C. Talking loudly
D. Fighting
Answer: B. Hunting whales

8. What will the salt-gatherers do during the moment of silence?

A. Stop working and rest
B. Go to the beach
C. Start dancing
D. Fight each other
Answer: A. Stop working and rest

9. What will happen if all people keep quiet?

A. Noise pollution will increase
B. World will end
C. Human unity will increase
D. People will fall asleep
Answer: C. Human unity will increase

10. The poet asks soldiers to stop—

A. Eating
B. Talking
C. Cleaning their guns
D. Waging wars
Answer: D. Waging wars

11. What kind of silence does Neruda talk about?

A. Total inactivity
B. Dead-like silence
C. Peaceful and temporary silence
D. Fearful silence
Answer: C. Peaceful and temporary silence

12. Keeping quiet will help people to—

A. Become lazy
B. Feel bored
C. Reflect on their actions
D. Fight better
Answer: C. Reflect on their actions

13. What example from nature does the poet give?

A. Moon
B. Earth
C. Stars
D. Rivers
Answer: B. Earth

14. What does the Earth teach us?

A. To remain inactive
B. To explode in anger
C. To continue life calmly
D. To keep fighting
Answer: C. To continue life calmly

15. The poet’s message for humans is to—

A. Stop eating
B. Stop working forever
C. Learn peaceful coexistence
D. Leave the planet
Answer: C. Learn peaceful coexistence

16. What is meant by “exotic moment”?

A. A moment of great celebration
B. A moment of perfect peace
C. A moment of eating food
D. A moment of dancing
Answer: B. A moment of perfect peace

17. Why does the poet want people to be silent?

A. To escape from life
B. To enjoy nature
C. To introspect and create harmony
D. To sleep peacefully
Answer: C. To introspect and create harmony

18. What will the man gathering salt feel during silence?

A. Painful hands
B. Instant relief
C. Tiredness
D. Nothing different
Answer: B. Instant relief

19. What does the poet request the readers at the end?

A. To destroy weapons
B. To do meditation forever
C. To quietly observe nature
D. To understand the value of silence
Answer: D. To understand the value of silence