Chapter 8: Keeping quiet

English
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Chapter 8: Keeping quiet

Class: XII

Exercise number – 1

Before you Read

Question 1

What does the title of the poem suggest to you? What do you think the poem is about?

Answer 1

The title of the poem suggests the importance of silence.
The poem shows the poet's concern concerning self-contemplation and self-examination. It’s also an appeal to universal harmony advocating tolerance and selflessness. It refers to Nature that ne'er fails to exist and could be a testimony to forbearance.

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Think it out

Question 1

What will counting up to twelve and keeping still help we achieve?

Answer 1

Counting up to twelve takes very short time. Keeping still for this transient interval of
time provides us a fleeting pause to introspect and review the course of action. It’s usually determined that almost all of the ills and troubles of the world are caused by our rush or hurry. The rush refers to competition that ends up in every kind of intolerance. Intolerance provides birth to anger and violence. Keeping quiet and still can provide us necessary respite from this rush and guarantee peace.

Question 2.

Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death?

Answer 2

No, poet does not advocate either total inactivity or death. He makes it quite clear that
'stillness' shouldn't be confused with 'total inactivity' or equated to that. Total inactivity brings death. However poet doesn't want to urge related to death. His stillness suggests that halting of harmful and hostile human activities.

Question 3

What is the 'sadness' that the poet refers to in the poem?

Answer 3

The poet refers to the 'sadness' of failing to know oneself within the monotonous
every day existence. He conjointly finds it unhappy that the humanity is moving towards its own ruin as a result of its unanalysed actions. He regrets the rush of outdoing others that has created us forget the values of humanity.

Question 4

What symbol from Nature does the poet invoke to say that there can be life under apparent stillness?

Answer 4

The poet uses the symbol of the earth as an example the purpose that there will be life
under apparent stillness. The earth refers to Nature. Nature ne'er ceases to exist, but remains and quiet, tolerating everything. The earth looks silent, yet nurtures most life in it.