Question:
Write the central idea of the poem 'Keeping Quiet'.
Write the central idea of the poem 'Keeping Quiet'.
Updated On: Sep 24, 2026
Show Solution
Verified By Collegedunia
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Theme:
Pablo Neruda's 'Keeping Quiet' calls upon all humanity to pause, momentarily, from its ceaseless activity — including wars, work, and exploitation — and observe a period of stillness and introspection.
Step 2: Message:
The poet is not advocating total inactivity or death, but a brief, healing silence that would allow humans to reflect on their lives, feel a sense of common humanity across differences, and reconnect with nature and themselves before resuming life with a renewed, more conscious purpose.
Final Answer:
The central idea is a call for a moment of universal stillness and self-reflection, so humanity can pause its destructive restlessness and rediscover harmony with itself and nature.
Pablo Neruda's 'Keeping Quiet' calls upon all humanity to pause, momentarily, from its ceaseless activity — including wars, work, and exploitation — and observe a period of stillness and introspection.
Step 2: Message:
The poet is not advocating total inactivity or death, but a brief, healing silence that would allow humans to reflect on their lives, feel a sense of common humanity across differences, and reconnect with nature and themselves before resuming life with a renewed, more conscious purpose.
Final Answer:
The central idea is a call for a moment of universal stillness and self-reflection, so humanity can pause its destructive restlessness and rediscover harmony with itself and nature.
Was this answer helpful?
0
0
Top UP Board XII English Questions
- Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
It is clear that language is used for more than one purpose. The man who hits his thumb nails with a hammer and utters a string of curses is using language to relieve his feeling and needs no audience but himself. But when a philosopher uses language to clarify his ideas on a subject, he is using it as an instrument of thought. When two women gossip over the fence or two men exchange greetings as they pass in the street, language is being used to strengthen the bonds between the members of society. Language, it seems, is a multipurpose instrument. One function, however, seems to be basic — language enables us to influence people's behaviour and thereby makes human co-operation possible. Some animals co-operate especially the social animals like bees and ants, but human co-operation is more thorough, more detailed, more effective than that found anywhere in the animal kingdom. The human co-operation would be unthinkable without language.
(a) Why does the man, who hits his thumb-nails with a hammer, talk to himself? - Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
It is clear that language is used for more than one purpose. The man who hits his thumb nails with a hammer and utters a string of curses is using language to relieve his feeling and needs no audience but himself. But when a philosopher uses language to clarify his ideas on a subject, he is using it as an instrument of thought. When two women gossip over the fence or two men exchange greetings as they pass in the street, language is being used to strengthen the bonds between the members of society. Language, it seems, is a multipurpose instrument. One function, however, seems to be basic — language enables us to influence people's behaviour and thereby makes human co-operation possible. Some animals co-operate especially the social animals like bees and ants, but human co-operation is more thorough, more detailed, more effective than that found anywhere in the animal kingdom. The human co-operation would be unthinkable without language.
(b) For what purpose does a philosopher use language? - Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
It is clear that language is used for more than one purpose. The man who hits his thumb nails with a hammer and utters a string of curses is using language to relieve his feeling and needs no audience but himself. But when a philosopher uses language to clarify his ideas on a subject, he is using it as an instrument of thought. When two women gossip over the fence or two men exchange greetings as they pass in the street, language is being used to strengthen the bonds between the members of society. Language, it seems, is a multipurpose instrument. One function, however, seems to be basic — language enables us to influence people's behaviour and thereby makes human co-operation possible. Some animals co-operate especially the social animals like bees and ants, but human co-operation is more thorough, more detailed, more effective than that found anywhere in the animal kingdom. The human co-operation would be unthinkable without language.
(c) For what purpose do the two women and two men use language? - Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
It is clear that language is used for more than one purpose. The man who hits his thumb nails with a hammer and utters a string of curses is using language to relieve his feeling and needs no audience but himself. But when a philosopher uses language to clarify his ideas on a subject, he is using it as an instrument of thought. When two women gossip over the fence or two men exchange greetings as they pass in the street, language is being used to strengthen the bonds between the members of society. Language, it seems, is a multipurpose instrument. One function, however, seems to be basic — language enables us to influence people's behaviour and thereby makes human co-operation possible. Some animals co-operate especially the social animals like bees and ants, but human co-operation is more thorough, more detailed, more effective than that found anywhere in the animal kingdom. The human co-operation would be unthinkable without language.
(d) "Is language a multipurpose instrument?" Answer it on the basis of the given paragraph. - Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
It is clear that language is used for more than one purpose. The man who hits his thumb nails with a hammer and utters a string of curses is using language to relieve his feeling and needs no audience but himself. But when a philosopher uses language to clarify his ideas on a subject, he is using it as an instrument of thought. When two women gossip over the fence or two men exchange greetings as they pass in the street, language is being used to strengthen the bonds between the members of society. Language, it seems, is a multipurpose instrument. One function, however, seems to be basic — language enables us to influence people's behaviour and thereby makes human co-operation possible. Some animals co-operate especially the social animals like bees and ants, but human co-operation is more thorough, more detailed, more effective than that found anywhere in the animal kingdom. The human co-operation would be unthinkable without language.
(i) Find out the word from the passage which means 'Speaks'.
(ii) Which word in the passage means 'Powerful' or 'Successful'?
(iii) Which word in the passage is the opposite of 'Aggravate'?
View More Questions
Top UP Board XII Poetry Questions
- Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow:
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.
(a) What remains alive when everything seems dead? - Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow:
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.
(b) When should we remain quiet as said by the poet? - Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow:
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.
(c) Name the poet and the poem of the above lines. - Write the central idea of any one of the following poems:
(a) My Mother at Sixty-six - Write the central idea of any one of the following poems:
(b) A Roadside Stand
View More Questions
Top UP Board XII Questions
- In which one of the following States of India is the density of population the highest?
- Which one of the following States of India has the largest urban population?
- Which one of the following States is not related to the production of mineral oil?
- Which one of the following sea ports is located on the eastern coast of India?
- What is meant by ‘Humanisation of Nature’?
View More Questions