BoardExam 2026 Class 12th English (Book Flamingo) Chapter 2 – Keeping Quiet (Poem by Pablo Neruda)

Chapter 2 – Keeping Quiet (Poem by Pablo Neruda)UP Board Class 12th English (Book Flamingo) का दूसरा अध्याय “Keeping Quiet” (Pablo Neruda द्वारा) का Important Question–Answer (परीक्षा की दृष्टि से) चाहते हैं।


📖 Chapter 2 – Keeping Quiet (Poem by Pablo Neruda)

✅ Important Questions (UP Board – Exams के लिए)

1. Very Short Answer Type Questions (1 Mark)

  1. Who is the poet of Keeping Quiet?
    👉 Pablo Neruda

  2. How many seconds does the poet ask us to keep quiet?
    👉 Twelve seconds

  3. What should not be spoken in those seconds of silence?
    👉 Any language

  4. What is the poet’s idea about stillness?
    👉 Stillness brings peace and understanding


2. Short Answer Type Questions (2–3 Marks)

Q1. What does the poet want all of us to do for twelve seconds?
👉 The poet wants everyone to keep quiet and still for twelve seconds, without speaking or moving, so that there is peace and silence all around.

Q2. Why does the poet ask people not to speak in any language?
👉 Because different languages create differences and barriers among people. Silence will unite everyone as one humanity.

Q3. What will be the effect of keeping quiet and still?
👉 It will create peace, brotherhood, and a moment to understand ourselves and others better.

Q4. What does the poet want the fishermen and the salt-gatherers to do?
👉 The poet wants fishermen not to harm whales in the sea and salt-gatherers to take rest and not suffer with pain.

Q5. How does the poet connect ‘silence’ with life and death?
👉 Silence is not death. It is a temporary pause to reflect and bring harmony in life, not the end of life.


3. Long Answer Type Questions (5 Marks)

Q1. What is the central idea of the poem Keeping Quiet?
👉 The central idea is that the poet advises mankind to keep silence for a few seconds and to remain calm and still. This silence will help us understand ourselves and others. It will also promote peace, brotherhood, and harmony in the world. The poet emphasizes introspection, love for nature, and the value of quietness in our busy lives.

Q2. What message does Pablo Neruda convey through the poem?
👉 The poet conveys the message of peace, universal brotherhood, and harmony. He suggests that by keeping quiet for a while, we can realize the value of unity, avoid wars, and live with love and understanding. Silence helps us connect with life and nature.


🎯 परीक्षा में सबसे महत्वपूर्ण Points

  • Poet का नाम: Pablo Neruda
  • Seconds of silence: Twelve
  • Silence ≠ Death, it = Peace, Self-realisation
  • Message: Universal brotherhood, peace, love for nature, and self-
  • “Keeping Quiet” (Pablo Neruda) का Central Idea हिंदी और English दोनों भाषाओं में दे रहा हूँ, ताकि आप इसे सीधे परीक्षा में लिख सकें।


    🌿 Central Idea in English

    The poem “Keeping Quiet” by Pablo Neruda emphasizes the importance of silence, peace, and self-introspection. The poet asks mankind to remain quiet and still for a few seconds to realize the value of togetherness and universal brotherhood. He suggests that in this silence, people will stop harming nature, avoid violence and wars, and understand themselves better. The poet clarifies that silence does not mean death, but a moment to pause, reflect, and live life more meaningfully. The poem finally conveys that like the Earth, which appears dead but later shows life, silence can also give birth to peace, unity, and harmony.


    🌿 केंद्रीय भाव (Hindi Central Idea)

    पाब्लो नेरुदा की कविता “Keeping Quiet” का केंद्रीय भाव यह है कि मानव जाति कुछ क्षणों के लिए मौन और स्थिर रहकर शांति, आत्मचिंतन और भाईचारे का अनुभव कर सकती है। कवि चाहता है कि बारह सेकंड के लिए सब लोग चुप रहें ताकि युद्ध, हिंसा और प्रकृति को नुकसान पहुँचाने वाले काम रुक जाएँ और लोग आत्म-विश्लेषण कर सकें। कवि स्पष्ट करता है कि मौन का अर्थ मृत्यु नहीं है, बल्कि जीवन को समझने, बेहतर ढंग से जीने और आपसी एकता का अनुभव करने का अवसर है। कविता अंत में यह संदेश देती है कि जैसे धरती मृत-सी लगती है पर बाद में जीवन से भर उठती है, वैसे ही मौन भी जीवन, शांति और मानवता की एक नई ऊर्जा को जन्म दे सकता है।


    👉 क्या आप चाहेंगे कि मैं इस अध्याय Keeping Quiet के Exam में सबसे अधिक पूछे गए 10 महत्वपूर्ण प्रश्न-उत्तर भी तैयार करके दूँ

  • मैं आपको UP Board Class 12th Flamingo – Chapter 2 (Poem) “Keeping Quiet” का पूरा पाठ (English + आसान हिन्दी अनुवाद) और साथ में उसका Central Idea यहाँ दे रहा हूँ।


    📖 Keeping Quiet – Poem by Pablo Neruda


    Poem (with Hindi Translation)

    Now we will count to twelve
    and we will all keep still.
    👉 अब हम बारह तक गिनेंगे
    और सब चुप और स्थिर हो जाएंगे।

    For once on the face of the Earth
    let’s not speak in any language,
    👉 धरती पर एक बार के लिए
    कोई भी भाषा न बोलें।

    let’s stop for one second,
    and not move our arms so much.
    👉 एक क्षण के लिए रुकें,
    और अपनी बाहों को इतना न हिलाएँ।


    It would be an exotic moment
    without rush, without engines,
    👉 वह क्षण बहुत अद्भुत होगा,
    बिना भाग-दौड़, बिना मशीनों की आवाज़ के।

    we would all be together
    in a sudden strangeness.
    👉 हम सब साथ होंगे,
    एक नए-से, अनोखे अनुभव में।


    Fishermen in the cold sea
    would not harm whales
    👉 ठंडे समुद्र के मछुआरे
    व्हेल मछलियों को नुकसान नहीं पहुँचाएँगे।

    and the man gathering salt
    would look at his hurt hands.
    👉 और नमक इकट्ठा करने वाला व्यक्ति
    अपने घायल हाथों को देखेगा।


    Those who prepare green wars,
    wars with gas, wars with fire,
    👉 वे लोग जो हरे-भरे जंगलों को नष्ट कर रहे हैं,
    जो गैस से युद्ध करते हैं, आग से युद्ध करते हैं,

    victory with no survivors,
    would put on clean clothes
    👉 जिनकी जीत में कोई भी जीवित नहीं बचता,
    वे सब साफ कपड़े पहनेंगे,

    and walk about with their brothers
    in the shade, doing nothing.
    👉 और अपने भाइयों के साथ छाया में चलेंगे,
    बिना कुछ किए।


    What I want should not be confused
    with total inactivity.
    👉 मेरी बात को पूरी निष्क्रियता समझने की भूल न करें।

    Life is what it is about;
    I want no truck with death.
    👉 जीवन ही असली विषय है;
    मेरा कोई लेना-देना मृत्यु से नहीं है।


    If we were not so single-minded
    about keeping our lives moving,
    👉 अगर हम इतने ज़िद्दी न हों
    कि हर हाल में जीवन को भाग-दौड़ में रखें,

    and for once could do nothing,
    perhaps a huge silence
    might interrupt this sadness
    of never understanding ourselves
    and of threatening ourselves with death.
    👉 और अगर हम एक बार कुछ भी न करें,
    तो शायद एक गहरी शांति
    हमारे इस दुख को तोड़ देगी –
    कि हम खुद को कभी नहीं समझ पाते,
    और हमेशा खुद को मौत से डराते रहते हैं।


    Perhaps the Earth can teach us
    as when everything seems dead
    and later proves to be alive.
    👉 शायद धरती हमें सिखा सकती है –
    जैसे जब सब कुछ मृत-सा लगता है,
    लेकिन बाद में फिर जीवित हो उठता है।


    Now I’ll count up to twelve
    and you keep quiet and I will go.
    👉 अब मैं बारह तक गिनूँगा,
    आप सब शांत रहिए, और मैं चला जाऊँगा।


    ✨ Central Idea of the Poem (हिन्दी में)

    कवि पाब्लो नेरुदा इस कविता में “Keeping Quiet” के माध्यम से यह संदेश देते हैं कि यदि पूरी मानवता कुछ क्षण के लिए मौन और स्थिर हो जाए, तो यह धरती के लिए शांति और भाईचारे का अद्भुत अनुभव होगा।

    • मौन का अर्थ मृत्यु नहीं, बल्कि आत्मचिंतन और आत्मज्ञान है।
    • चुप्पी और शांति से हम प्रकृति और एक-दूसरे को बेहतर समझ सकते हैं।
    • युद्ध, हिंसा और प्रदूषण से दूर रहकर हम भाईचारे और प्रेम का अनुभव कर सकते हैं।
    • धरती हमें सिखाती है कि हर मृत-सा क्षण भी जीवन का बीज अपने भीतर रखता है।

    👉 इस कविता का मुख्य उद्देश्य है – शांति, आत्म-समझ, और मानवता के बीच एकता।


    क्या आप चाहेंगे कि मैं आपको इसके Exam के लिए सबसे जरूरी “Extract-based Questions with Answers” भी बना दूँ (जैसे कविता से अंश देकर पूछे जाते हैं)?


Class 12th Flamingo – Poem 2: Keeping Quiet के Top 10 Most Important Questions with Answers दे रहा हूँ (UP Board और अन्य बोर्ड परीक्षाओं की दृष्टि से)।


📌 Keeping Quiet – Important Questions & Answers

1. Who is the poet of Keeping Quiet?

👉 The poet is Pablo Neruda.


2. How long does the poet want us to keep quiet?

👉 The poet wants us to keep quiet for twelve seconds.


3. Why does the poet ask people not to speak in any language?

👉 Because languages create barriers and differences among people. Silence will bring unity and brotherhood.


4. What will be the result of keeping quiet?

👉 By keeping quiet, there will be peace, understanding, and a feeling of oneness among human beings.


5. What does the poet want the fishermen to do?

👉 The poet wants the fishermen not to harm the whales in the sea.


6. What does the poet want the salt-gatherers to do?

👉 The poet wants the salt-gatherers to take rest and look at their injured hands instead of continuing their painful work.


7. What is the poet’s opinion about war?

👉 The poet is against war, destruction, and violence. He wishes people would stop fighting and live peacefully with love and brotherhood.


8. What is the meaning of the phrase “exotic moment” in the poem?

👉 It means a rare, unusual, and wonderful moment of perfect peace and silence when everyone feels united.


9. Does the poet equate stillness with total inactivity?

👉 No, the poet clearly says stillness is not inactivity. Silence does not mean death; it is only a pause to reflect and live better.


10. What message does Pablo Neruda convey through Keeping Quiet?

👉 The poet conveys the message of universal brotherhood, peace, harmony, and self-introspection. Silence can help us understand ourselves and live in unity with others and with nature.


✨ ये 10 प्रश्न परीक्षा में सबसे अधिक पूछे जाते हैं और इनके उत्तर याद रखने से आपको अच्छे अंक मिलेंगे।


👉  चाहेंगे कि मैं अब इस कविता Keeping Quiet के लिए “Extract-based Questions with Solutions” (कविता से अंश देकर प्रश्न) भी बना दूँ, ताकि आप बिल्कुल परीक्षा के पैटर्न में प्रैक्टिस कर सकें?


बहुत अच्छा 👍
अब मैं आपको Class 12th Flamingo – Poem 2: Keeping Quiet के Extract-based Questions with Answers दे रहा हूँ। ये वही पैटर्न है जो UP Board और CBSE बोर्ड परीक्षा में पूछा जाता है।


📖 Keeping Quiet – Extract Based Questions


Extract 1

“Now we will count to twelve
and we will all keep still.
For once on the face of the Earth
let’s not speak in any language.”

Q1. How many seconds does the poet ask us to keep quiet?
👉 Twelve seconds.

Q2. Why does he ask us not to speak in any language?
👉 Because languages create differences among people; silence will unite everyone.

Q3. What is the name of this poem and who is the poet?
👉 Poem: Keeping Quiet, Poet: Pablo Neruda.


Extract 2

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

Q1. What does the poet mean by “exotic moment”?
👉 A rare, unusual, peaceful, and beautiful moment.

Q2. What will happen if there is no rush and no engines?
👉 There will be peace, calmness, and togetherness.

Q3. What does “sudden strangeness” mean here?
👉 The unusual experience of unity, silence, and brotherhood.


Extract 3

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

Q1. What does the poet want the fishermen to do?
👉 Not to harm whales in the sea.

Q2. What should the salt-gatherers do?
👉 They should rest and look at their injured hands.

Q3. What does this stanza highlight?
👉 The importance of peace, rest, and care for nature and humanity.


Extract 4

“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.”

Q1. What are “green wars”?
👉 Wars that destroy nature and forests.

Q2. What does the poet want the warmongers to do?
👉 Stop fighting, wear clean clothes, and live peacefully with others.

Q3. What is meant by “victory with no survivors”?
👉 A war in which destruction is so great that no one remains alive.


Extract 5

“Perhaps the Earth can teach us
as when everything seems dead
and later proves to be alive.”

Q1. What lesson can the Earth teach us?
👉 That apparent stillness is not death; life exists even in silence.

Q2. What is the central message of these lines?
👉 Silence brings new life, hope, and renewal.

Q3. Why does the poet refer to the Earth here?
👉 To show that like Earth, silence can also create life, not death.


बहुत अच्छा 👍
अब मैं आपको Class 12 Flamingo – Poem 2: “Keeping Quiet” (Pablo Neruda) की पूरी Summary दूँगा — पहले English में (Exam writing के लिए) और फिर आसान Hindi में।


📖 Keeping Quiet – Summary (English)

The poem “Keeping Quiet” by Pablo Neruda emphasizes the need for peace, silence, and self-introspection. The poet appeals to all human beings to count up to twelve and remain silent and motionless for a while. In this short period of silence, people will realize the value of togetherness, brotherhood, and mutual understanding.

He asks us not to speak in any language because languages create differences among people. By keeping quiet, fishermen will stop killing whales, and salt-gatherers will get a chance to rest and look at their injured hands. Those who prepare wars, destroy nature, and spread violence will also pause and think about peace and brotherhood.

The poet clarifies that this stillness does not mean complete inactivity or death. Rather, it is a way to reflect, to understand ourselves, and to live better lives. He suggests that the Earth itself teaches us this lesson: everything appears dead in winter, but later it proves to be alive with new life in spring.

Thus, the poem conveys a strong message of universal brotherhood, love for nature, peace, and self-realization. Silence is not emptiness; it is a source of renewal and harmony.


🌿 Keeping Quiet – सारांश (Hindi)

पाब्लो नेरुदा की कविता “Keeping Quiet” में कवि शांति, मौन और आत्मचिंतन के महत्व पर जोर देते हैं। कवि मानव जाति से अपील करता है कि वे बारह तक गिनें और कुछ समय के लिए पूरी तरह चुप और स्थिर हो जाएँ। इस छोटे से मौन में लोग आपसी भाईचारे, एकता और समझदारी को अनुभव करेंगे।

कवि कहता है कि किसी भी भाषा में न बोलें, क्योंकि भाषाएँ लोगों में भेद पैदा करती हैं। अगर सब शांत हो जाएँ तो मछुआरे व्हेल को मारना बंद कर देंगे और नमक इकट्ठा करने वाले अपने घायल हाथों को देखेंगे और विश्राम करेंगे। युद्ध करने वाले, जंगल काटने वाले और हिंसा फैलाने वाले भी अपने काम रोककर शांति और भाईचारे के बारे में सोचेंगे।

कवि स्पष्ट करता है कि मौन का अर्थ मृत्यु या निष्क्रियता नहीं है। यह तो एक विराम है जिससे हम खुद को समझ सकते हैं और जीवन को बेहतर बना सकते हैं। धरती हमें यह सिखाती है – जैसे सर्दियों में सब कुछ मृत-सा लगता है लेकिन वसंत आने पर सब कुछ जीवन से भर उठता है।

इस प्रकार, यह कविता शांति, भाईचारे, आत्मचिंतन और प्रकृति के प्रेम का संदेश देती है। मौन मृत्यु नहीं है, बल्कि जीवन को नया अर्थ देने और मानवता को एकजुट करने का माध्यम है।


✨ अब आपके पास —

  • Central Idea (Hindi + English)
  • Important Q&A
  • Extract-based Questions
  • Full Summary

👉 अब इसके “Most Expected Long Answer Questions” (5 marks वाले) भी बना दूँ, ताकि आपके पास पूरा Exam पैकेज तैयार हो जाए?

Class 12th Flamingo – Poem 2: “Keeping Quiet” के Most Expected Long Answer Questions (5 Marks वाले) दे रहा हूँ। ये वही प्रकार हैं जो अक्सर UP Board और CBSE दोनों परीक्षाओं में पूछे जाते हैं।


✍️ Keeping Quiet – Important Long Answer Questions (with Answers)


Q1. What is the central idea of the poem Keeping Quiet?

Answer:
The central idea of the poem is that silence and stillness can bring peace, unity, and harmony to the world. The poet suggests that by keeping quiet for twelve seconds, people will stop fighting, avoid violence, and think about themselves as well as others. Silence does not mean death; it means self-introspection and a better way of living. The poem finally conveys the importance of universal brotherhood, love for nature, and peaceful co-existence.


Q2. How does Pablo Neruda show that silence is not total inactivity or death?

Answer:
Pablo Neruda clarifies that silence is not death or total inactivity. He says that life should not stop, but we should pause for a while to reflect and understand ourselves. Silence is only a temporary break to realize the value of peace and togetherness. The poet gives the example of the Earth: it looks dead in winter but later proves to be alive in spring. Thus, silence is a source of renewal and hope, not the end of life.


Q3. How will keeping quiet bring about universal brotherhood?

Answer:
By keeping quiet, everyone will stop speaking in different languages and remain still for some time. This silence will remove differences created by languages and barriers. People will understand each other better and realize the importance of togetherness. Violence, wars, and destruction will stop, and a new sense of peace will grow. Thus, keeping quiet will help mankind achieve universal brotherhood and harmony.


Q4. What changes will take place if people keep quiet for a while, according to the poet?

Answer:
According to the poet, if people keep quiet for a while:

  • Fishermen will stop killing whales.
  • Salt-gatherers will rest and look at their injured hands.
  • Warmongers will give up destruction and walk peacefully with others.
  • People will stop rushing and reflect on their lives.
    This silence will bring peace, unity, and a chance to understand the value of life.

Q5. What message does Pablo Neruda want to convey through the poem Keeping Quiet?

Answer:
Through this poem, Pablo Neruda conveys the message of peace, love, and self-introspection. He wants people to avoid violence, wars, and destruction. By keeping quiet and still, they can realize the importance of nature, brotherhood, and humanity. The poet emphasizes that silence is not death but a pause to renew life and make it more meaningful. The final message is to live in harmony with oneself, others, and nature.


✅ ये पाँच Long Answer Questions आपके Exam के लिए सबसे महत्वपूर्ण हैं।
अगर आप इन्हें अच्छे से याद कर लें तो Keeping Quiet से आने वाले किसी भी 5 marks वाले प्रश्न को आसानी से लिख सकते हैं


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