Poetic Devices Used in The Poem Keeping Quiet Poem by Pablo Neruda NCERT Class 12

The combination of these poetic devices makes “Keeping Quiet” a powerful and reflective poem by Pablo Neruda that deeply resonates with the themes of introspection, peace, and harmony (brotherhood) and the need for stillness in the face of human chaos.

Poetic Devices in “Keeping Quiet”

1. Free Verse

• Definition: Poetry without a fixed rhyme scheme or meter.
• Examples: The entire poem follows free verse.
• Effect: Creates a conversational, reflective tone and aligns with the poem’s theme of simplicity and freedo

2. Alliteration

• Definition: Repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words.
• Examples:
  • Sudden strangeness – Repetition of ‘s’ sound.
  • Hurt hands – Repetition of ‘h’ sound.
  • Clean clothes – Repetition of c (k)’ sound.
  • “we would all be together” – Repetition of ‘w’ sound.
  • noble natures – Repetition of ‘n’ sound.
  • “wars with gas, wars with fire” – Repetition of ‘w’ sound.
• Explanation: The repetition of consonant sounds, such as “w” in “wars with,” creates a rhythmic flow and adds emphasis to the destructive nature of these wars.

3. Anaphora

• Definition: Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive lines.
• Examples:
  • “Let’s not speak in any language,
    Let’s stop for one second”
• Effect: Reinforces the poet’s plea for silence and introspection.

4. Enjambment

• Definition: Continuation of a sentence or phrase without a pause beyond the end of a line.
• Examples:
  • “Now we will count to twelve
    and we will all keep still.”
  • “Perhaps the Earth can teach us
    as when everything seems dead
    and later proves to be alive.”
• Effect: Creates a conversational tone and smooth flow, mimicking natural thought processes.

5. Imagery

• Definition: Use of vivid and descriptive language to create mental pictures.
• Examples:
  • “Fishermen in the cold sea would not harm whales” – Visual image of fishermen and whales.
  • “The man gathering salt would look at his hurt hands” – Evokes a sensory image of labor and pain.
• Explanation: The poet uses vivid images to appeal to the senses, allowing readers to imagine the quiet, peaceful scene where fishermen stop harming animals.
• Effect: Engages the reader’s senses and conveys the poet’s message more vividly.

6. Personification

• Definition: Giving human qualities to non-human entities.
• Examples:
  • “Perhaps the Earth can teach us” – Earth is personified as a teacher.
• Explanation: The Earth is given human-like qualities, as if it can teach lessons, symbolizing the wisdom and renewal that nature offers.
• Effect: Makes the abstract concept of learning from nature more relatable and meaningful.

7. Symbolism

• Definition: Use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities.
  Symbolism is abundant in Keeping Quiet.
• Example: “green wars, wars with gas, wars with fire”
  • “Green wars” – Symbolizes environmental destruction.
• Explanation: These represent human greed, violence, and destruction. The “wars” symbolize conflicts that harm the environment and humanity.
• Other Examples:
  • “Counting to twelve” – Symbolizes a short, meditative pause or reflection.
  • Fishermen and whale – stand for the oppressor and oppressed respectively.
  • Salt gatherer – is symbolic of humanity
  • ‘clean clothes’ – symbolize peace
• Effect: Adds depth to the poem by associating simple objects or actions with broader themes.

8. Paradox

• Definition: A statement that appears contradictory but contains truth.
• Examples:
  • “Victory with no survivors” – Highlights the futility of wars where winning results in destruction. (Forces the reader to think deeply about the consequences of human actions.)
  • “Perhaps a huge silence might interrupt this sadness of never understanding ourselves and of threatening ourselves with death.”
• Explanation: This seems contradictory because silence is usually associated with peace, not interruption. However, the deeper meaning is that silence can break the cycle of sadness caused by chaos and lack of understanding. Here ‘silence’ is an active agent that actively brings about change and understanding.

9. Antithesis

• Definition: A figure of speech where two contrasting ideas are placed in the same sentence to highlight their difference.
• Examples:
  • “Life is what it is about; I want no truck with death” – contrasts life and death.
  • “When everything seems dead and later proves to be alive” – Contrasts death and life.
• Effect: Highlights the cyclical nature of life and the potential for renewal.

10. Repetition

• Definition: Repeating words or phrases for emphasis.
• Examples:
  • …without rush, without engines, wars with gas, wars with fire
  • “Wars with gas, wars with fire” – Repetition of “wars” stresses the destruction caused by human conflicts.
• Effect: Underlines the poet’s concerns and makes the message memorable.

11. Metaphor

• Definition: A figure of speech where one thing is compared to another without using “like” or “as,” implying they are alike.
• Example: “Perhaps the Earth can teach us as when everything seems dead and later proves to be alive.”
• Explanation: The Earth is personified as a teacher, and “everything seems dead” is a metaphor for the stillness or dormancy of life, which is later revived, symbolizing hope and renewal.
  • Just like winter leads to rejuvenation, even the quietness recommended by the poet leads to re-growth.
  • It sends us a strong message that when everything on earth seems silent and quiet, it nurtures so much life underneath.
  • Life moves on, like an ongoing process, and the cycle of birth and death, decay and renewal continues.
• Other Examples:
• put on clean clothes – symbolizes a fresh start or a change in mindset. It suggests leaving behind harmful actions, such as violence and war, and adopting peaceful and positive behavior.
• in the shade – The phrase represents peace, comfort, and harmony. It symbolizes a world where people coexist without conflict, enjoying moments of tranquility and togetherness.
• Both metaphors contribute to the poet’s vision of a better, more harmonious world achieved through stillness and reflection.

12. Contrast

• Example: “inactivity” vs. “life is what it is about”
• Explanation: The poet contrasts “inactivity” with the idea of life, showing that silence and stillness are not about death but about valuing life and understanding its deeper meaning.

13. Oxymoron

• Definition: A figure of speech where two opposite or contradictory words are placed together to create an impactful meaning.
• Example: “exotic moment without rush” – combines excitement with calmness.
• Explanation: The phrase combines the idea of something exciting and new (“exotic”) with the stillness and peace of “without rush,” suggesting that even a moment of quiet can be unique and enriching.