Class 12 UP Board English: Keeping Quiet Solutions for 2026 Exams

Welcome to English Rath, your trusted platform for Class 12 UP Board English solutions! Searching for Keeping Quiet Class 12 solutions? This comprehensive guide provides Stanza-wise Comprehension Questions and Answers, Reference to the Context Explanations, and the Central Idea for the poem Keeping Quiet by Pablo Neruda, a vital part of the UP Board Class 12 English syllabus 2026. This thought-provoking poem explores silence, peace, and self-reflection, making it essential for your board exams. Our exam-focused answers help you master themes, prepare effectively, and score high in the UP Board English exam 2026. Also, explore our solutions for The Last Lesson, Lost Spring, and My Mother at Sixty-Six to excel in other chapters! Dive in and boost your prep with English Rath!

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Keywords: Class 12 UP Board English, Keeping Quiet Class 12 solutions, Stanza Comprehension Keeping Quiet, Reference to Context Class 12 English, Central Idea Keeping Quiet, UP Board English syllabus 2026, Class 12 English exam preparation 2026.

Stanzas for Comprehension

(a) Now we will .... arms so much.

1. What does the poet say in the first two lines?
Answer: The poet says that now we will count to twelve and keep completely still and silent.

2. What does the poet want once on the face of the Earth?
Answer: The poet wants that, for once, everyone on Earth should stop speaking in any language and remain still without any movement.

3. What does the poet want for one second?
Answer: The poet wants everyone to stop all activity and keep silent for just one second.

(b) It would be........sudden strangeness.

1. What would be an exotic moment?
Answer: The moment when everyone remains quiet and motionless without any rush would be an exotic moment.

2. What would be the speciality of that exotic moment?
Answer: The speciality would be the absence of noise, engines, and rush — only peace, unity, and strangeness among all humans.

3. What would happen with us then?
Answer: We would feel a sudden sense of togetherness and realize the importance of silence and reflection.

(c) Fishermen ....... hurt hands.

1. What would happen in the cold sea?
Answer: In the cold sea, fishermen would not harm whales.

2. Who would look at his hurt hands?
Answer: The man gathering salt would notice and reflect upon his wounded hands.

3. How would this all be possible?
Answer: This would be possible if everyone paused for a moment to reflect and stopped their harmful activities.

4. What would the fisherman not do?
Answer: The fisherman would not harm the whales in the sea.

5. What would the man gathering salt do?
Answer: The salt-gatherer would stop his work for a moment and look at his injured hands.

6. What moment is the poet talking of?
Answer: The poet is talking about a moment of silence and self-reflection.

(d) Those who.........doing nothing.

1. What types of wars are prepared by the persons?
Answer: People prepare green wars (wars against the environment), wars with poisonous gases, and wars with fire.

2. What is the end of such wars?
Answer: Such wars end in destruction, leaving no survivors.

3. What would such persons do after keeping quiet?
Answer: After keeping quiet, these people would wear clean clothes and walk peacefully with their brothers under the shade, doing nothing harmful.

(e) What I want..... with death. / If we were ........... ourselves.

1. What does the poet want?
Answer: The poet wants stillness and reflection, but not total inactivity or death.

2. How would a huge silence interrupt?
Answer: A huge silence would interrupt the sadness and suffering caused by endless activity and misunderstanding.

3. Why do we fear?
Answer: We fear because we are always in a hurry and do not understand ourselves; we are scared of death and destruction.

4. Write the name of the poet and the title of the poem.
Answer: Poet: Pablo Neruda
Poem: Keeping Quiet

5. In what sense do the lines reflect the challenges of the modern lifestyle?
Answer: The lines reflect how modern life is filled with constant rush, environmental destruction, and lack of self-awareness.

6. What is 'the sadness' the poet is alluding to?
Answer: The poet refers to the sadness of never understanding ourselves and always threatening our own survival.

(f) Perhaps the........and I will go.

1. Who can teach us and when?
Answer: The Earth can teach us when we observe it carefully.

2. What would be proved later and how?
Answer: It would be proved later that when everything seems dead, life still exists beneath the surface.

3. What does the poet say at last?
Answer: At the end, the poet says he will count to twelve and then quietly leave.

4. What lesson does the Earth teach us?
Answer: The Earth teaches us that apparent death is often a preparation for new life.

5. What remains alive when everything seems to be dead?
Answer: Life remains alive even when everything seems dead.

6. What does the poet ask us to do?
Answer: The poet asks us to keep quiet, reflect, and understand ourselves better.

7. Name the poet and the poem.
Answer: Poet: Pablo Neruda
Poem: Keeping Quiet

Explanations (Reference to the Context)

(a) Now we will....arms so much.

Reference to the Context:
These lines are taken from the poem "Keeping Quiet" by Pablo Neruda. Here, the poet appeals to the people of the world to stop all their activities for a moment and keep completely still.

Explanation:
The poet asks everyone to count to twelve and become still. He suggests that we should not speak in any language and should stop all physical movement. This moment of stillness would help people experience peace and unity, forgetting the rush and restlessness of daily life. It would bring about a moment of quiet reflection.

(b) It would be.........sudden strangeness.

Reference to the Context:
These lines are from "Keeping Quiet" by Pablo Neruda, where the poet describes the atmosphere that would result from universal silence.

Explanation:
The poet says that the moment of stillness would be an exotic, strange moment. It would be without noise, without engines, and without the usual rush of life. People would experience a sudden sense of strangeness, a rare feeling of unity and brotherhood. This stillness would help everyone realize the importance of peaceful living.

(c) Fishermen ..............hurt hands

Reference to the Context:
These lines are taken from the same poem where the poet talks about how the moment of stillness would affect people’s activities.

Explanation:
The poet imagines that fishermen would not harm whales in the cold seas, and salt-gatherers would pause to notice the wounds on their hands. This pause would bring about self-awareness and compassion. People would reflect on the harm they cause to nature and to themselves, and would become more caring and humane.

(d) Those who........doing nothing.

Reference to the Context:
In these lines of "Keeping Quiet", Pablo Neruda highlights the destructive nature of wars and violence and suggests a way to overcome it.

Explanation:
The poet mentions those who prepare wars — wars against nature (green wars), wars with deadly gases and fire. These people would, after keeping quiet, realize the futility of violence. They would put on clean clothes, symbolizing a fresh, pure attitude, and would walk peacefully with their fellow men, doing nothing harmful. Silence would awaken a spirit of brotherhood.

(e) What I want......with death.

Reference to the Context:
These lines explain what the poet actually means by asking for stillness and silence.

Explanation:
The poet clarifies that he does not want total inactivity, which resembles death. His idea is about living life meaningfully and peacefully. He wants people to reflect on their actions and realize that constant rush leads to sadness and destruction. Silence would help us understand ourselves better and save us from threatening our own existence.

(f) Perhaps the........and I will go.

Reference to the Context:
These lines conclude the poem "Keeping Quiet", where the poet sums up his message.

Explanation:
The poet says that Earth can teach us valuable lessons: when everything seems dead, life still continues underneath. The seasons change, life renews. Similarly, silence and reflection would not mean death but a new beginning. After expressing his wish, the poet says he will count to twelve and then quietly go away, leaving us to think over his message.

Central Idea of the Poem

Central Idea of "Keeping Quiet" by Pablo Neruda

In the poem "Keeping Quiet," Pablo Neruda urges everyone to pause, keep silent, and stop all activities for a moment. This brief silence would help people reflect on their actions and realize the importance of peace, unity, and self-introspection. The poet emphasizes that he does not mean complete inactivity or death, but a thoughtful break from our restless lives. Through such a moment of stillness, humanity can overcome sadness, violence, and misunderstand itself better. The Earth too teaches us that life renews even after seeming stillness.

Explore More Class 12 English Resources

• The Last Lesson Class 12 Solutions - Master Chapter 1 with Short and Long Answer Questions.
• Lost Spring Class 12 Solutions - Prepare for Chapter 2 with detailed answers.
• My Mother at Sixty-Six Class 12 Solutions - Excel in poetry with stanza-wise comprehension.