What is the 'sadness' that the poet refers to in the poem?
Solution and Explanation
The poet refers to the 'sadness' of failing to understand oneself in the monotonous every day existence. He also finds it sad that the humanity is moving towards its own ruin owing to its unanalyzed actions. He regrets the rush of outdoing others that has made us forget the values of humanity.
Top Questions on Keeping quiet
- How would humanity benefit if people maintained silence? (Keeping Quiet)
- CBSE CLASS XII - 2025
- English Core
- Keeping quiet
- Read the following extract and answer the following questions:
If we were not so single-minded
about keeping our lives moving,
and for once could do nothing,
perhaps a huge silence
might interrupt this sadness
of never understanding ourselves
and of threatening ourselves with death.
(Keeping Quiet)
(i) Select the phrase from the extract that suggests the ceaseless activity in our daily life.
(ii) What does the imagery of ‘single-mindedness’ not represent?
(A) flexibility
(B) unwavering determination
(C) dedication
(D) persistent efforts
(iii) Complete the sentence:
In the line, ‘might interrupt this sadness’, the phrase ‘this sadness’ refers to ___.
(iv) The poet has used phrases like ‘never understanding ourselves’ to illustrate the ___ (irony/humour) in continuous movement without reflection.
(v) Assertion: The poet emphasizes the need for productive silence and reflection.
Reason: Purposeless continuous movement leads to sadness and existential threats.
Choose the correct option:
(A) Both are true, but reason is not the correct explanation.
(B) Both are true, and reason is the correct explanation.
(C) Assertion is true, reason is false.
(D) Assertion is false, reason is true.
(vi) State in one sentence what advice you would give to people who are always busy.- CBSE CLASS XII - 2025
- English Core
- Keeping quiet
What I want should not be confused with total inactivity.
Life is what it is about;
I want no truck with death.
If we were not so single-minded about keeping our lives moving.
(Keeping Quiet)- CBSE CLASS XII - 2025
- English Core
- Keeping quiet
- Discuss how the poems ‘Keeping Quiet’ and ‘A Thing of Beauty’ draw attention to the importance of beauty and introspection. (Keeping Quiet and A Thing of Beauty)
- CBSE CLASS XII - 2025
- English Core
- Keeping quiet
- What will counting up to twelve and keeping still help us achieve?
- CBSE CLASS XII
- English
- Keeping quiet
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(a) Calculate the amount of work done to separate the two charges at infinite distance.
(b) If this system of charges was initially kept in an electric field \[ \vec{E} = \frac{A}{r^2}, \text{ where } A = 8 \times 10^4\, \text{N}\,\text{C}^{-1}\,\text{m}^2, \] calculate the electrostatic potential energy of the system.- CBSE CLASS XII - 2025
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A ladder of fixed length \( h \) is to be placed along the wall such that it is free to move along the height of the wall.
Based upon the above information, answer the following questions:(iii) (b) If the foot of the ladder, whose length is 5 m, is being pulled towards the wall such that the rate of decrease of distance \( y \) is \( 2 \, \text{m/s} \), then at what rate is the height on the wall \( x \) increasing when the foot of the ladder is 3 m away from the wall?
- CBSE CLASS XII - 2025
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