Keeping Quiet by Pablo Neruda (Literary Devices)

 

Keeping Quiet

By

Pablo Neruda

1. Imagery:

Neruda uses vivid imagery to evoke sensory experiences and to highlight his message. The "huge silence" is a powerful image that represents peace and introspection. Similarly, the imagery of earth conveys the idea of activity and continuity in apparent stillness.

2. Metaphor:

Neruda uses metaphors to communicate abstract ideas. For example, he uses “cold sea” to convey the idea of an indifferent world i.e. the world devoid of any fellow feeling. “Clean clothes” convey the idea of avoiding bloodshed and following peace, “in the shade” means realizing the importance of concord and peace. “On the face of this earth” means in this world or in our existence.

3. Personification:

Personification occurs when Neruda gives human qualities to abstract concepts or inanimate objects. For example, the "sadness" in the poem is described as something that could be interrupted by silence, as if sadness could be a living entity that can be impacted by a change in behaviour.

"Perhaps a huge silence might interrupt this sadness of never understanding ourselves."

Similarly the earth has been personified in “Perhaps, the earth can teach us.”

4. Alliteration:

Neruda uses alliteration to create a sense of rhythm and emphasis, particularly when stressing the idea of quiet and stillness.

“let’s stop for one second”

"We would all be together in a sudden strangeness."

The repetition of the "s" sound helps evoke a sense of calmness and silence.

5. Juxtaposition:

The poet contrasts the stillness with the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Neruda urges readers to stop their usual activities and “keep still,” which is in sharp contrast to the usual noise and activity of human existence.

This contrast between the usual noise and the sudden silence underscores the importance of introspection and unity.

6. Repetition:

Repetition is used effectively in the poem to stress the importance of stopping and reflecting. The phrase “let’s not” is repeated to emphasize the collective action of ceasing movement and speech.

“Without rush, without engines”

This repetition builds the idea that everyone should stop, pause, and reflect together.

7. Symbolism:

The concept of keeping quiet is a symbolic representation of peace, contemplation, and the idea of stopping to understand ourselves and our actions more deeply.

8. Anaphora:

When the first word of a poetic line/phrase/clause is repeated in a consecutive manner, it is called anaphora. For example:

“Let’s not speak in any language,

 Let’s stop for one second, “