What is the significance of counting to twelve in the poem Keeping Quiet by Pablo Neruda? How does it relate to the theme of silence and introspection? Explain with reference to the poem.
Answer as written by the student:
The significance of counting to twelve in the poem Keeping Quiet by Pablo Neruda is that it represents a brief moment of silence and stillness that the poet asks us to observe. It also relates to the theme of silence and introspection in the following ways:
- It symbolizes the pause or break that we need to take from our hectic and noisy lives, and to reflect on our actions and consequences.
- It suggests the idea of a clock that measures our time and activities, and how we can stop it for a while and enjoy the present moment.
- It implies the possibility of a new beginning or a change , as twelve is often associated with cycles and completion, such as the twelve months of a year or the twelve hours of a day.
- It evokes the sense of unity and harmony, as twelve is also a common number for groups and organizations, such as the twelve apostles or the twelve zodiac signs.
Step-by-step explanation of the answer:
- The answer begins with an introduction that states the main idea of the question: what is the significance of counting to twelve in the poem Keeping Quiet by Pablo Neruda, and how does it relate to the theme of silence and introspection.
- The answer then provides a list of the ways that counting to twelve relates to the theme of silence and introspection, using bullet points for clarity and skimmability.
- The answer also provides references to the poem or other sources to illustrate each point in the list, using numerical indices.
- The answer ends with a conclusion that summarizes the main points of the answer.
