Question

Read the following poem and write an appreciation of it with the help of the given points in a paragraph format:

The Pulley When God at first made Man, Having a glass of blessings standing by; Let us (said He) "pour on him all we can": Let the world's riches, which dispersed lie, Contract into a span. So strength first made a way; Then beauty flow'd, then wisdom, honour, pleasure: When almost all was out, God made a stay, Perceiving that alone of all His treasures Rest in the bottom lay. For if I should (said He) Bestow this jewel also on my creature, He would adore my gifts instead of me, And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature. So both should losers be. Yet let him keep the rest, But keep them with repining restlessness: Let him be rich and weary, that at last, If goodness lead him not, yet weariness May toss him to my breast.

• The title of the poem       (1)
• The poet                          (1)
• Central idea/theme          (2)
• Rhyme scheme                (1)
• Figure of speech              (1)
• Special features               (2)
• Favourite line/lines         (1)
• Why I like/don’t like the poem    (1)

Read the 'The Pulley' poem and write an appreciation of it with the help of the given points in paragraph format.

You can use the following points while appreciating the given poem.

• Title and Poet
• Rhyme Scheme
• Figure of Speech
• Theme/Central Idea (At Least 2 to 3 lines)

Answer 1

The title of the poem is ‘The pulley’. The poet is George Herbert. The central idea of the poem is the reason for man's continual restlessness all his life. According to the poet, this is because God with held the quality of rest from man, so that man's thoughts would ultimately turn towards God, his creator. Each verse of the poem has five lines. The rhyme scheme of each verse is a-b-a-b-a. The chief figure of speech used in the poem is Metaphor. The 'glass of blessings' signifies the sum of all human qualities bestowed on man. The quality of 'rest' or 'Contentment' is implicitly compared to a ‘jewel’. This is a poem with a message. And the message is that however, rich we may be or whatever the abundance of qualities we may have, we must always turn our thoughts to God and thank him for the many blessings he has bestowed on us. My favourite line in this poem is 'Let him be rich and weary, This brings out the paradox of man's nature so well. Even the richest man in the world finally gets tired and experiences discontentment. This is what God intended for man. I like this poem very much because it teaches me not to be self-satisfied and contented but to always remember and thank God for all the blessings he has bestowed on me.

Answer 2

Appreciation of the Poem ‘The Pulley’

The title of the poem is ‘The Pulley’, and it is written by George Herbert.

The central idea of the poem revolves around God’s creation of mankind. The poet describes how God granted humans various blessings such as strength, beauty, wisdom, and honor. However, He deliberately withheld “Rest” to ensure that humans do not become self-sufficient and forget God. The idea is that human beings, despite having everything, will always feel restless and ultimately turn to God for peace and fulfillment.

The poem follows the ABABA rhyme scheme, which gives it a smooth and rhythmic flow.

One of the significant figures of speech in the poem is Metaphor, where "The Pulley" symbolizes the way God draws humans toward Him through restlessness and weariness. Another important figure of speech is Personification, as God is given human-like qualities, such as speaking and making decisions.

The special features of the poem include its metaphysical nature, where deep philosophical and religious ideas are expressed through simple yet powerful imagery. The poem uses a conversational tone where God is depicted as directly speaking about His creation. It also conveys a moral lesson that true happiness and peace can only be found in devotion to God.

My favorite lines from the poem are:
“Yet let him keep the rest, / But keep them with repining restlessness.”
These lines emphasize that even with wealth and worldly pleasures, humans will always feel restless and seek God’s comfort.

I like this poem because it presents a thought-provoking idea about human nature and our connection with God. The metaphor of the pulley beautifully conveys how God ensures that humans always seek Him despite having all worldly possessions. The poem’s message is both philosophical and spiritual, making it deeply meaningful.