The Pulley by George Herbert | The Pulley | George Herbert | Explanation | Summary | Key Points | Word Meaning | Critical Appreciation | Questions Answers | Free PDF Download – Easy Literary Lessons
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 dispersèd lie,
Contract into a span.”
So strength first made a way;
Then beauty flowed, then wisdom, honor, pleasure.
When almost all was out, God made a stay,
Perceiving that alone, of all His treasure,
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 least,
If goodness lead him not, yet weariness
May toss him to My breast.”
line-by-line explanation of the poem
Line 1: When God at first made man,
This line introduces the idea of God creating human beings.
Line 2: Having a glass of blessings standing by,
With a collection of blessings ready to give to man.
Line 3: “Let us,” said He, “pour on him all we can.
God decides to give humanity as many blessings as possible.
Line 4: Let the world’s riches, which dispersèd lie,
God wanted to give man all the riches of the world, which were scattered all around.
Line 5: Contract into a span.”
God wanted to concentrate all the riches of the world into one man.
Line 6: So strength first made a way;
First, God gave man strength.
Line 7: Then beauty flowed, then wisdom, honor, pleasure.
Then God gave man beauty, wisdom, honor, and pleasure.
Line 8: When almost all was out, God made a stay,
When God had given man almost all the blessings he could think of, he stopped.
Line 9: Perceiving that alone, of all His treasure,
God realized that there was one blessing he had not yet given man: rest.
Line 10: Rest in the bottom lay.
Rest, or contentment, was the last and deepest blessing.
Line 11: “For if I should,” said He,
God said to himself, “If I give man the gift of rest,…”
Line 12: “Bestow this jewel also on My creature,
“If I give man this precious gift,…”
Line 13: He would adore My gifts instead of Me,
“He will worship my gifts instead of me.”
Line 14: And rest in nature, not the God of nature;
“And he will find rest in the natural world, not in the God who created it.”
Line 15: So both should losers be.
“In this way, we will both lose. I will lose a worshiper, and man will lose his chance to find true happiness in me.”
Line 16: “Yet let him keep the rest,
However, I will let man keep all the other blessings I have given him
Line 17: But keep them with repining restlessness;
But let him be restless and unsatisfied with them
Line 18: Let him be rich and weary, that at least,
Let man have all the riches he wants, but let him be tired of them,
Line 19: If goodness lead him not, yet weariness
So that if his goodness does not lead him back to me, then perhaps his weariness will,
Line 20: May toss him to My breast.”
Bring him back to me.
Word Meaning
| Line | Word | Meaning | अर्थ |
| 1 | God | Creator | भगवान |
| 2 | glass of blessings | collection of blessings | आशीर्वादों का संग्रह |
| 3 | pour | flow | बहना |
| 4 | dispersèd lie | scattered all around | चारों ओर बिखरी हुई |
| 5 | Contract | concentrate | समाहित |
| 5 | Into a span | into one man | एक मनुष्य में |
| 6 | strength | power | शक्ति |
| 7 | beauty | elegance | सौंदर्य |
| 7 | wisdom | intelligence | बुद्धि |
| 7 | honor | acknowledge | सम्मान |
| 7 | pleasure | joy | आनंद |
| 8 | stay | stop | रुक |
| 9 | Perceiving | Realizing | महसूस |
| 9 | treasure | wealth | खज़ाना |
| 10 | bottom | deep | निचला |
| 12 | Bestow | give | प्रदान करना |
| 12 | creature | man | प्राणी |
| 13 | adore | worship | पूजा |
| 15 | loser | defeated person | हारने वाला |
| 17 | repining restlessness | anxiety | बेचैनी को दोहराना |
| 18 | weary | tired | थका |
| 19 | goodness | gentleness | अच्छाई |
| 19 | weariness | tiredness | थकावट |
| 20 | My breast | my chest / heart | मेरे सीने से |
Summary
The poem “The Pulley” by George Herbert is a meditation on the relationship between God and humanity. In the poem, Herbert imagines God creating man and giving him all the gifts he could possibly want: strength, beauty, wisdom, honor, and pleasure. However, God stops short of giving man the gift of rest, knowing that if he did, man would adore the gifts instead of the Giver.
This poem is a reminder that all the good things in life are ultimately gifts from God. While we can enjoy these gifts, we should never forget that they are not our own and that we should be grateful to God for them. Furthermore, the poem suggests that true happiness and satisfaction can only be found in God, not in the material world.
I found this poem to be very thought-provoking and inspiring. It is a reminder that we should always be grateful for the blessings in our lives and that we should never take them for granted. Furthermore, the poem teaches us that true happiness can only be found in God.
Key Points
Author: The poem was written by George Herbert, a Welsh poet who also worked as an orator and priest.
Metaphysical Poem: “The Pulley” is a metaphysical poem, a type of figurative language that is most commonly associated with John Donne
The Pulley as a Metaphor: The poem uses the pulley as a metaphor to depict humanity’s restless nature and the reason why human beings are incapable of being satisfied
Theme: The poem explores themes of religion and human nature. It provides the reader with an image and idea of how God bestowed various traits on humanity.
Structure and Form: The poem is structured in quintains (five-line stanzas) that follow a structured rhyme scheme
Literary Devices: The poem uses several literary devices, including conceit (a type of figurative language), personification (giving human characteristics to non-human entities), and paradox (a statement that contradicts itself but might be true).
Summary: The poem begins with God creating humankind and giving people every possible blessing but one: “rest”. The longing for a kind of peace one can’t find on earth is just another part of God’s plan to draw humanity back into a divine embrace.
Publication: This poem first appeared in the posthumous collection “The Temple” in 1633
Very Short Answer Questions
Who is the author of “The Pulley”?
The poem “The Pulley” was written by George Herbert, a Welsh poet who also worked as an orator and priest.
What type of poem is “The Pulley”?
“The Pulley” is a metaphysical poem, a type of figurative language that uses complex and abstract metaphors.
What is the main theme of “The Pulley”?
The main theme of “The Pulley” is the restless nature of humanity and the reason why human beings are incapable of being satisfied.
What does the pulley symbolize in the poem?
The pulley symbolizes the connection between God and humanity. It represents the idea that God uses restlessness (the pulley) to draw humans towards Him.
How does Herbert portray God in “The Pulley”?
Herbert portrays God as a creator who deliberately withholds rest from humanity in order to draw them closer to Him.
What is the structure of “The Pulley”?
The poem is structured in quintains (five-line stanzas) that follow a structured rhyme scheme.
What literary devices are used in “The Pulley”?
The poem uses several literary devices, including conceit (a type of figurative language), personification (giving human characteristics to non-human entities), and paradox (a statement that contradicts itself but might be true).
What is the message of “The Pulley”?
The message of “The Pulley” is that human restlessness and dissatisfaction are part of God’s plan to draw humanity back into a divine embrace.
When was “The Pulley” published?
This poem first appeared in the posthumous collection “The Temple” in 1633.
How does “The Pulley” reflect Herbert’s religious beliefs?
The poem reflects Herbert’s Christian beliefs about the relationship between God and humanity. It suggests that God uses unrest as a means to draw humans closer to Him.
Short Answer Questions
How does the title “The Pulley” relate to the overall theme of the poem?
The title “The Pulley” is a metaphor for the connection between God and humanity. It represents the idea that God uses unrest (the pulley) to draw humans towards Him, which is a central theme of the poem.
What is the significance of God withholding ‘rest’ from humanity in “The Pulley”?
The withholding of ‘rest’ signifies that humans are meant to experience a sense of dissatisfaction or unrest in life. This unrest is what pulls or draws them closer to God, much like a pulley.
How does “The Pulley” reflect George Herbert’s personal beliefs and experiences?
As a priest of the Church of England, Herbert’s religious beliefs heavily influenced his poetry. “The Pulley” reflects his belief in a God who desires a close relationship with humanity and uses various means, such as unrest, to draw humans closer to Him.
How does Herbert use language and poetic devices in “The Pulley” to convey his message?
Herbert uses a variety of poetic devices, including metaphors, personification, and paradoxes, to convey his message. The language is rich and complex, reflecting the metaphysical style of poetry.
Essay Type Questions
Q. Write the critical appreciation of the poem?
A. Title and Author The poem “The Pulley” is written by George Herbert. He was a Welsh-born poet, orator, and priest of the Church of England. His religious beliefs heavily influenced his poetry, and he is known for his profound and deeply spiritual poems.
Type of Poem “The Pulley” is a metaphysical poem. Metaphysical poetry is a type of poetry that explores complex and abstract ideas through extended metaphors or conceits. These poems often deal with topics such as love, religion, and morality, using unusual metaphors to convey these themes.
Theme The main theme of “The Pulley” is the relationship between God and humanity. The poem explores the idea that God uses unrest as a ‘pulley’ to draw humans closer to Him. This theme reflects Herbert’s belief in a God who desires a close relationship with His creation.
Metaphor of the Pulley In “The Pulley”, Herbert uses the metaphor of a pulley to illustrate the divine-human relationship. A pulley is a simple machine that uses tension to lift an object. In the poem, God uses the tension of unrest (the pulley) to lift or draw humanity closer to Him.
God’s Blessings and Rest In the poem, God bestows various blessings upon humanity, such as strength, beauty, wisdom, and honor. However, He deliberately withholds one blessing – ‘rest’. This lack of rest creates a sense of longing in humans, which draws them closer to God. This reflects Herbert’s belief that human restlessness is part of God’s plan to draw humanity back into a divine embrace.
Language and Imagery Herbert uses rich language and vivid imagery in “The Pulley”. He personifies God and describes the blessings flowing from God to humans. Despite the complexity of the language, it effectively conveys the poem’s themes.
Structure and Form “The Pulley” by George Herbert is a four-stanza poem that is separated into sets of five lines or quintains. Each of these quintains follows a structured rhyme scheme1. They conform to a pattern of ABABA, alternating end sounds as the poet saw fit. The consistent structure and form give the poem an ordered sense.
Final Line The final line of the poem is “Yet let him keep the rest”. This suggests that true rest or satisfaction can only be found in seeking God. This line reinforces the central theme of the poem – that human restlessness is part of God’s plan to draw humanity back into a divine embrace.
Conclusion In conclusion, “The Pulley” is a thought-provoking exploration of divine-human relations. It reflects Herbert’s personal beliefs about God’s desire for a close relationship with humanity. The effective use of metaphysical conceits, vivid imagery, and structured form make this poem a significant work in English literature.
