Subject: English

Topic: The Pulley

Grade: VIII

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 Period 1:

dispersed : scattered

contract : decrease in size, number, or range

restlessness : the inability to rest or relax as a result of anxiety or

boredom

weary : feeling or showing extreme tiredness

toss : throw (something) somewhere lightly or casually

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 1. What does ‘the pulley’ represent in the poem?
‘The pulley’ represents God's loving nature by which he draws
mankind close to his chest where man can find rest.
2. From where does God pull out each sacred gift?
God pulls out each sacred gift from a glass of blessings.
3. What is the gift of God to man?
God has showered on man all the possible things that he deserves,
like the planet itself with all its riches, strength for him to utilize
them, beauty to admire, wisdom to choose between the right and
the wrong, honour to live with, companionship and pleasure to
realize the worth of all that he deserves.

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 Figures of Speech used in the poem

Alliteration
When God at first made man
So strength first made a way;
But keep them with repining restlessness;

Repetition
And then rest in Nature, not the God of Nature

Synecdoche
May toss him to my breast.

Personification
If goodness lead him not, Yet weariness
May toss him to my breast
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 • How does God intend to make man seek Him?
If God gave man everything including ‘rest’, there would be nothing
left for man to seek his Creator. Man would forget his Creator. To
make man realize that everything should be in moderation and
balance, he made pain and retained ‘rest’ with him so that if man
forgets to seek Him in happiness, in distress he definitely will seek
Him.

• How does the poet highlight ‘pulley’ as the main tune of the poem?
Herbert professes that God uses ‘Rest’ as a pulley to pull Man
towards Him, it was indeed within Man from the beginning. Thus,
the title of the poem clearly highlights the main tune of the poem.

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