Class 10 English Notes – Maharashtra Board Poem 2.4: The Pulley

Class 10 English Notes – Maharashtra Board

✨ Poem 2.4: The Pulley – Complete Notes, Summary, Questions & Appreciation

📖 Chapter Title and Brief Introduction

Title: The Pulley
Board: SSC Class 10 – Maharashtra Board
Type: Poem
Theme: The poem explores the relationship between man and God, focusing on how God withheld "rest" from humans to ensure they seek Him.

✍️ Poet Information – George Herbert

George Herbert (1593–1633) was a 17th-century metaphysical poet and priest.
Known for deeply religious poetry, he often used metaphors and imagery to explore Christian themes.
His works reflect spirituality, devotion, and the struggles of faith.

📝 Summary of the Poem

In The Pulley, God creates man and bestows upon him all treasures: strength, beauty, wisdom, and pleasure. But He decides not to give man "rest." The poet compares this decision to a pulley—just as a pulley draws weight upward, the lack of rest will draw humans back to God. If man had been given rest, he might have become self-sufficient and forget God. Thus, God withholds rest not as punishment but to ensure a spiritual connection. The poem teaches that worldly gifts are not enough, and true peace can only be found in divine presence.

📚 New Words and Meanings

Word	Meaning
Pulley	A wheel with a rope used to lift things
Bestow	To give something as a gift
Repining	Expressing discontent or sadness
Treasures	Valuable qualities or possessions
Weariness	Physical or mental tiredness

🎨 Figures of Speech with Examples

Figure of Speech	Line/Example	Explanation
Metaphor	“So strength first made a way”	Strength is given a human quality
Alliteration	“Strength, beauty, wisdom, honour, pleasure”	Repetition of the consonant sound ‘s’
Personification	“Rest in the bottom lay”	Rest is given a physical form
Symbol	“Pulley”	Represents God’s way of drawing man to Himself
Paradox	“Weariness may toss him to my breast”	Tiredness leads man closer to God

🌟 Poetic Appreciation (300+ words)

Title: The Pulley
Poet: George Herbert
Theme: The central theme of the poem is the spiritual connection between man and God. The poem explains why God did not give man "rest" along with other blessings. By withholding rest, God ensures that man would remember Him and seek solace in His presence during times of weariness.

Language/Style:
The poem uses simple yet profound language to express deep spiritual truths. The poet employs a narrative tone, as if God is directly explaining His decision. The diction is rich with metaphysical ideas presented in a relatable way.

Figures of Speech:
The poem is rich in figures of speech such as metaphor, personification, and paradox. The central metaphor is the “pulley,” which symbolizes how God pulls man upward toward Himself. Personification is used when qualities like “strength” and “rest” are described as if they were tangible things.

Message/Moral:
The moral of the poem is that worldly gifts alone cannot satisfy human beings. Restlessness and suffering serve as reminders for man to turn towards God. The lack of rest is a divine tool that brings man back to his creator. True peace, the poem suggests, lies not in material comforts but in spiritual fulfillment. Thus, the poem gently emphasizes faith, humility, and the importance of divine connection.

✏️ Grammar and Language Study

Tense Used: Past Tense (e.g., “When God at first made man...”)
Voice: Active Voice
Pronouns: Third person (He, His, Him)
Conjunctions: when, and, lest
Language Feature: Archaic words (e.g., “repining”) typical of older English literature.

❓ Important Exam Questions with Answers

🔹 Short Answer Questions

Q1. Why did God not give "rest" to man?
God did not give "rest" to man because He wanted man to remember Him in times of weariness and seek spiritual peace, not just enjoy material pleasures.

Q2. What gifts did God give to man?
God gave man strength, beauty, wisdom, honour, and pleasure, but He kept back "rest."

Q3. What is the significance of the pulley in the poem?
The pulley symbolizes how God pulls man closer to Him through restlessness and weariness.

🔹 Long Answer Question

Q. Explain the moral message of the poem in your own words.
The poem delivers a profound spiritual message. God gave many blessings to man—strength, beauty, wisdom—but He purposely withheld “rest” to ensure that man doesn't become too content with the material world. The absence of rest causes man to feel weary and seek comfort in God. Just like a pulley draws an object upward, this weariness draws man toward his spiritual source. The message is that ultimate peace and rest can only be found in devotion to God, not in worldly possessions.

🌈 Central Idea / Moral of the Poem

The central idea of The Pulley revolves around the divine relationship between man and God. God has blessed mankind with every possible gift—strength, beauty, wisdom, and pleasure—but kept “rest” away. Why? Because without spiritual yearning, man would become arrogant and forget God. The withheld “rest” serves a divine purpose: to bring man closer to his Creator in moments of weariness and sorrow. Through this symbolic pulley, Herbert emphasizes that true rest and peace are only found in God, not in worldly pleasures. The poem teaches humility, gratitude, and the importance of faith.

📜 Previously Asked Board Questions (Last 5 Years)

✅ 2 Marks Question:

Q. What is the central idea of the poem ‘The Pulley’?
The central idea is that God withheld “rest” from man to ensure he remains spiritually connected. Man, though blessed with many qualities, would seek God in times of weariness.

✅ 3 Marks Question:

Q. Describe the significance of the 'pulley' as a metaphor in the poem.
The pulley in the poem represents God's tool to draw man closer to Him. Just as a pulley pulls objects upward, weariness and restlessness pull man away from worldly pleasures and towards God. This metaphor emphasizes the divine plan to maintain a spiritual bond.

✅ 4 Marks Question:

Q. Explain the theme and message of the poem ‘The Pulley’ by George Herbert.
The poem explores the spiritual relationship between man and God. God granted all blessings except “rest” to man, ensuring that in times of struggle, he would return to the divine. The message is that material comforts are incomplete without spiritual peace, which can only be attained through connection with God.

✅ 5 Marks Question:

Q. Write a poetic appreciation of the poem ‘The Pulley’.
The poem ‘The Pulley’ by George Herbert is a philosophical piece that explores divine wisdom. It begins with God creating man and showering him with all treasures like strength, wisdom, and pleasure. However, God withholds “rest” to ensure that man remains spiritually inclined. The central metaphor of a pulley symbolizes how weariness draws man toward God. The poem uses simple language but delivers a deep message: man’s restlessness is a divine design to keep him connected with his Creator. The poem’s structure, use of figures of speech like metaphor and personification, and its moral depth make it memorable and impactful.

🧠 Practice Questions (20) – With Answers

🔹 Short Answer

What gifts did God give to man?
- Strength, beauty, wisdom, honour, and pleasure.
What does the poet mean by “repining rest”?
- It refers to the peaceful rest that God kept away from man.
How does the pulley work as a symbol in the poem?
- It symbolizes God pulling man toward Him through life’s burdens.
What is the tone of the poem?
- Philosophical and spiritual.
Why is “rest” important in human life?
- Rest gives peace, but its absence makes man seek higher meaning.
What would happen if man had both blessings and rest?
- He might forget God and live in self-contentment.
What is the structure of the poem?
- One stanza with 20 lines in free verse.
What kind of language is used?
- Simple, clear with a spiritual undertone.
What does “toss him to my breast” imply?
- Man will turn to God in times of trouble.
Is the poem optimistic or pessimistic?
- Optimistic; it shows God’s concern for man’s spiritual well-being.

🔹 Long Answer

Explain how the poem connects spiritual rest with divine design.
What is the significance of withholding "rest" in the poem?
Describe how metaphors enhance the theme of the poem.
How does George Herbert’s religious background reflect in the poem?
What is the poet's view on material blessings?
Compare the poem’s message with modern spiritual beliefs.
Why is the poem still relevant today?
Write a poetic appreciation in your own words.
How does the poem convey that weariness is not a punishment?
Do you agree that struggles bring people closer to God? Justify.