🌟APPRECIATION OF THE POEM: The Pulley (Unit Two 2.4)🌟
The poem ‘The Pulley’ has been written by George Herbert.
Each stanza of the poem has five lines. The rhyme scheme of the poem is a-b-a-b-a.
The main 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’. The other figures of speech are Pun, Inversion, Paradox, etc.
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 withheld the quality of ‘rest’ from man, so that man’s thoughts would ultimately turn towards God, his creator.
Note for Students
The explanation below is to help you understand the appreciation above. You don’t need to write this in the exam.
📝 Line:
The poem ‘The Pulley’ has been written by George Herbert.
💡 Explanation:
This poem was written by George Herbert, who is the poet.
The name of the poem is ‘The Pulley’.
📝 Line:
Each stanza of the poem has five lines.
💡 Explanation:
Each stanza (small part of the poem) has five lines.
📝 Line:
The rhyme scheme of the poem is a-b-a-b-a.
💡 Explanation:
Rhyme scheme means the way the lines sound at the end.
In this poem, the first, third, and fifth lines sound the same.
The second and fourth lines sound the same.
📝 Line:
The main figure of speech used in the poem is Metaphor.
💡 Explanation:
The most used special way of speaking in this poem is Metaphor.
Metaphor means saying something is like something else, without using “like” or “as”.
📝 Line:
The ‘glass of blessings’ signifies the sum of all human qualities bestowed on man.
💡 Explanation:
‘Glass of blessings’ means a cup full of good things given to people.
Bestowed means given.
It shows all the good qualities God gave to man.
📝 Line:
The quality of ‘rest’ or ‘contentment’ is implicitly compared to a ‘jewel’.
💡 Explanation:
The poem says that rest (peace) and contentment (being happy with what you have)
are like a jewel — something very precious and special.
📝 Line:
The other figures of speech are Pun, Inversion, Paradox, etc.
💡 Explanation:
Other types of special speech in the poem are:
- Pun – funny or clever wordplay.
- Inversion – changing word order to make it sound nice.
- Paradox – something that looks wrong, but is actually true.
📝 Line:
The central idea of the poem is the reason for man’s continual restlessness all his life.
💡 Explanation:
The main idea of the poem is:
Why people are always restless (not peaceful) in life.
📝 Line:
According to the poet, this is because God withheld the quality of ‘rest’ from man, so that man’s thoughts would ultimately turn towards God, his creator.
💡 Explanation:
The poet says that God did not give people peace or rest.
He did this on purpose, so that people would feel tired and worried,
and then remember God and go back to Him, because God made them.