The Pulley
Short Questions
1. Who wrote the poem “The Pulley”?
Answer: George Herbert.
2.What is the poem “The Pulley” about?
Answer: God giving gifts to man but keeping rest to draw him closer.
3.What does God hold in a glass in the poem?
Answer: Blessings.
4.Name one gift God gives to man in the poem.
Answer: Strength.
5.What gift does God not give to man?
Answer: Rest.
6.Why does God not give rest to man?
Answer: So man does not forget God.
7.What does the word “span” mean in the poem?
Answer: Small space.
8.What does “repining restlessness” mean?
Answer: Continuous dissatisfaction.
9.What is the pulley in the poem?
Answer: Restlessness that pulls man to God.
10.What does God want man to worship?
Answer: God, not His gifts.
11.What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?
Answer: a b a b a.
12. Which figure of speech is “rest in the bottom lay”?
Answer: Pun.
13. What is an example of alliteration in the poem?
Answer: Repining restlessness.
14.What does “jewel” refer to in the poem?
Answer: Rest.
15. Who is speaking in the poem?
Answer: God.
Long Questions
1. What gifts does God give to man in the poem “The Pulley”?
Answer: God gives man strength, beauty, wisdom, honour, and pleasure. These gifts are meant to make man’s life rich but not complete without God.
2.Why does God use restlessness as a pulley in the poem?
Answer: God uses restlessness to pull man closer to Him. Without rest, man seeks God when he is tired and weary.
3.What is the main theme of the poem “The Pulley”?
Answer: The poem shows how God teaches man to value Him over His gifts. It explores the relationship between God and man through blessings and restlessness.
4.Why does God worry that man will worship nature instead of Him?
Answer: If man gets rest, he might love God’s gifts like nature more. This would make him forget God, the giver of those gifts.
5.How does the title “The Pulley” suit the poem?
Answer: The title represents restlessness as a tool that lifts man to God. Like a pulley, it pulls man closer when he is tired and seeks rest.
6.What does the poet mean by “both should losers be”?
Answer: If man worships gifts instead of God, both lose. Man misses God’s love, and God loses man’s devotion.
7.Explain the figure of speech in “rest in the bottom lay.”
Answer: It is a pun because “rest” means both relaxation and what remains. It shows rest is left behind to keep man longing for God.
8.When does man usually turn to God, according to the poem?
Answer: Man turns to God when he is weary and restless. For example, when life feels hard, he seeks God’s comfort.
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