Question Answers Class 10 Chapter 2.4 Kumarbharati English Maharashtra Board

The Pulley

ENGLISH WORKSHOP

1. With the help of the clues, pick out words containing the letter ‘a’ from the poem and build a word-pyramid.

• (a) an article: a
• (b) a preposition: at
• (c) past tense of ‘lie’: lay
• (d) maximum length of your open palm: span
• (e) make much of: adore
• (f) loveliness: beauty
• (g) in place of: instead
• (h) a collection of priceless valuables: treasures
• (i) restlessness and discontent: restlessness

Word Pyramid:

a
at
lay
span
adore
beauty
instead
treasures
restlessness

2. Choose the correct alternative from the following.

(a) Herbert’s poem ‘The Pulley’ displays … as the two main themes.

(i) Origin of Morality/Spirituality

(b) The theme of the poem ‘The Pulley’ is (Find two correct statements):

(iii) to know the different gifts bestowed on man by God.

(v) God pulled man towards Him by making him restless and weary.

(c) In the poem, ‘The Pulley’ is considered:

(iv) an image by which God compels people to become devout.

(d) … is an example of Pun from the poem.

(i) Rest in the bottom lay.

(e) … is an example of Paradox from the poem.

(iii) Let him be rich and weary.

(f) … is an example of Synecdoche from the poem.

(iii) “Let us” said he “pour on him”.

(g) … is an example of Alliteration from the poem.

(iii) Repining restlessness.

(h) … is an example of Inversion from the poem.

(ii) So both should losers be.

(i) The rhyme scheme of the poem is …

(iv) a b a b a.

3. Discuss and answer in your own words, and write in your notebook.

(a) The poet has used the word REST thrice in the poem. Write what the word implies in each of the three lines it occurs.

• Line: “Rest in the bottom lay” – Here, “rest” means peace or contentment, which God notices is still left in His glass of blessings.
• Line: “He would adore my gifts instead of me, And rest in Nature” – Here, “rest” means being satisfied with worldly things, like nature, instead of seeking God.
• Line: “Yet let him keep the rest” – Here, “rest” refers to all the other gifts (like strength, beauty, wisdom) that God has given to man, except the gift of rest (peace).

(b) What does God want in return from man, for the gifts He has bestowed upon him?

• God wants man to be grateful and remember Him for the gifts. He wants man to worship and love Him, not just enjoy the gifts and forget the Giver.

(c) Why did God withhold the gift of ‘Rest’ from man?

• God withheld the gift of rest (peace or contentment) so that man would not become too satisfied with the gifts and forget God. By keeping man restless, God ensures that man will turn to Him for true peace.

(d) Besides those given in the poem, what other gifts has God blessed mankind with above his other creations? Enlist them.

God has given mankind gifts like:

• Intelligence to think and create.
• Emotions to feel love and compassion.
• Free will to make choices.
• Ability to communicate through language.

(e) When does man generally turn to God? Give one example to support your response.

• Man generally turns to God when he is tired, troubled, or feels restless. For example, when someone faces a big problem, like failing an exam or losing a loved one, they may pray to God for help and comfort.

4. (A) Discuss with your group and justify the title of the poem ‘The Pulley’ in your own words.

• The title “The Pulley” is suitable because the poem compares God’s way of drawing man closer to Him to a pulley, a device that lifts things. God gives man many gifts but keeps back “rest” (peace), so man feels restless. This restlessness acts like a pulley, pulling man toward God when he is tired and seeks true peace.

(B) Pick out 3 lines that contain Monologues of God.

• “Let us (said He) pour on him all we can:”
• “For if I should (said He) Bestow this jewel also on my creature,”
• “Yet let him keep the rest, But keep them with repining restlessness:”

5. (A) Pick out two lines that contain the following figures of speech.

(a) Antithesis:

1. “He would adore my gifts instead of me.”
2. “And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature.”

(b) Alliteration:

1. “Repining restlessness”
2. “World’s riches”

(c) Inversion:

1. “So both should losers be.”
2. “When God at first made man.”

(B) Explain the Figures of Speech in the following lines.

(a) Rest in the bottom lay – PUN because:

• The word “rest” has two meanings here: one is “peace or contentment,” and the other is “the remaining part” (what’s left in the glass). This double meaning creates a playful effect, as it refers to both the gift God didn’t give and what remained.

(b) Bestow this jewel also on my creature – METAPHOR because:

• The word “jewel” is used to describe “rest” (peace). It compares rest to a precious gem without using “like” or “as,” making it a metaphor to show how valuable rest is.

(c) And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature – REPETITION because:

• The word “Nature” is repeated in the same line to emphasize the difference between resting in worldly things (Nature) and resting in God, who created Nature.

6. Write Critical Appreciation of the poem in a paragraph format.

• The poem The Pulley by George Herbert is a beautiful and thought-provoking religious poem that explores the relationship between God and man. Written in a simple yet powerful style, it uses the metaphor of a pulley to show how God lifts man toward Himself. The poem describes how God gives man many gifts, like strength, beauty, wisdom, and honor, but holds back “rest” (peace) so that man does not become too content with these gifts and forget God. The imagery, such as the “glass of blessings” and the pulley, makes the poem vivid and meaningful. The rhyme scheme (a b a b a) and figures of speech like pun, metaphor, and alliteration add depth and charm. The central theme is that restlessness in life is God’s way of pulling man closer to Him, making the poem a blend of spiritual and scientific ideas. Overall, The Pulley is a touching reminder to stay connected to God even when life feels tiring.

7. ‘Pun’ can be defined as play on words based on their different meanings. Example: ‘Writing with a broken pencil is pointless.’ In this poem, there is an example of Pun. Find and make a sentence of your own. Share a joke with the class where the use of ‘Pun’ creates humor.

• Pun from the poem: “Rest in the bottom lay” (The word “rest” means both “peace” and “what remains”).
• My sentence with a pun: “I wanted to sleep, but my bed said it needed a rest too!”
• Joke with a pun: Why did the scarecrow become a motivational speaker? Because he was outstanding in his field!

8. Write a paragraph on the points in each block given below to get a summary on each of the four stanzas of the poem.

Stanza I: God Created man, Best creations, Offered Blessings/Gifts

• In the first stanza, the poem describes how God created man and decided to give him all His blessings. God has a “glass of blessings” containing many gifts, and He says, “Let us pour on him all we can.” He wants to gather the world’s riches, which are scattered, and give them to man in a small space, showing His love for His best creation.

Stanza II: God gifted man, Beauty, wisdom, honour, etc.

• In the second stanza, God begins to pour His gifts on man one by one. First comes strength, followed by beauty, wisdom, honor, and pleasure. But when almost all the gifts are given, God stops because He notices that one gift, “rest” (peace), is still left at the bottom of the glass.

Stanza III: Did not give ‘Rest’, Man If happy/contented Forgets God, Instead worships Gifts

• In the third stanza, God decides not to give man the gift of rest. He thinks that if man gets rest, he will become too satisfied and love God’s gifts (like nature) more than God Himself. God says that if man worships the gifts instead of Him, both will lose-man will lose his connection with God, and God will lose man’s devotion.

Stanza IV: Man needs to be reminded of the Giver, God made his life discontented, So man is lifted with a Pulley towards HIM

• In the fourth stanza, God decides to let man keep all the other gifts but with a sense of restlessness. God wants man to feel tired and dissatisfied so that, when he is weary, he will turn to God for true peace. This restlessness acts like a pulley, lifting man closer to God when goodness alone doesn’t guide him.