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Difficulty: MediumExtended Metaphors and Conceits

Read the following poem by George Herbert carefully:

The Pulley

When God at first made man,
Having a glass of blessings standing by,
Let us (said he) pour on him all we can:
Let the world's riches, which dispersed lie,
Contract into a span.

So strength first made a way;
Then beauty flowered, then wisdom, honour, pleasure:
When almost all was out, God made a stay,
Perceiving that, alone of all his treasure,
Rest in the bottom lay.

For if I should (said he)
Bestow this jewel also on my creature,
He would adore my gifts instead of me,
And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature:
So both should losers be.

Which of the following best explains how the extended metaphor of the "pulley" functions in the poem to illustrate the relationship between humanity and the divine?

  1. A
    God's decision to withhold rest represents a shift to an adversarial tone, showing that the creator wishes to punish humanity for adoring nature.
  2. B
    The poem utilizes an elaborate metaphysical conceit, which is a literary device that compares two very different things throughout a work.
  3. By withholding rest, God ensures that human weariness will function as a force that draws humanity back to the divine.Answer
  4. D
    The 'glass of blessings' and the 'jewel' of rest are independent metaphors designed to show that human virtues are incompatible with divine favor.
  5. E
    The poem serves as Herbert’s personal confession of his own failure to achieve wisdom and honor in his lifetime.

Answer

By withholding rest, God ensures that human weariness will function as a force that draws humanity back to the divine.
The correct answer accurately identifies the mechanics of the conceit. In the poem, God bestows all gifts except 'rest.' The withholding of rest acts as a mechanical force (a pulley)—by experiencing restlessness and weariness on Earth, humanity is naturally drawn back to seek comfort and completion in the divine.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the central conceit
The title 'The Pulley' establishes the central conceit. A pulley uses leverage and tension to lift objects. In the poem, the tension is created by human restlessness.
Understanding the core metaphor of a pulley is necessary to determine how the lack of 'rest' functions as a physical or spiritual force.
2
Trace the narrative of the conceit
God pours out all blessings (strength, beauty, wisdom, honor, pleasure) but stops before giving 'rest' (the jewel). The speaker explains that if humans had rest, they would worship the gifts rather than the Giver.
This establishes that withholding rest is a deliberate act of divine protection and connection rather than punishment.
3
Synthesize the conceit's thematic function
Because humanity is deprived of rest, they will eventually grow weary of earthly treasures and be drawn back to God. The weariness is the downward pull on the pulley that lifts the soul upward.
This links the mechanical function of a pulley directly to the theological relationship between the creator and the creature.

Key Concept

Analyzing the thematic function of an extended metaphor or conceit in a poem.
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Topics

Extended Metaphors and Conceits

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