Examkin

Question

Difficulty: HardAnalysis of Prescribed Non-African Poems

Based on George Herbert's prescribed non-African poem 'The Pulley', complete the statement below regarding God's divine restraint and its spiritual purpose. What specific blessing is withheld from man, and what resulting condition draws him back to the Creator?

Answer:In George Herbert's metaphysical poem 'The Pulley', God bestows riches, beauty, and wisdom upon man, but deliberately withholds 【rest】 so that human 【restlessness】 will ultimately lead man back to God.

Answer

In George Herbert's 'The Pulley', God withholds 'rest' so that man's perpetual 'restlessness' (or weariness) will toss him to God's breast.
In 'The Pulley', George Herbert depicts God conferring all virtues except 'rest' upon humanity. By withholding rest, God ensures that man's constant weariness and restlessness will eventually pull him back toward spiritual devotion.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the thematic conceit of George Herbert's 'The Pulley'.
God pours out a glass of blessings (beauty, wisdom, honor, pleasure) upon creation, but keeps rest at the bottom of the treasure glass.
Herbert uses the theological conceit of a mechanical pulley to explain divine-human relationships.
2
Identify the withheld blessing and its spiritual outcome.
The withheld blessing is 'rest', which leaves man in a state of 'restlessness' or weariness.
If God bestowed rest, man would worship the gift instead of the Giver. Therefore, restlessness acts as the physical lever/pulley drawing humanity back to God.

Key Concept

Metaphysical Conceit and Divine Restraint in Herbert's 'The Pulley'
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Rate this question

Topics

Analysis of Prescribed Non-African Poems

More questions from this topic