Maharashtra Board Class 10 English Kumarbharti Unit Two Chapter 2.4 The Pulley PDF Download

2.4 The Pulley

Warming Up!

Go through the following images and try to link them with our lives. For example, Storm - Hardships that we face in our life.

Sorrowful moments

Determination

Strength

Life

Honour

Hope

Wisdom

Beauty

Teacher's Note

Think of how we learn lessons from nature and our daily life. Just like a storm teaches us strength, different things in life teach us different lessons.

Exam Trick

Remember: Images connect to life lessons. When you see an image in exam, think about what real-life message it gives.

Points to Remember

Images have hidden meanings in our lives.
Storm means problems we face.
Owl means wisdom and knowledge.
Rose means beauty and love.
Tree means strength and growth.

You may have often indulged in talking to yourself audibly.

For example,

"Oh, dear ! Why didn't I get up sooner?"

"Let me finish this quickly and then I'll be free".

"How silly of me! Why didn't I think of it before?"

Such expressions are called Dramatic Monologues.

Imagine and write Monologues suitable in the following situations.

It's your birthday next week.

You have been waiting long at the city bus-stop.

Your final exam results are to be declared tomorrow.

Your mother has been chatting for very long on the telephone.

Teacher's Note

Dramatic monologues are when you talk to yourself aloud about something. For example, a student might say loudly "Oh no! I forgot my homework!" when they realize it at school.

Exam Trick

Remember: Monologue = one person talking to themselves. In exams, write about feelings and emotions when writing monologues.

Points to Remember

Monologue means one person talking alone.
It shows real feelings and emotions.
It can be happy, sad, worried, or excited.
Write in first person - use "I".
Make it sound like natural speech.

'The Pulley' is a mechanical device.

Try and write down places where it can be used, and for what purpose.

Teacher's Note

A pulley is a simple machine that helps us lift heavy things. You see pulleys when builders lift materials up tall buildings using ropes and wheels.

Exam Trick

Remember: Pulley = wheel with rope. Think of water wells in Indian villages where people use pulleys to bring water up from deep underground.

Points to Remember

Pulley is a simple machine with a wheel.
It helps lift heavy objects easily.
It changes the direction of force.
Used in wells, construction, and cranes.
It makes work easier for humans.

The Pulley

George Herbert (1593-1633) was a Welsh poet. He was a priest by profession. He wrote religious poems with a lot of imagery and conceits. The poem exhibits a strange but two way relationship between God and his worshippers. Though He has showered /bestowed His worshipper with all his blessings, somewhere He holds them up with a pulley drawn, to be grateful to Him in all our endeavour.

God gives so many precious gifts to the devotee but at the same time God also expects something in return! What does He expect ? Why does He withhold ?

"The Pulley" shows how God lifts man towards Himself with the pulley of restlessness. What is distinctly metaphysical about the poem is that a religious notion is conveyed through a secular scientific image.

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 worlds riches, which dispersed lie,

Contract into a span.

So strength first made a way;

Then beauty flow'd, then wisdom, honour, pleasure:

When almost all was out, God made a stay,

Perceiving that alone of all His treasures

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.

Yet let him keep the rest,

But keep them with repining restlessness:

Let him be rich and weary, that at last,

If goodness lead him not, yet weariness

May toss him to my breast.

- George Herbert

riches : wealth bounties

dispersed : scattered

contract : collect together

perceiving : noticing, becoming conscious of

bestow on : give as a gift to

jewel : precious valuable thing, (here) contentement (rest)

adore : love very much

repining restlessness : continuous anxiety due to dissatisfaction

weary : very tired

toss : (here) bring, throw close

span : small space

What did God's glass of blessings contain ?

What would the human being do if God gifted him with 'Rest'?

Teacher's Note

This poem teaches us that God gives us gifts but also keeps us restless so we remember Him. Just like how children do their homework well when they know their teacher is watching.

Exam Trick

Remember: The pulley = restlessness. God uses restlessness like a pulley to pull us back to Him. When we are unhappy, we think of God.

Points to Remember

Pulley is a metaphor for restlessness in the poem.
God gave man many gifts like beauty and wisdom.
God did not give Rest so man stays restless.
Restless means always wanting more and unhappy.
Through restlessness, man remembers God and comes back to Him.

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