The Seven Ages Literature By William Shakespeare
3. On the basis of your understanding of the poem, answer the following questions by ticking the correct choice
(a) All the world is a stage is an extended metaphor for-
(i)The life shown in well known plays
(ii) Seeing the well known plays
(iii) Life of well known plays
(iv) Life of man that comes to an end
Answer : (iv) Life of man that comes to an end
(b) All ‘have their exits and their entrances' Exits and entrances refer to __________.
(i) Birth and death
(ii) Beginning and end of play
(iii) Coming and going of actors
(iv) The end of the Shakespearean era
Answer : (i) Birth and death
(c) The seven roles that a man plays correspond to his___________.
(i) chronological age in life. (ii) desires
(iii) mental age in life. (iv) idea of a perfect life
Answer : (i) chronological age in life
4. Having read this extract, identify the stages of a person's life as Shakespeare has done. Write down these stages in your note book, and sum up the characteristics of each stage in two or three words. e.g. Stage Characteristic feature Infancy crying
Answer:
•Stage •Characteristic feature
1.Infancy Crying, helpless
2. Childhood Whining, bright, alert, active
3. Lover sentimental,unhappy,poetic,
tense .
4.Soldier quarrelsome, short tempered,
foolishly looking for glory and
fame in the jaws of death
5.Justice Wise, mature, authoritative,
responsible.
6.Old age. getting weak and lean due to
failing health, loss of manly
voice.
7.Extreme Old Age: Clueless ,dependent.
Q 6. Explain the meaning of the following
(a) __________ all the men and women merely players
They have their exits and their entrances __________.
Answer :
The quoted lines are from the poem “The Seven Ages” by William Shakespeare. The poet has compared the world to a stage and men and women with actors.All men and women appear on the stage of the world to play various roles. They are just stage artists. Their birth marks their appearance on the stage and death denotes their departure.
(b) And then the lover
Sighing like furnace__________.
Answer :
The lines are taken from the poem “The Seven Ages” by William Shakespeare. With the help of a simile, the poet explains that on attaining adolescence, men fall in love. The passion of love becomes active like heat generated in a furnace. However, this surging passion also declines after crossing a certain point of time. In this line, the poet hints at momentary nature of human affairs.
(c) a soldier,__________Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon’s mouth.
Answer :
The quoted lines are from the poem “The Seven Ages” by William Shakespeare. The poet has compared a young man to a soldier who takes his responsibilities very seriously and strives relentlessly when dedicated to a cause. In his youth, man seeks instant fame and is ready to take risks. However, when one seeks instant fame, there is a big risk of their reputation getting tainted, just like a bubble that rises and bursts instantly.
Q 7. Read the poem again and note down the metaphors and similes. Copy and complete the following chart.
Item Metaphor Simile
World All the world's a stage
Men, women
school-boy
lover
soldier
reputation
voice
Q. Which comparison(s) do you find most interesting? Why?
Answer
Item Metaphor Simile
World All the world's a stage. -------------------------------
Men, women men and women merely. ----------------------------------
school boy ------------------------------ creeping like snail
lover ----------------------------- sighing like a furnace
soldier. ------------------------------ bearded like the pard
reputation bubble reputation. -------------------------------
voice big manly voice. -------------------------------
According to me school boy comparison is really interesting one. Here, poet shows a boy carrying a schoolbag but at the same time walking slowly towards school. He doesn't want to go to school. This phase common in these days.
3. On the basis of your understanding of the poem, answer the following questions by ticking the correct choice
(a) All the world is a stage is an extended metaphor for-
(i)The life shown in well known plays
(ii) Seeing the well known plays
(iii) Life of well known plays
(iv) Life of man that comes to an end
Answer : (iv) Life of man that comes to an end
(b) All ‘have their exits and their entrances' Exits and entrances refer to __________.
(i) Birth and death
(ii) Beginning and end of play
(iii) Coming and going of actors
(iv) The end of the Shakespearean era
Answer : (i) Birth and death
(c) The seven roles that a man plays correspond to his___________.
(i) chronological age in life. (ii) desires
(iii) mental age in life. (iv) idea of a perfect life
Answer : (i) chronological age in life
4. Having read this extract, identify the stages of a person's life as Shakespeare has done. Write down these stages in your note book, and sum up the characteristics of each stage in two or three words. e.g. Stage Characteristic feature Infancy crying
Answer:
•Stage •Characteristic feature
1.Infancy Crying, helpless
2. Childhood Whining, bright, alert, active
3. Lover sentimental,unhappy,poetic,
tense .
4.Soldier quarrelsome, short tempered,
foolishly looking for glory and
fame in the jaws of death
5.Justice Wise, mature, authoritative,
responsible.
6.Old age. getting weak and lean due to
failing health, loss of manly
voice.
7.Extreme Old Age: Clueless ,dependent.
Q 6. Explain the meaning of the following
(a) __________ all the men and women merely players
They have their exits and their entrances __________.
Answer :
The quoted lines are from the poem “The Seven Ages” by William Shakespeare. The poet has compared the world to a stage and men and women with actors.All men and women appear on the stage of the world to play various roles. They are just stage artists. Their birth marks their appearance on the stage and death denotes their departure.
(b) And then the lover
Sighing like furnace__________.
Answer :
The lines are taken from the poem “The Seven Ages” by William Shakespeare. With the help of a simile, the poet explains that on attaining adolescence, men fall in love. The passion of love becomes active like heat generated in a furnace. However, this surging passion also declines after crossing a certain point of time. In this line, the poet hints at momentary nature of human affairs.
(c) a soldier,__________Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon’s mouth.
Answer :
The quoted lines are from the poem “The Seven Ages” by William Shakespeare. The poet has compared a young man to a soldier who takes his responsibilities very seriously and strives relentlessly when dedicated to a cause. In his youth, man seeks instant fame and is ready to take risks. However, when one seeks instant fame, there is a big risk of their reputation getting tainted, just like a bubble that rises and bursts instantly.
Q 7. Read the poem again and note down the metaphors and similes. Copy and complete the following chart.
Item Metaphor Simile
World All the world's a stage
Men, women
school-boy
lover
soldier
reputation
voice
Q. Which comparison(s) do you find most interesting? Why?
Answer
Item Metaphor Simile
World All the world's a stage. -------------------------------
Men, women men and women merely. ----------------------------------
school boy ------------------------------ creeping like snail
lover ----------------------------- sighing like a furnace
soldier. ------------------------------ bearded like the pard
reputation bubble reputation. -------------------------------
voice big manly voice. -------------------------------
According to me school boy comparison is really interesting one. Here, poet shows a boy carrying a schoolbag but at the same time walking slowly towards school. He doesn't want to go to school. This phase common in these days.
