Seven Ages Of Man

* SEVEN AGES OF MAN

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

* BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THE POEM

* This poem is an extract from Shakespeare’s

play, ‘As You Like It’. It is in the form of a speech by a character named Jacques. In it, Jacques compares the world to a stage. On this stage, each man plays the drama of his life. His drama consists of seven acts. These acts correspond to the seven ages in a man’s life.

7 AGES OF MAN

Infancy: In this stage he is a helpless baby and knows little.

Whining schoolboy: He is unwilling to leave the protected environment of his home as he is still not confident enough to exercise his own discretion.

The lover: In this stage he is always maudlin, expressing his love in a fatuous manner. He makes himself ridiculous in trying to express his feelings.

The soldier: He is very easily aroused and is hot headed. He is always working towards making a reputation for himself, however short-lived it may be, even at the cost of foolish risks.

The justice: In this stage he thinks he has acquired wisdom through the many experiences he has had in life, and is likely to impart it. He has reached a stage where he has gained prosperity and social status. He becomes vain and begins to enjoy the finer things of life.

Old Age: He is a shell of his former self — both physically and mentally. He begins to become the butt of others' jokes. He loses his firmness and assertiveness, and shrinks in stature and personality.

Second childishness: Senility; dependence on others.

STRUCTURE * The poem is composed in free verse/ blank verse (poetry with an unryhmed iambic pentameter lines). The style is narrative. Rhyme: Internal rhyme: And shining morning face, creeping End rhyme: with a woeful ballad pouch on side bearded like pard a world too wide Comparison Metaphor is that figure of speech where comparison of two different things are implied but not clearly stated. Examples of metaphor in the poem are as follows,*All the world’s a stage *And all men and women are merely players *seeking the bubble reputation (reputation has been termed as short-lived like a bubble)

Simile: A simile is a figure of speech in which two dissimilar objects are compared and the comparison is made clear by the use of terms like ‘like’, ‘such as’ and so on. Examples of simile in the poem are, *Sighing like furnace *creeping like a snail Onomatopeia is a sound device used by the poets to suggests actions, movements and meanings. e.g. The hissing of the snake made me shoo it away, creeping snail Alliteration: Alliteration is the close repetition of the consonant sounds at the beginning of words to facilitate narration. Example of alliteration in the poem is, *shrunk shank *plays his part Assonance is the repetition of vowel sound w/in words e.g. shining morning face, creeping like snail; sudden and quick in quarrel Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds w/in and at the end of the words. e.g. Into the lean and slippered pantaloon Is second childishness and mere oblivion

IMAGERY are vivid images, clear sounds and exact feelings conveyed by the poet/ persona/speaker Mewling and puking- hungry Whining school boy- afraid of new environment Sudden and quick in quarrel- hot headed

REPETITION words, phrases or lines are repeated to serve a purpose. SANS…..What do you think is the purpose of repeating it four times? Does it help in the understanding of this poem? Find another examples.