William
Shakespeare
In your opinion, how
much control do
people have over
their lives?
“All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and
women merely players:
They have their exits and
their entrances; And one
man in his time plays
many parts.”
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Read the section of the poem your
group has been given.
Discuss the section with your group
to determine which “age” is being
discussed.
Record a new title for that “age.”
Discuss the characteristics of that
“age.” You should discuss physical
traits as well as personality traits.
Record the characteristics.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Who is the speaker?
What play does this poem come from?
In what ways are people like actors playing a
part?
What “entrances” and “exits” do people make
in life?
The speaker’s view is that men and women are
“merely players” (2). Is he a pessimist or a
realist? Explain.
Reread lines 5-9. Notice how Jacques describes
the infant and the schoolboy. What do these
descriptions reveal about his attitude toward
childhood?
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
List 3 possible themes of this poem.
Extended Metaphor
The speaker compares the
world to a stage. What does this comparison imply
about the speaker’s view of life?
Do you agree that the speaker has a gloomy
outlook on life? Support your answer with details
from his dramatic monologue. What else can you
infer about Jacques from his speech?
Making Judgments
Which of Jacques’s seven
ages of man do you think is the worst?
Make a list of 5-10 words that best describe the
outlook of the speaker.
"At first the
infant,
Mewling and
puking in the
nurse’s arms."
"Then the whining
schoolboy with his
satchel
And shining morning
face, creeping like
snail
Unwillingly to
school."
"And then the lover,
Sighing like
furnace, with a
woeful ballad
Made to his
mistress’ eyebrow."
"Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths
and bearded like the
pard,
Jealous in honor, sudden
and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble
reputation
Even in the cannon’s
mouth."
"And then the justice,
In fair round belly with
good capon lined,
With eyes severe and
beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and
modern instances;
And so he plays his
part."
"The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slippered
pantaloon
With spectacles on nose and
pouch on side,
His youthful hose, well
saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank, and his
big manly voice,
Turning again toward
childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound."
"Last scene of all,
That ends this strange
eventful history,
Is second childishness
and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes,
sans taste, sans
everything."
 dramatic
monologue – a poem in
which the speaker addresses a silent or
absent listener, as if engaged in a
private conversation; the speaker
often reveals his or her own feelings,
attitudes, motivations, and character
traits in a moment of high intensity or
deep emotion
Jacques
has nothing good to say
about people at any stages of
life. Look back at each stage and
list positive ideas about what
goes on during these stages. You
should have three items for each
stage.
Stage 1: Infancy
 1.
List the seven “ages” of life according to
the speaker. Some are a little out-dated,
so adjust and rename those “ages” that
do not occur as much anymore. You are
not to omit any stages; however, you are
to create new names for certain stages.
For each “age” that you alter, explain
why you are changing it and the
importance of the new title.
1.
2.
Is Jacques a pessimist or optimistic? Write
a well developed response with evidence to
support your claim. Remember that your
first sentence is the main idea and should
describe what you are attempting to prove.
What is the extended metaphor in this
poem? What does this comparison imply
about the speaker’s view of life?