Seven Ages of Man William Shakespeare
Read the following poem and answer the questions that follow
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,
His acts being seven ages. At first, the infant,
Mewling1 and puking in the nurse's arms.
And then the whining school-boy, 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 pard2,
Jealous in honour, 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 slipper'd pantaloon3,
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.
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Mewling: Cry or whimper
Pard: Cats with spotted coats (similar to a cheetah)
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Pantloon: Trousers or pants
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Seven Ages of Man Exam Questions
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“All the world’s a stage”, which poetic device is being used? (line 1)
A. Simile
B. Juxtaposition
C. Metaphor
D. Personification
“Then the Whining Schoolboy”, which stage of life is described here? (line 7)
A. Infant
B. Boyhood/Children
C. Lover
D. Middle Age
“Sighing like a furnace, with a woeful ballad” (line 10) is an example of which figure of speech?
A. Personification
B. Simile
C. Onomatopoeia
D. Metaphor
What is a woeful ballad? ( line 10)
A. Compromising song
B. Uplifting song
C. Sad, romantic verse
D. Song about long lost loves return
“Sighing like a furnace”, why does the lover sigh? (line 10)
A. He is so in love
B. He is frustrated with love
C. He needs to find someone to love
D. He is out of breath
“Full of wise saws and modern instances” (line 18) means...
A. The man quotes many sayings
B. The man has smart saws for cutting wood
C. The man ignores everyone
D. That lives in the present.
Which of the following best exemplifies Shakespeare’s idea on life?
A. That all of life is one big party
B. That life is about making mistakes
C. That life is full of confusing paradigms
D. That life is one huge stage and that our parts are already selected
The conclusion of the poem can best be described as:
A. Death
B. Returning to childhood
C. Loves lost
D. Not caring anymore
Act II, scene i Brutus Soliloquy
1. In a well developed paragraph describe Brutus’ internal conflict toward the death of Julius
Caesar. Be sure to emphasize your point with reference to the soliloquy and to the play in
general. (5 Marks)
2. Give three examples of metaphors that Shakepeare uses in this soliloquy. Be sure to point out
the metaphor and explain what it means. (3 Marks)
It must be by his death: and for my part,
I know no personal cause to spurn at him,
But for the general. He would be crown'd:
How that might change his nature, there's the question.
It is the bright day that brings forth the adder;
And that craves wary walking. Crown him?--that;-And then, I grant, we put a sting in him,
That at his will he may do danger with.
The abuse of greatness is, when it disjoins
Remorse from power: and, to speak truth of Caesar,
I have not known when his affections sway'd
More than his reason. But 'tis a common proof,
That lowliness is young ambition's ladder,
Whereto the climber-upward turns his face;
But when he once attains the upmost round.
He then unto the ladder turns his back,
Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees
By which he did ascend.
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