Class 11 English All the World’s a Stage Chapter is an important Poem in terms of the exam point of view. Check out the Whole Chapter Summary and download the pdf note. To Download Pdf Note Click on the Download Pdf Button at the Bottom of the Post
The poem “All the World’s a Stage” also known as “The Seven Ages Of Man,” is a renowned work by William Shakespeare. The piece is a free verse poem, lacking a rhyme scheme, and contains various figures of speech such as inversion, alliteration, onomatopoeia, metaphor, repetition, personification, and simile.
Shakespeare describes the seven ages of life by using a metaphor, comparing the world to a stage and people to actors. Each person enters the stage at birth and exits at death. Throughout a lifetime, individuals play various roles, which Shakespeare likens to acts in a play. The poem highlights the fleeting nature of life and the insignificance of wealth and fame, as we leave this world empty-handed, just as we entered it. Therefore, the key to a contented and fulfilling life is accepting it as it comes and making the most of what we have.
The poem’s first stage is infancy, where the infant cries and vomits milk in the nurse’s arms. The second stage is childhood, where the schoolboy drags himself unwillingly to school. The third stage is adolescence, where the man is a lover, sighs in separation, and writes poetry about his beloved. The fourth stage is youth, where the man becomes a soldier, takes strange oaths, and is compared to a fierce leopard, always ready to defend his honor and engage in quarrels, even at the cost of his life.
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The fifth stage is middle age, where the man is well-fed and looks mature, using wise sayings, proverbs, and examples from the modern age. The sixth stage is old age, where the man wears pantaloons and slippers, has weak eyesight and a shrill voice, and needs assistance with everyday tasks. The final stage is dotage, where the man is senile and completely dependent, similar to a child, and nearing death.
In conclusion, “All the World’s a Stage” by William Shakespeare is a profound poem that encourages people to enjoy every stage and moment of life and make the most of what they have. It is a reminder that life is fleeting and that we should focus on living in the present moment rather than obsessing over the past or future.