The Seven Ages of Man by William Shakespeare (adapted excerpt) 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,Mewling and crying in the nurse's arms;Then the whining school-boy, with his satchelAnd shining morning face, creeping like snailUnwillingly to school. And then the lover,Sighing like furnace, with a woeful balladMade to his lady friend's eye-brow. Then a soldier,Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard1,Jealous in honor, sudden and quick in quarrel,Seeking the bubble reputationEven 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 shiftsInto the lean and slippered pantaloon2,With spectacles on nose, and pouch on side;His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wideFor his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,Turning again toward childish treble, pipesAnd whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,That ends this strange eventful history,Is second childishness, and mere oblivion . . . 1. an animal like a leopard2. baggy trousers 5 Select the correct answer. How does Shakespeare develop the theme in this poem? A. He describes different parts of life in the order in which they may occur. B. He lists the best parts of a person’s life. C. He describes how the strangest part of a person’s life is the end. D. He lists the different parts of a person’s childhood.
The Seven Ages of Man
by William Shakespeare (adapted excerpt)
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,
Mewling and crying in the nurse's arms;
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 lady friend's eye-brow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard1,
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 pantaloon2,
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 . . .
1. an animal like a leopard
2. baggy trousers
How does Shakespeare develop the theme in this poem?
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