XII English STBB - Poem # 3 - THE SEVEN AGES OF MAN By William Shakespeare
- Kiran Syed
- Nov 16
- 4 min read
Exercise # 2
Deduce the contextual meaning of the following words and use them in your sentences.
Exercise 03: Contextual Meanings
1. Mewling – crying or whining like an infant
2. Puking – vomiting; a characteristic of a helpless baby
3. Satchel – a schoolbag carried by the schoolboy
4. Pard – a leopard; used to describe the soldier’s beard, full and fierce
5. Capon – a fattened chicken; symbolizing indulgence or a well-fed man
6. Saws – wise sayings or proverbs; used to show the justice’s wisdom
7. Slippered Pantaloon – an old, thin, and feeble man; “pantaloon” refers to a stage character of old age
8. Shrunk Shank – thin or shrunken legs of an old man
9. Treble – high-pitched voice; the old man’s voice turning toward childhood pitch
10. Sans – without; used by Shakespeare to mean “without teeth, eyes, taste, or everything”
MCQs: The Seven Ages of Man
Exercise 04: Multiple Choice Questions
1. The phrase "seeking the bubble reputation" suggests that…
A) reputation is easy to achieve.
B) reputation is fragile and temporary.
C) reputation lasts forever.
D) reputation is deceptive.
2. The poem depicts a schoolboy's attitude towards school as he…
A) is excited to go to school.
B) eagerly runs to school.
C) drags himself unwillingly to school.
D) proudly carries his books to school.
3. In the stage of "the justice," the man is physically described as…
A) bearded like a pard
B) with spectacles on his nose
C) full of strange oaths
D) with a fair round belly
4. Which of the following best describes the tone of the poem?
A) Celebratory and joyful
B) Bitter and accusatory
C) Reflective and philosophical
D) Angry and rebellious
5. Shakespeare's main purpose in dividing human life into seven distinct stages in The Seven Ages of Man is to show that…
A) each person's life is entirely unique.
B) human life progresses through predictable stages.
C) people are free from societal roles.
D) the unpredictability of life events.
6. The poem depicts a schoolboy's attitude towards school as he…
A) is excited to go to school.
B) eagerly runs to school.
C) drags himself unwillingly to school.
D) proudly carries his books to school.
7. In the stage of "the justice," the man is physically described as…
A) bearded like a pard
B) with spectacles on his nose
C) full of strange oaths
D) with a fair round belly
8. Which of the following best describes the tone of the poem?
A) Celebratory and joyful
B) Bitter and accusatory
C) Reflective and philosophical
D) Angry and rebellious
Exercise 05: Written Questions
1. What do the 'entrances' and the 'exits' represent in the poem Seven Ages of Man?
The 'entrances' represent the births or beginnings of individuals as they enter different stages of life, while the 'exits' symbolize deaths or departures, marking the end of each stage. Shakespeare uses these terms to show that life is like a performance, where people come and go, taking on various roles over time.
•
2. How does a man play the sixth role on the stage of life in the poem The Seven Ages of Man?
The sixth stage is the lean and slippered pantaloon, where a man becomes old and physically weak. He wears spectacles, has a pouch on his side, and his voice turns high-pitched, almost like a child’s. This stage represents aging, decline, and the gradual loss of youthful strength and vitality.
•
3. How does Shakespeare's metaphor of the world as a stage reflect the transient nature of human life?
By comparing the world to a stage and people to actors, Shakespeare highlights that human life is temporary and constantly changing. Everyone plays different roles at different stages, and just like actors, people eventually leave the stage, showing that life is fleeting and all experiences are momentary.
•
4. What is the first stage of life mentioned in the poem, and how is it described?
The first stage is infancy, described as a helpless and dependent stage where the infant is “mewling and puking” in the nurse’s arms. It emphasizes vulnerability, dependence, and the need for care during the earliest stage of life.
•
5. What is the meaning of "the bubble reputation" in the context of the soldier's life?
In the soldier’s stage, “the bubble reputation” symbolizes a fragile and short-lived fame or honor. Soldiers often risk their lives for reputation, which is unstable and can vanish as quickly as a bubble.
•
6. How would you divide the life of a modern human being into seven different ages?
A modern human life can be divided into seven stages as follows:
Infancy – birth and early dependence, where a child is fully reliant on caregivers for survival, learning, and comfort.
Childhood – learning, curiosity, and schooling, where the child begins to explore the world, develop habits, and gain basic knowledge.
Adolescence/Love – emotional experiences, personal growth, and first attachments, where feelings intensify
Young adulthood/Soldier – ambition, career-building, and facing challenges, where individuals pursue goals, take risks, and seek recognition.
Adulthood/Justice – maturity, responsibility, and societal roles, including family, career, and community involvement, reflecting wisdom and stability.
Old age/Pantaloon – physical decline, reflection, and slowing down, where the body weakens, appearance changes, and dependence may increase, but knowledge and experience are rich.
Late old age/Second childhood – dependency returns, forgetfulness, and approaching the end of life, similar to infancy, emphasizing the full circle of human existence and the return to vulnerability.
Comments