Class 11 English Lesson 10: All the World's Stage: References to the Context

 

Reference to the context:

a.      Explain the following lines:

All the world's a stage,

And all the men and women are merely players

The above lines have been extracted from the poem entitled ‘All the World’s a Stage’ by William Shakespeare. The poet in the poem talks about the seven important stages of human life. The poet compares this world to a platform on which all men and women have arrived and will go after they have played their roles. Here, life has been compared to a play or drama played by every man and woman on the stage of the world. His/her seven stages of life are the seven acts of play. They enter this stage when they are born, and leave the stage when they die. 

b.     Explain the following lines briefly with reference to the context.

They have their exits and their entrances;

And one man in his time plays many parts,

These lines have been taken from the poem "All the World's a Stage, composed by William Shakespeare. Here, life has been compared to a play or drama. It describes various stages of human life.

In the life-drama, played on the biggest stage, the world, we are all characters. We have our entrances (births) and exits (deaths). In between, we play our different allocated roles. We play different roles (fulfil our assigned duties) and finally leave the world.

c.      Read the given lines and answer the questions that follow.

Then the whining school boy, with his satchel

And shining morning face, creeping like a snail unwillingly to school.

             i.      Which stage of life is being referred to here by the poet?

Here, the second stage is being referred to, which is the complaining school-going boy.

           ii.      Which figure of speech has been employed in the second line?

The figure of speech employed in the second line is a simile, because the comparing word 'like' is used to show the comparison.

        iii.      Who is compared to the snail?

The unwilling school boy is compared to the snail. 

         iv.      Does the boy go to school willingly?

No, he does not go to school willingly. His unwillingness is clear by his slow steps.

d.     Simile and metaphor are the two major poetic devices used in this poem. Explain, citing examples of each.

Simile and metaphor are two major poetic devices. Such devices are used for comparison. The poet has used both of them in this poem. A simile is a figure of speech in which a comparison is made between two things that have something in common, using words like 'like' or 'as'. For example: The students are as busy as bees. Some examples of simile from this poem are: (a) 'creeping like a snail', (b) 'bearded like a pard'.

A metaphor is also used for comparing two things. But in a metaphor, the comparison is made without the use of 'like' or 'as'. For example: He has a heart of a lion. Some examples of metaphors from this poem are: (a) 'All the World's a Stage', (b) 'Seeking the bubble of reputation'.

 

Video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MhJP9eDgaQ

 

e.      Which style does the poet use to express his emotions about how he thinks that the world is a stage and all people living in it are mere players?

The poet has used a descriptive form of writing to express his emotions about how he thinks that the world is a stage and all people living here are mere players. These players go through seven different stages in their lives. The poet has given the features of all the stages.

f.       What is the theme of this poem?

The major theme of this poem is the cycle of life. It tells us how one starts as an infant, helpless, without understanding, and ends in the same way, without being aware of what is happening around them.

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