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The Seven Ages Extra Question Answers

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The Seven Ages Extra Question Answers – NCERT Solutions for Class 9th. The Seven Ages Literature Reader English By William Shakespeare Very short Questions Answers, Long Questions Answers, Extra Questions Answers and Extract Based Questions Answers.

The Seven Ages Extra Question Answers

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VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

Answer each of the following questions in 30-40 words.

Question 1. What is the significance of the words ‘entrances’ and ‘exits’ in the poem ‘The Seven Ages’ ?

Answer: Human life has been compared by the poet to a stage of theatre where actors , appear, enact their roles and quit. ‘Entrances’ here signify human births and ‘exits’ deaths. Human beings take birth, play their parts and die.

Question 2. Explain‘mewling and puking’ in the nurse’s arms.

Answer: The infant cries and vomits milk in the arms of his nurse. He can do nothing but cry to express his needs. He is totally helpless and dependent.

Question 2. Why does a man in his life play many parts?

Answer: A man. is fated to play many roles in his life. As he grows, his role changes and his character also changes accordingly. He takes birth only to play different roles-the roles of an infant, a school boy, a lover, a soldier, a judge, an old and senile person.

Question 4. Describe the second stage of life as elaborated by Shakespeare in the poem ‘The Seven Ages’.

Answer: The second stage of life is the school-going age. The school boy sulks as he does not want to go to school. He walks to school as slowly as a snail. He has, of course, a bright face, like that of a sunny morning.

Question 5. Explain the first stage of human life.

Answer: Infancy is the first stage of human life. An infant cries and vomits milk in the arms of his nurse. He is helpless and dependent.

Question 6. What characteristics would you associate with the stage of a soldier?

Answer: Energy, enthusiasm, rashness and patriotism are some of the characteristics of a soldier. A soldier can sacrifice even his life for short-lived reputation.

Question 7. Explain the line ‘the lean and slippered pantaloon’.

Answer: The line reveals that in the sixth stage of life, man becomes quite lean and thin. He wears slippers. He looks a funny old man in his loose clothes.

Question 8. Explain the stage of justice.

Answer: The stage of being a judge is perhaps the best. At this stage, man is prosperous and well-fed. He looks stern and impressive. He is full of wise sayings and examples from contemporary life to prove his point.

Question 9. Compare the sixth stage with seventh stage.

Answer: The sixth stage is that in which man becomes old, weak and thin. In his loose clothes he looks funny. In the seventh stage he becomes senile. He enters into ‘second childishness’. He is as dependent upon others as a child. He has no teeth, no sense of taste and loses every mental faculty.

Question 10. Why is the extreme old age considered as second childhood?

Answer: Extreme old age is considered second childhood because, like a child, an elderly person in this stage becomes dependent on others for their basic needs and care. Just as a child lacks the ability to care for themselves, a person in extreme old age often loses physical strength, mental sharpness, and memory. They may face difficulties in walking, talking, and remembering things, becoming vulnerable and fragile, much like a child.

Question 11. Which comparison do you find more interesting and why?

Answer: The comparison of extreme old age to second childhood is the most interesting. This metaphor highlights the cyclical nature of life, showing how people return to a childlike state of dependence at the end of their journey. It’s a thought-provoking way to reflect on human vulnerability and how, despite all the experiences and growth in life, a person may eventually need as much care as they did in infancy. The parallel between the start and end of life emphasizes the fragility of existence and the inevitability of aging.

The Seven Ages Extra Question Answers

THE SEVEN AGES SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

Question 1. What do you understand of the poem ‘The Seven Ages’?

Answer: Shakespeare, through his poem, says life is like a theatrical play. Nothing lasts forever, and everything changes just like actors changing roles. He says that everyone from babies to old people, just have different “acting roles” on life’s stage. For him, even coming into the world is just an “entrance” and leaving it is simply an “exit”.

Question 2. Why does the poet say that the school boy creeps like a snail to school?

Answer: The school boy is not very willing to go to school. He is disinterested and just walks slowly like a snail carrying his school bag. He is always whining and complaining.

Question 3. What characteristics does the poet associate with the fourth and fifth stages of man?

Answer: The fourth stage is of a soldier. He is fierce like a leopard, full of vigour and can easily be provoked. He is jealous and always defensive to save his honour. In the fifth stage he is fat and huge. There is somberness in his eyes and his beard gives him a formal look. He is always full of advice for others and performs the role of a justice.

Question 4. What universal themes does the poem explore?

Answer: The poem “The Seven Ages” by William Shakespeare touches on themes like the passage of time, mortality, the universality of human experience, and the changing nature of identity. The poem underscores the rapid and inevitable nature of time’s passage. Each “part” is fleeting, leading inexorably to the next.

Question 5. Why does the poet call the world a ‘stage’?

Answer: Stage is a platform in a theatre where actors perform their parts. Similarly, life is also a performance in which men and women play different parts. These roles are predetermined and are in God’s power.

The Seven Ages Extra Question Answers

Question 6. Explain ‘All the world’s a stage’ with reference to the poem. (CBSE 2010)

Answer: In this poem life is compared to a play. First as man plays different roles in a play so also does he in a real life. As on a stage there is a particular entry and a particular exit of actors; in the same way in life man comes when he is born and departs when he dies. Just as a part is assigned to an actor, in the same God decides man’s role in life, what he has to do at various stages. Nothing is in man’s hand.

Question 7. ‘‘Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad made to his mistress’ eyebrow.’’ Why does a lover behave thus?

Answer: In his youth he becomes a lover, falls in love and plays the role of a romantic lover. He writes love songs and when sad and separated from his beloved, he draws deep and hot breaths like the bellows of a blacksmith. He writes sad tragic ballads, sentimental verses and poetic descriptions of his love life. He is lonely and sad.

Question 8. With eyes severe and beard of formal cut, full of wise saws and modern instances.” Which stage is this? State the reason for this kind of behaviour.

Answer: His eyes have a severe expression and his beard displays a formal cut. He is always giving wise advise to others, always connecting them with present day instances. This is the stage when man plays the role of a Judge. He accepts the bribe of chicken and meat. He is living a life of ease and has put on a good weight. He has been through youth, a sentimental lover, a daring soldier, so the time is ripe for him to play this role of a wise adviser.

Question 9. What are the problems faced by a person in ‘Soldier’ stage?

Answer: The fourth stage of a man is of a soldier. He is heroic, seeking reputation, willing to face total annihilation. He is fierce like a leopard, full of vigour and is easily provoked. He is jealous and defensive. He risks his life to become immortal.

Question 10. What is the significance of the phrase “one man in his time plays many parts”?

Answer: This phrase underscores the versatility and adaptability of human beings, constantly changing roles throughout life. It emphasizes that our identity is not static but constantly evolving throughout our lives. We take on different roles, responsibilities, and personas as we move through the seven ages, adapting to circumstances and experiences.

Question 11. Why does a man play several parts in life?

Answer: The man playing several parts serves as a powerful metaphor for the dynamism and transience of human life. It compels us to contemplate our own journeys, appreciate the different facets of our identities, and embrace the ever-changing nature of our existence. Through the seven ages, the poem depicts how humans continuously evolve and adapt throughout their lives. Each stage brings different experiences, responsibilities, and appearances, making a single identity insufficient to encompass the entirety of life.

Question 12. Describe in brief the play where man plays the seven roles.

Answer: From a helpless baby in swaddling arms, life unfolds its drama in seven acts. First, the whining schoolboy drags his satchel to the classroom, then the passionate lover sighs sonnets to an eyebrow. The soldier, fierce and beard like a leopard, chases fleeting glory in cannon’s roar. Next, the wise justice, belly round and beard full of proverbs, dispenses pronouncements. Time shifts, and the pantaloon, shrunk and spectacles perched, his voice a childish treble, echoes forgotten grandeur. Finally, in hushed final scene, second childishness descends, a curtain drawn on senses and memory, leaving silence where once stories lived.

Question 13. Discuss gender in the poem.

Answer: While the opening line of “The Seven Ages”, “ All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players” mentions both men and women as players/actors on the world’s stage, the poem itself primarily focuses on male experiences and traditional male roles of Shakespeare’s time. The poem describes seven distinct stages, all occupied by men. infant, schoolboy, lover, soldier, justice, pantaloon, and second childhood. Women’s roles are largely absent, except for a brief mention as “mistress” in the lover stage.

Question 14. How does the use of humour, such as the imagery of the “whining schoolboy” and the “lean and slippered pantaloon,” contribute to the poem’s message?

Answer: Injecting humour into the portrayal of human weakness and decline acknowledges the absurdity of life’s fleeting nature. It allows us to accept our limitations and laugh at the inevitable changes we all face, making the contemplation of mortality less daunting.

The Seven Ages Extra Question Answers

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS (SOLVED)

Question 1. If human life is nothing but a ‘tamasha’, what message does the poet want to convey to us?

Answer: Shakespeare, through one of his characters Jaques, wants us to realize the fact that human life is like the stage of a theatre. Men and women, like actors, come, play their roles and quit. Each stage of life has its own peculiarities. Nothing good and charming remains for long. The same man who looks charming and dashing looks weak, thin and funny in old age. Then why should we take life seriously ? Why should we sulk and complain ? We should accept our fate humbly. We should be ready to play our role on the stage of life to quit for ever. Nothing in this world is permanent. Nothing is in our hands.

Question 2. Describe in brief the seven stages in man’s life.

Answer: Shakespeare conveys through his character Jaques, that human life can be divided into seven stages. The first stage is that of an infant who is totally helpless and dependent. Then the second stage is that of the school-going boy. He is unwilling to go to school. In the third stage, man plays the role of a lover who heaves deep sighs in the absence of his beloved. In the next stage, he is an energetic, rush soldier who is ready to sacrifice even his life for short lived reputation. In the fifth stage, he plays the role of prosperous, well fed judge. He shows off his wisdom and knowledge to impress others. Then in the sixth stage he is a weak, thin old man. He looks funny in his loose clothes. The last stage is that of senility when man becomes childlike. He loses his reflexes and senses. Thus, ends the drama of his life.

Question 3. How do the descriptions of the seven ages challenge or reinforce traditional views of ageing?

Answer: The descriptions of the seven ages in Shakespeare’s “The Seven Ages” both challenge and reinforce traditional views of ageing in ways that are complex and thought-provoking.
Traditional views often see each stage of life as fixed and defined, but the play portrays each age as fluid and transformative. The whining schoolboy becomes the passionate lover, the soldier gives way to the wise justice, and youthfulness eventually succumbs to “second childishness.” This challenges the idea of ageing as a linear decline and emphasizes the ongoing changes and adaptations we experience throughout life.
Traditional views may associate certain values with specific ages, such as innocence with childhood and wisdom with old age. However, the poem portrays each age with both positive and negative traits. The infant is helpless but pure, the schoolboy whiny but full of potential, and the justice wise but also potentially pompous. This challenges the tendency to categorize people by age and encourages more nuanced perspectives.
The poem doesn’t entirely escape traditional portrayals. The sixth age features physical weakening, memory loss, and dependence, aligning with common anxieties about ageing. This may reinforce the perception of later years as a time of loss and decline.

Question 4. Discuss “All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players”.

Answer: The line “All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players” from Shakespeare’s “The Seven Ages” sparks countless interpretations and discussions for centuries.
On the surface, it’s a theatrical metaphor comparing life to a grand performance. We, the humans, are actors playing assigned roles on the world’s stage, with entrances and exits marking our births and deaths. This analogy highlights the roles we adopt, the costumes we wear, and the scripts we follow whether dictated by society or chosen by ourselves.
The metaphor emphasizes the dynamic nature of our identities. As actors shift through roles, so too do we change as we navigate life’s stages. Our personalities, priorities, and behaviors evolve, adapting to the circumstances and scripts we encounter.
While the theatrical metaphor is powerful, some interpret the “stage” more broadly. It could represent the world itself, with its social norms, expectations, and challenges. Or, it could symbolize the internal stage of our minds, where thoughts, emotions, and memories play out their own drama. The idea of life as a performance can prompt us to reflect on our own roles and choices. Are we simply reciting someone else’s lines, or are we actively shaping our own script?

Question 5. What message does Shakespeare’s ‘The Seven Ages’ convey?

Answer: The poem “The Seven Ages” emphasizes the temporary and ever-changing nature of our lives. Each stage, from helpless infancy to toothless senility, fades rapidly into the next, highlighting the preciousness of each moment and the urgency to embrace the unique experiences it offers.
While individual lives differ, Shakespeare suggests a shared rhythm to human experience. He portrays universal stages like the whining schoolboy, the passionate lover, the boastful soldier, and the wise but ageing justice, indicating that these roles are played by all, regardless of circumstances. As characters move through the ages, their appearances, priorities, and behaviors significantly change. This underscores the fluid nature of human identity and the idea that we are constantly evolving and adapting throughout our lives. By presenting the journey from cradle to grave, the poem prompts us to contemplate our own mortality and the meaning of life. It reminds us to make the most of each stage and appreciate the unique experiences it offers.The depiction of the final age without sugarcoating, showcasing its physical decline and mental fragility, encourages acceptance of the natural process of ageing.

The Seven Ages Extra Question Answers

REFERENCE TO CONTEXT QUESTIONS (SOLVED)

Read the given extracts and answer the questions that follow.

Question 1.

In fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances.
(а) Which stage of life has been described here by Shakespeare ?
(b) What are the features of this stage ?
(c) Explain the last line.

Answer.
(a) Here Shakespeare describes the fifth stage of life, that is, of a justice.
(b) In this stage man enjoys prosperity, self-satisfaction and wisdom. He is fashionable. He has stem looks.
(c) At this stage man is full of wise sayings and examples from contemporary life. He impresses others with his knowledge and wisdom.

Question 2.

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.
(а) What is the world compared to ?
(b) Exits and entrances mean________ .
(c) What do you mean by ‘acts’ in the last line.

Answer.
(a) The world is compared to the stage of a theatre.
(b) deaths and births.
(c) ‘Acts’ in the last line mean roles which a person enact in his life-time.

Question 3.

At first the infant
Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms.
(а) Which stage of life is being referred to here ?
(b) What are the characteristics of this stage ?
(c) Give the meaning of ‘mewing’.

Answer.
(a) The stage of life described here is infancy.
(b)At this stage an infant in helpless and dependent.
(c) ‘crying’

Question 4.

Then the whining schoolboy, with his satchel And shining morning face, creeping like snail Unwilling to school.
(а) What is the school going by described as ?
(b) How does the school boy walk to school ?
(c) Which simile has been used here ?

Answer.
(а) The school-boy is described as unwilling to go to school.
(b) The school boy walks very slowly like a snail while going to school.
(c) ‘creeping like snail’.

Question 5.

And then the lover
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad Made to his mistress’ eyebrow
(a) Is the lover described happy ?
(b) How does he behave ?
(c) Which figure of speech has been used in the first two lines here ?

Answer.
(a) He is not happy. He is sorrowful.
(b) He sighs and writes sad verses in praise of his beloved’s beauty.
(c) It is a simile. It also acts as an image.

Question 6.

Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths, and feared like a pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation Even in the cannon’s mouth.
(а) What is the soldier ready to do ?
(b) What is the poetic device used in the second line ?
(c) What does ‘bubble reputation’ mean ?

Answer.
(a) The solider is ready to die for name and fame.
(b) It is a simile.
(c) It means that reputation is as short-lived as the life of a bubble.

Question 7.

………………… The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slippered Pantaloon
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
(а) What does the phrase ‘shrunk shank’ in this stanza mean ?
(b) How is the voice of a man at this stage ?
(c) What stage of a man’s life is referred to in these lines ?

Answer.
(а) It means that his legs become weak and thin.
(b) The voice of a man at this stage becomes shrill like that of a child,
(c) It is the sixth stage of man’s life.

Question 8.

Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.
(a) What is man’s condition in the last stage of life ?
(b) What do you mean by ‘sans’ ?
(c) What does ‘second childishness’ mean ?

Answer.
(a) Man is very old and dependent in the last stage of life.
(b) It means ‘without’.
(c) It means that man is helpless like a child.