NCERT Solutions for Class 9th: Ch 10 The Seven Ages Literature Reader English
By William Shakespeare
Page No: 81
3. On the basis of your understanding of the poem, answer the following questions by ticking the correct choice
(i)The life shown in well known plays
(ii) Seeing the well known plays
(iii) Life of well known plays
(iv) Life of man that comes to an end
Answer
(iv) Life of man that comes to an end
(b) All ‘have their exits and their entrances' Exits and entrances refer to __________.
(i) Birth and death
(ii) Beginning and end of play
(iii) Coming and going of actors
(iv) The end of the Shakespearean era
Answer
(i) Birth and death
Page No: 82
(c) The seven roles that a man plays correspond to his___________.
(i) chronological age in life
(ii) desires
(iii) mental age in life
(iv) idea of a perfect life
Answer
(i) chronological age in life
4. Having read this extract, identify the stages of a person's life as Shakespeare has done. Write down these stages in your note book, and sum up the characteristics of each stage in two or three words. e.g.
Stage Characteristic feature
Infancy crying
Answer
Stage
|
Characteristic feature
|
Infancy
|
Crying, helpless
|
Childhood
|
Whining, bright, alert, active
|
Lover
|
sentimental, unhappy, poetic, tense |
Soldier
|
quarrelsome, short tempered,
foolishly looking for glory and fame in the jaws of death |
Justice
|
Wise, mature, authoritative, responsible
|
Old age
|
getting weak and lean due to
failing health, loss of manly voice |
Extreme Old Age
|
Clueless ,dependent
|
6. Explain the meaning of the following
(a) __________ all the men and women merely players
They have their exits and their entrances __________.
Answer
The quoted lines are from the poem “The Seven Ages” by William Shakespeare. The poet has compared the world to a stage and men and women with actors.All men and women appear on the stage of the world to play various roles. They are just stage artists. Their birth marks their appearance on the stage and death
denotes their departure.
(b) And then the lover
Sighing like furnace__________.
Answer
The lines are taken from the poem “The Seven Ages” by William Shakespeare. With the help of a simile, the poet explains that on attaining adolescence, men fall in love. The passion of love becomes active like heat generated in a furnace. However, this surging passion also declines after crossing a certain point of time. In this line, the poet hints at momentary nature of human affairs.
(c) a soldier,__________Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon’s mouth.
Answer
The quoted lines are from the poem “The Seven Ages” by William Shakespeare. The poet has compared a young man to a soldier who takes his responsibilities very seriously and strives relentlessly when dedicated to a cause. In his youth, man seeks instant fame and is ready to take risks. However, when one seeks instant fame, there is a big risk of their reputation getting tainted, just like a bubble that rises and bursts instantly.
7. Read the poem again and note down the metaphors and similes. Copy and complete the following chart.
Item
|
Metaphor
|
Simile
|
World
|
All the world's a stage
|
|
Men, women
|
||
school-boy
|
||
lover
|
||
soldier
|
||
reputation
|
||
voice
|
Which comparison(s) do you find most interesting? Why?
Answer
Item
|
Metaphor
|
Simile
|
World
|
All the world's a stage
|
|
Men, women
|
men and women merely players
|
|
school-boy
|
Creeping like snail
|
|
lover
|
sighing like a furnace
|
|
soldier
|
bearded like the pard | |
reputation
|
bubble reputation
|
|
voice
|
big manly voice
|
According to me school boy comparison is really interesting one. Here, poet shows a boy carrying a schoolbag but at the same time walking slowly towards school. He doesn't want to go to school. This phase common in these days.
Study Material of The Seven Ages
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