Long Answer Questions (with Solutions) - The Seven Ages
Q1. Describe the seven stages in a man's life. What are the attributes of each stage according to Shakespeare?
Or
According to Shakespeare, there are seven stages in a man's life and these stages are universal. Justify this statement in light of the poem 'The Seven Ages'.
Ans. According to Shakespeare, there are seven stages in a man's life, and these stages are universal. Justify this statement in light of the poem 'The Seven Ages'.
Ans. The seven stages in a man's life are:
- Infancy
- Schoolboy
- Lover
- Soldier
- Judge
- Old age
- Very old age
As an infant, he only pukes and cries. As a schoolboy, he moves about sulking, unwillingly carrying his school bag to school. As a lover, he keeps sighing like a furnace. As a soldier, he is heroic, seeking reputation, and willing to face total annihilation; he is rash and foolish. He risks his life to become immortal. As a judge, he is wise; he gains weight, sports a beard, wears well-cut clothes, and is always offering good advice to others. The sixth stage is that of old age - he grows weak and thin. His teeth become loose, and his legs turn frail. In the seventh stage, he is too old, without teeth, eyesight, or taste. This is his second childhood and also the time to make his exit from the world.
Q2. What message does Shakespeare's 'The Seven Ages' convey?
Ans. Shakespeare wishes to point out that human life is transitory; we are in this world for only a short span of time. We are born with a predetermined destiny and must accept our fate with grace and humility. Every human being has to pass through the necessary stages of childhood, adolescence, youth, middle age, and finally death. Death and birth are like the 'entrances' and 'exits' of actors and are in God's hands. Therefore, we should not complain or grumble but perform our roles with dignity. Since life is short, we should not resort to arrogance or vanity. We are mere puppets in the hands of the puppet master, i.e., God, so gratitude and compliance are expected from us.
Q3. ''Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad made to his mistress' eyebrow.'' Why does a lover behave thus?
Ans. In his youth, he becomes a lover. He falls in love and plays the role of a romantic. He writes love songs, and when sad or separated from his beloved, he draws deep and hot breaths like the bellows of a blacksmith. He composes sad, tragic ballads and sentimental verses - poetic descriptions of his love life. He is always unhappy and melancholic.
Q4. 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.
Ans. His eyes have a severe expression, and his beard displays a formal cut. He is always giving wise advice to others, often connecting them with present-day examples. This is the stage when a man plays the role of a magistrate or judge. He accepts bribes of chicken and meat. He is living a life of ease and has put on weight. Having been an irresponsible youth, a sentimental lover, and a daring soldier, the time is now ripe for him to play the role of a wise adviser.
Q5. Why is the world compared to a stage by Shakespeare?
Ans. A stage is a platform in a theatre where actors perform their roles and enact all the action. The roles of the actors are written by the playwright and performed according to the directions of the director. Similarly, life is a performance, and this world is akin to a stage where men are born to perform certain roles predetermined by God. Human beings cannot choose their roles; they are placed in situations and circumstances according to divine will. Their births and deaths are also in God's power. Shakespeare, one of the greatest dramatists of his time, depicted in his plays small segments of life itself. Thus, the comparison of the world to a stage and life to a drama is an age-old concept.
Q6. Describe the fourth and fifth stages of man's life.
Ans. In the fourth stage of his life, man performs the role of a soldier. He is fierce like a leopard, full of vigour, and can be easily provoked. He is prone to jealousy and driven by a desire to safeguard his reputation. In the fifth stage, he grows fat and huge; his eyes acquire a serious expression, and his beard has a formal cut. He is always advising others and performs the role of a judge who is desirous of impressing others.
FAQs on Long Answer Questions (with Solutions) - The Seven Ages
| 1. What are the seven ages of man explained in Shakespeare's poem and what happens in each stage? |  |
| 2. How does the tone and mood change throughout "The Seven Ages" and why does Shakespeare use this literary technique? | |
| 3. What is the main theme or central message of "The Seven Ages" by William Shakespeare? | |
| 4. Which literary devices and poetic techniques does Shakespeare use in "The Seven Ages" to make his argument more powerful? | |
| 5. How should I structure my long answer response to get maximum marks when writing about "The Seven Ages" in exams? | |
