All The World's a Stage summary and Exercise answers

Class 11 All The World is a Stage Exercise

                                                                                               -William Shakespeare 

Reference beyond the text

a) Describe the various stages of a man’s life picturised in the poem “All the World’s a stage.”

👉The poem "All the World's a Stage" by William Shakespeare beautifully portrays the various stages of a man's life, drawing a parallel between life and the progression of a play:

Infancy: The first stage is infancy, where a man is like a helpless baby, dependent on others, often vomiting and crying.


School-going Student: The second stage represents the school-going years. The individual reluctantly goes to school, carrying a bag and moving slowly like a snail.


Lover: The third stage is that of a young lover. The man is passionate and romantic, composing ballads for his beloved, seeking attention, and deeply engrossed in love.


Ambitious Warrior: In the fourth stage, the man becomes ambitious and willing to take on challenges. He seeks honor and reputation, even to the extent of risking his life as a soldier in battle.


Wise Judge: The fifth stage is marked by wisdom and maturity. The man becomes a judge-like figure, making fair decisions and being respected for his wisdom.


Elderly Man: The sixth stage shows the man in his older years, wearing loose clothes and glasses, with a weakened physique and a change in his voice.


Second Childhood: The final stage is compared to a second childhood. The man loses his physical and sensory abilities, becoming dependent and eventually leaving the world.

b) Is Shakespeare's comparison of human life with drama stage apt? How?

Or

Shakespeare has skilfully brought out the parallels between the life of man and actors on stage. Elaborate this statement with reference to the poem.

👉Shakespeare's comparison of human life with a drama stage is indeed apt and profound. He skillfully brings out the parallels between life and the roles played by actors on a stage:

In a play, actors enter, perform their roles, and exit. Similarly, humans enter the world, live through different stages, and eventually depart. Just as actors play various characters, people play different roles in life – from students to lovers, from ambitious warriors to wise judges. This parallels the diverse roles individuals play in their lifetimes.

In a play, actors strive for reputation and recognition. Likewise, humans in the various stages seek reputation, whether as a lover, a warrior, a wise judge, or in any other capacity. Reputation becomes a driving force for their actions.

Just as actors perform for an audience, individuals in their various stages of life perform their actions in front of society, seeking approval and acknowledgment.

Furthermore, the concept of exit is common to both life and the stage. Just as a play concludes with actors leaving the stage, life concludes with individuals exiting from the world.

In this way, Shakespeare artfully weaves the analogy between life and a stage, inviting readers to reflect on the cyclical nature of existence, the different roles we assume, and the ultimate inevitability of departure.