Group Members1:Kunal Malhotra2:Anchit Sinha3:Ambuj Sachan4:Varun Pathak5:Sakshi Pathak

AcknowledgmentAcknowledgment

First of all ,I would Like to thank my English teacher for giving me an opportunity to present a presentation on the topic “The Seven Ages by William Shakespeare”.

I would also like to thank my parents and brother for assisting and guiding me throughout the presentation.

Theme of the poemTheme of the poem The poem “The Seven Ages”, which is actually

an extract from Shakespeare’s delightful comedy “As You Like It”. This master piece of poetry is a moral commentary on life written in an exceptionally exclusive style which is the attribute of Shakespeare. The poem contains an amusing and classical description on human nature and behavior which reflects Shakespeare’s deep awareness of human psychology. The poet makes a comparison between world & stage. He says that world is like a stage, life is like acting & men and women are like actors. He classifies man’s life into seven different ages. The poet makes a comparison between world & stage. This world is just like a stage of a theatre. All persons being players are given different roles and both men and women are having same entrance and exits.

William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare, born on 26 April 1564  was an English poet ,playwright ,and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet, and the "Bard of Avon". His extant works, including collaborations, consist of approximately 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and a few other verses, some of uncertain authorship. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright.

PoetryPoetry All the world’s a stage

And all the men women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances;

And one man in his time plays many parts,His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms.Then the whining schoolboy, with

his satchelAnd shining morning face, creeping like snailUnwillingly to school.

And then the lover,Sighing like furnace, with a woeful balladMade to his mistress’ yebrow.

Then a soldierFull of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard,Jealous on Honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,Seeking the bubble reputation.Even in the cannon’s mouth. And then the justice,

In fair round belly with good capon lined,With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,Full of wise saws and modern instances;And so he plays his part.

The sixth age shiftsInto the lean and slippered pantaloon,With spectacles on nose and pouch on side, His youthful hose, well saved, a

world too wideFor his shrunk shank: and his big manly voice,Turning again toward childish treble, pipesAnd whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,

That ends this strange eventful history,In second childishness and mere oblivion,sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

*INFANCY*SCHOOL BOY*LOVER*SOLDIER*ADULTHOOD*MIDDLE AGE*OLD AGE

The First StageThe First Stage

According to Shakespeare, every man plays several parts during his life time. On the stage of life every man has seven acts. The first act of man is infancy.At this time all that the baby does is cry and puke on his nurse's lap.

The Second StageThe Second StageAfter he goes through his infant life, he emerges as a school child. Shakespeare describes him as a boy having a face fresh like morning, with his bag hanging on his side, walking appropriately to school. In the beginning he does not like going to school but gradually his thinking changes.

The Third StageThe Third Stage

When time passes onwards the schoolboy transformed into a youngster.The young man is a lover who is busy composing ballads for his beloved and sighing deeply for her attention.

The Fourth StageThe Fourth Stage

Gradually, he graduates into a bearded soldier.The soldier promises solemnly to guard his country. He is filled with national pride, is quick to be insulted and is always ready to spring up in defense. At this point of time he is more concerned with status and reputation.

The Fifth StageThe Fifth StageFrom the agile soldier, he goes on to become a judge.The fifth stage of man’s life which he calls middle age or “judge”.  In fair round belly with good tasty food. His body develops as he gets matured. Practically, his is a blend of custom, morality, religion, and education. The visible authority can be well located in him. Here he acts like the ruler, or chief; the ultimate authorities to pass a judgment on any aspects of life.

The Sixth StageThe Sixth StageAfter he has played this part, he goes into the sixth age. Into the sixth age he becomes thin, wears spectacles, the skin around him hangs loosely. The man grows older and becomes weak. His clothes hang loosely around him and his once manly voice turns into a high pitched, childish one.

The Seventh StageThe Seventh StageWith this, man enters the last act. This age of man’s life is more or less same as that of the second phase of man’s life because at this stage man again behaves like a child. He is overcome by senility and forgetfulness, as he loses his faculties of sight, hearing, smell and taste, slowly but surely, and ultimately dies.

THE END