Here we shared All the World’s a Stage Summary, Questions and Answers. All the World’s a Stage by William Shakespeare.
Summary of All the World’s a Stage
In All the World’s a Stage, William Shakespeare compares the world to a stage and people to actors. The poem presents the seven stages of life, from childhood to old age. Each stage is a role that people play in their lifetime. The speaker describes the stages as the infant, the schoolboy, the lover, the soldier, the justice, the old man, and finally, the second childhood of old age, when physical and mental weaknesses return. Shakespeare uses this metaphor to show the fleeting nature of life and how everyone plays their part until their time on the “stage” comes to an end.
All the World’s a Stage MCQ Questions and Answers
Q.1 How many stages are man’s acts divided into?
a. Five
b. Two
c. Seven
d. One
Ans. c. Seven
Q.2 According to the speaker, what is the world?
a. A stage
b. A sphere
c. A planet
d. A track
Ans. a. A stage
Q.3 Who mewls and pukes in the nurse’s arms?
a. The old man
b. The judge
c. The infant
d. The soldier
Ans. c. The infant
Q.4 In which stage does man feel jealous of honour?
a. Fourth
b. First
c. Final
d. Sixth
Ans. a. Fourth
Q.5 When does man turn again towards childish treble?
a. Fifth
b. First
c. Final
d. Sixth
Ans. c. Final
Q.6 What does the poet compare the world to?
a. A battlefield
b. A school
c. A stage
d. A playground
Ans. c. A stage
Q.7 What is the first stage of a man’s life according to the poem?
a. Childhood
b. Old age
c. Youth
d. Infancy
Ans. d. Infancy
Q.8 What is the second stage of life described in the poem?
a. The soldier
b. The lover
c. The schoolboy
d. The judge
Ans. c. The schoolboy
Q.9 In the poem, what does the lover do?
a. Seeks fame
b. Sings a love song
c. Fights in a war
d. Acts as a judge
Ans. b. Sings a love song
Q.10 Which stage of life does the soldier represent in the poem?
a. Ambition
b. Wisdom
c. Youth
d. Carelessness
Ans. a. Ambition
All the World’s a Stage MCQ Questions and Answers
Q.11 What is the “justice” role in the poem associated with?
a. Physical strength
b. Wisdom and reason
c. Emotional love
d. Childhood innocence
Ans. b. Wisdom and reason
Q.12 According to the poem, what is the final stage of life?
a. Old age
b. Middle age
c. Childhood
d. Youth
Ans. a. Old age
Q.13 What happens to man in the final stage of life, according to the poem?
a. He becomes wise
b. He returns to a child-like state
c. He seeks fame
d. He becomes a soldier
Ans. b. He returns to a child-like state
Q.14 What does the poet suggest about life in the poem?
a. It is full of struggles
b. It is a journey with distinct stages
c. It is a long period of happiness
d. It is meaningless
Ans. b. It is a journey with distinct stages
Q.15 How does the poet describe the “second childhood” in the poem?
a. As a time of learning
b. As a time of wisdom
c. As a time of weakness and dependence
d. As a time of happiness
Ans. c. As a time of weakness and dependence
Q.16 In which stage does man experience “jealousy of honour”?
a. The soldier
b. The lover
c. The judge
d. The old man
Ans. a. The soldier
Q.17 What is the “schoolboy” stage characterized by in the poem?
a. Playing games
b. Wearing spectacles
c. A desire to learn
d. A sense of adventure
Ans. c. A desire to learn
Q.18 Which of the following does the poet not mention as part of life’s stages?
a. Lover
b. Judge
c. Soldier
d. King
Ans. d. King
Q.19 In the poem, what is the “infant” stage associated with?
a. Ambition
b. Innocence and dependency
c. Wisdom and justice
d. Love and passion
Ans. b. Innocence and dependency
Q.20 How does the poet describe the old man’s stage of life?
a. Full of wisdom and energy
b. Prone to envy and jealousy
c. Weak and dependent, like a child
d. Independent and strong
Ans. c. Weak and dependent, like a child
All the World’s a Stage Questions and Answers
Q.1 What are the seven stages of a person’s life? Mention the notable characteristics of each stage.
Ans. Human life can be divided into seven stages, as described below:
Infant: A stage of complete helplessness and dependency.
School-going Boy: Reluctant to go to school and often grumbling about it.
Lover: A passionate stage marked by deep sighs and emotional expressions in the absence of a beloved.
Soldier: A phase of bravery and ambition, willing to sacrifice life for fleeting fame or reputation.
Judge: The mature stage of wisdom and experience, often characterized by a desire to showcase knowledge and sound judgment.
Old Pantaloons: A stage of physical decline where a person becomes weak and frail, appearing comical in loose-fitting clothes.
Last Stage: The second childhood, where one loses reflexes, senses, and independence, becoming childlike again.
Q.2 Why does the schoolboy walk at a snail’s pace? Is he not happy?
Ans. The schoolboy walks to school as slowly as a snail because he sulks and does not want to go to school. No, he is not happy to go to school.
Q.3 What does a man do in the third act?
Ans. In the third act, a man plays the role of a lover, busily composing ballads for his beloved and yearning for her attention.
Q.4 What makes the soldier ‘quick in quarrel’?
Ans. A soldier is quick in quarrel because he aspires to be honored for his bravery. Driven by ambition and a desire for recognition, he is willing to sacrifice his life, unaware that his reputation is as fleeting as a bubble that bursts in an instant.
Q.5 How does a man play his part as ‘the justice’?
Ans. In the fifth stage of life, a man plays the role of ‘the justice’ with maturity and wisdom. At this stage, he is prosperous and well-fed, exuding a stern and impressive demeanor. He is full of wise sayings and uses examples from contemporary life to support his points, showcasing his knowledge and experience.
All the World’s a Stage Summary, Questions and Answers
Answer these questions with reference to the context.
Q.1 All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances.
a. What has the world been compared to? How?
Ans. The world has been compared to a stage in a drama where life is like a play, and people are like actors performing different roles.
b. Explain ‘exits’ and ‘entrances’.
Ans. The words ‘exits’ and ‘entrances’ symbolize death and birth, respectively. Just as actors enter the stage to perform their roles and leave when their act is over, humans enter the world at birth, play their roles in life, and exit through death.
c. Name the figure of speech used in these lines.
Ans. The figure of speech used in these lines is Metaphor.
Q.2 Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion.
a. Which scene is being spoken about here?
Ans. The last stage of a man’s life is being spoken about here.
b. How is the last act like second childhood?
Ans. In childhood, a child cannot fully use their senses of sight, hearing, smell, and taste. Similarly, in the last stage of life, an old man gradually loses these senses, becoming dependent and childlike once again. This is why it is considered “second childhood.”
c. What are the characteristics of this stage?
Ans. The characteristics of this stage include the loss of the senses of sight, hearing, smell, and taste, along with physical and mental decline.
All the World’s a Stage Summary, Questions and Answers
Think and answer
Q.1 Which stage do you think is the happiest and which is the saddest one? Give reasons for your answer.
Ans.
I think the fifth stage is the happiest one. This is the stage of being a judge, which is perhaps the best phase of life. At this stage, a man is prosperous, well-fed, and commands respect. He appears stern and impressive, and his wisdom allows him to share valuable insights and examples from contemporary life to prove his points.
The seventh stage is the saddest one. In this stage, a man becomes senile and enters into ‘second childishness.’ He becomes as dependent on others as a child. He loses his teeth, his sense of taste, and all his mental faculties, making it a deeply pitiable phase of life.
Q.2 What, in your opinion, is the theme of the monologue, ‘All the World’s a Stage’?
Ans. Through this monologue, Shakespeare conveys the message of the impermanence of life. He illustrates how quickly the journey of life comes to an end and how the various stages of life unfold in a transient and inevitable manner.
All the World’s a Stage Summary, Questions and Answers
Answer these questions:
Q.1 This poem is an extended metaphor. What are the two things being compared?
Ans.
An extended metaphor is a metaphor that continues throughout an entire poem or text. In this poem, the poet compares the world to a stage and human beings to players. The poet explains that everyone enters, plays their roles, and then exits.
Q.2 There are seven stages or acts of a man listed in this poem. What are they?
Ans. The seven stages or acts of a man listed in this poem are: the helpless infant, the whining schoolboy, the emotional lover, the devoted soldier, the wise judge, the aging man, and finally, a second stage of helplessness.
Q.3 What is meant by the word ‘Oblivion’ in the context of the poem “All the World’s a Stage“?
Ans.
The word “oblivion” means a state of being unaware or unconscious of what is happening. In the context of the poem “All the World’s a Stage,” it refers to the final stage of a man’s life, where he loses his memory and becomes oblivious to everything around him.
Q.4
“Then a soldier, Full of strange oaths, and bearded like a pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon’s mouth.”
a) What is the soldier ready to do?
b) What is the poetic device used in the second line?
c) What does “bubble reputation” mean?
Ans.
a) The soldier is ready to take strange oaths, engage in quarrels, and risk his life to achieve temporary fame and popularity, even in the face of danger.
b) The poetic device used in the second line is a simile, as the poet compares the soldier’s beard to that of a leopard.
c) “Bubble reputation” refers to fleeting or temporary fame, which is fragile and short-lived, like a bubble.
Q.5 What is the significance of the words “entrances” and “exits” in the poem The Seven Ages?
Ans.
The words “entrances” and “exits” in the poem The Seven Ages are very significant because the poet compares the world to a theater stage. He explains that every individual enters the stage, performs their roles, and then exits. The word “entrances” symbolizes birth, while “exits” signify death. Just as birth and death are fundamental aspects of life, “entrances” and “exits” are crucial in understanding the cycle of human existence.
All the World’s a Stage Summary, Questions and Answers
Q.6 Identify various figures of speech in the poem.
Ans.
The figures of speech used in the poem include simile, metaphor, alliteration, repetition, and synecdoche. Examples of each are given below:
- Simile: Creeping like snail.
- Metaphor: All the world’s a stage.
- Alliteration: For his shrunk shank.
- Repetition: Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.
- Synecdoche: Made to his mistress’ eyebrow.
Q.7 The Seven Stages of Human Life in Shakespeare’s “All the World’s a Stage”
In the poem “All the World’s a Stage,” William Shakespeare beautifully describes the seven stages of human life, comparing the world to a theater and individuals to actors performing their roles. Each stage reflects a universal truth about the journey of life.
The first stage of life is infancy. At this stage, the individual is helpless, crying and vomiting in the nurse’s arms. This phase symbolizes complete dependence on caregivers.
The second stage is childhood. The child reluctantly goes to school with a shining morning face, carrying their satchel. This stage represents innocence and the early days of learning and growth.
The third stage portrays the lover, a sentimental and emotional phase. In this stage, the young person sighs deeply and writes verses or sings songs for their beloved, showcasing the intensity of youthful passion.
The fourth stage is that of the soldier. Here, the individual becomes ambitious, eager to gain honor and recognition. The soldier takes strange oaths, quarrels impulsively, and seeks temporary fame, even risking life in dangerous situations, symbolized by the phrase “seeking the bubble reputation.”
The fifth stage is adulthood, represented by the judge. At this stage, the man becomes wise, authoritative, and serious. With a fair round belly from indulgence, he speaks with experience, using proverbs and anecdotes from his life. His appearance is marked by a neatly groomed beard and a dignified demeanor.
The sixth stage shows the aging man. He becomes weak and thin, his voice turning into a childish treble. He wears spectacles, and his once well-fitted clothes now hang loosely on his frail body. This stage represents the decline of physical and mental strength.
Finally, the seventh stage is the return to a second state of childhood. The individual becomes completely dependent on others, losing teeth, eyesight, taste, and memory. This final stage marks the end of life, where all worldly roles and activities cease.
In conclusion, Shakespeare’s depiction of the seven stages of human life is universal and timeless. It captures the impermanence of life and reflects the natural progression from birth to death. Through his genius, Shakespeare reminds us of the inevitable cycles of life, making his description both poetic and profound.
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