1.4 All the World's a Stage - Std 10 - Kumarbharati

Jul 31
4 min read

Updated: Aug 9

Poet: William Shakespeare

Textbook: English Kumarbharati – Std X

Source: From the play As You Like It

Mindmap

Summary:

In this poem, Shakespeare compares life to a stage where all humans are merely actors. Each person plays many roles during their life, which are divided into seven stages—infant, schoolboy, lover, soldier, justice, old man, and finally, second childhood. Each stage is described through vivid imagery, behaviors, and emotions. The poem reflects on the temporary nature of life and the inevitable journey from birth to death. It emphasizes that all humans, regardless of their status, undergo the same cycle of life.

Theme / Central Idea:

The poem presents life as a play in which every person plays different roles in seven stages. Shakespeare explores the passage of time, the universality of human experience, and the fragility of life. It is a metaphorical reflection on the aging process and human journey.

Word Meanings:

Word / Phrase	Meaning
Mewling	Crying softly (as a baby)
Satchel	School bag
Pard	Leopard
Woeful ballad	Sad poem or love song
Capon	Fat chicken (used as a sign of indulgence)
Pantaloon	Foolish old man (comic character)
Treble	Thin, high-pitched voice
Oblivion	State of being forgotten/unaware
Sans	Without
All the world’s a stage	Metaphor for life

Figures of Speech:

Type	Example
Metaphor	“All the world’s a stage”
	“Seeking the bubble reputation”
Simile	“Creeping like snail”
	“Sighing like furnace”
Onomatopoeia	“Pipes and whistles in his sound”
	“Mewling and puking”
Alliteration	“shrunk shank”, “slippered pantaloon”
	“fair round belly”
Inversion	“His acts being seven ages”
	“Seeking the bubble reputation”
Transferred Epithet	“Shining morning face”
	“Woeful ballad”

Two-Mark Questions

Q1. Why does the poet compare the world to a stage? → The poet compares the world to a stage because just like actors enter and exit a play, people are born and die in this world. Each person plays different roles or characters during different stages of life, similar to a play.

Q2. Why is reputation called a “bubble”? → Reputation is called a bubble because it is short-lived and fragile. A person may risk his life to gain fame, but it can burst or disappear at any moment, just like a bubble. Q3. Describe the last (seventh) stage of a man’s life. → In the last stage, a man becomes old, weak, and childlike again. He loses his senses and strength. This stage is called “second childishness” because he becomes dependent, helpless, and forgetful, like a baby.

Q4. Pick out and explain the simile used to describe the schoolboy.

→ “Creeping like snail unwillingly to school” is the simile used. It means the boy goes to school very slowly and reluctantly, just as a snail moves slowly.

Q5. What are the characteristics of a soldier as described in the poem?

→ The soldier is full of strange promises (oaths), quick-tempered, and ready to fight to gain honor. He is brave and seeks fame, even if it means risking his life in dangerous situations.

True or False :

The schoolboy is excited to go to school. → False
The justice is described as full of wisdom and experience. → True
The final stage of life is full of strength and confidence. → False

Appreciation of the Poem

The poem All the World’s a Stage is written by William Shakespeare. It is taken from his play As You Like It. The poem compares life to a stage where people are actors. The central idea is that every human being plays seven roles during their life, from infancy to old age. The poem is written in blank verse, which means there is no rhyme scheme but a steady rhythm. The language is rich with imagery and figures of speech like metaphor, simile, and alliteration. My favourite line is “All the world’s a stage” because it summarizes the theme in a powerful way. I like the poem because it presents the journey of life in a very thoughtful and creative manner.

Probable Board Questions

Q1. Describe the role of the schoolboy as presented in the poem. → The schoolboy is unwilling and slow, dragging himself to school “creeping like snail.” He carries a shining morning face and is not interested in studies, reflecting reluctance and innocence.

Q2. Explain the meaning of “second childishness” in the context of the poem.

→ “Second childishness” refers to the final stage of life, where a person becomes dependent, forgetful, and weak, much like an infant. It symbolizes the return to helplessness before death.

Q3. What does the soldier symbolize in the poem? What are his qualities?

→ The soldier represents the stage of ambition and bravery in a man’s life. He is quick to anger, full of oaths, and seeks reputation, even at the cost of danger and death.

Q4. What figure of speech is used in the line “All the world’s a stage”? What does it mean?

→ Figure of speech: Metaphor

→ It means that life is like a drama where every person enters (is born), plays roles (goes through life stages), and exits (dies). It shows the temporary and performative nature of life.

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