Samacheer Kalvi solutions for English Class 12 TN Board chapter 3.2 - All the World’s a Stage [Latest edition]

Discuss with your partner the different stages in the growth of man from a new born to an adult

Fill in the blanks using the words given in the box to complete the summary of the poem.

Shakespeare considers the whole world a stage where men and women are only (1) ______. They (2)______the stage when they are born and exit when they die. Every man, during his life time, plays seven roles based on age. In the first act, as an infant, he is wholly (3) ______on the mother or a nurse. Later, emerging as a school child, he slings his bag over his shoulder and creeps most (4)______ to school. His next act is that of a lover, busy (5) ______ballads for his beloved and yearns for her (6) ______. In the fourth stage, he is aggressive and ambitious and seeks (7) ______in all that he does. He (8) ______solemnly to guard his country and becomes a soldier. As he grows older, with (9) ______and wisdom, he becomes a fair judge. During this stage, he is firm and (10) ______. In the sixth act, he is seen with loose pantaloons and spectacles. His manly voice changes into a childish (11) ______. The last scene of all is his second childhood. Slowly, he loses his (12) ______of sight, hearing, smell and taste and exits from the roles of his life.

What is the world compared to?

“And they have their exits and their entrances” - What do the words ‘exits’ and ‘entrances’ mean?

What is the first stage of a human’s life?

Describe the second stage of life as depicted by Shakespeare.

How does a man play a lover’s role?

Bring out the features of the fourth stage of a man as described by the poet.

When does a man become a judge? How?

Which stage of man’s life is associated with the ‘shrunk shank’?

Why is the last stage called second childhood?

Explain the following line briefly with reference to the context.

“They have their exits and their entrances;

And one man in his time plays many parts,”

Explain the following line briefly with reference to the context.

“Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,

Seeking the bubble reputation”.“They have their exits and their entrances;

Explain the following line briefly with reference to the context.

“Is second childishness and mere oblivion;

Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.”

Read the poem once again carefully and identify the figure of speech that has been used in each of the following lines from the poem.

“All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and 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 school-boy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress’ eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in 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 lin’d,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slipper’d pantaloon,

With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;
His youthful hose, well sav’d, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion;
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.”

1. “All the world's a stage”
2. “And all the men and women merely players”
3. “And shining morning face, creeping like snail”
4. “Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard,”
5. “Seeking the bubble reputation”
6. “His youthful hose, well sav’d, a world too wide”
7. “and his big manly voice, turning again toward childish treble”

Pick out the word in ‘alliteration’ in the following line.

“and all the men and women merely players”

Pick out the word in ‘alliteration’ in the following line.

“And one man in his time plays many parts”

Pick out the word in ‘alliteration’ in the following line.

“Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel.”

Read the given line and answer the question that follow.

Then the whining school-boy, with his satchel

And shining morning face, creeping like snail

Unwillingly to school.

1. Which stage of life is being referred to here by the poet?
2. What are the characteristics of this stage?
3. How does the boy go to school?
4. Which figure of speech has been employed in the second line?

Read the given line and answer the question that follow.

Then a soldier,

full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard,

Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,

Seeking the bubble reputation

Even in the cannon's mouth.

1. What is the soldier ready to do?
2. Explain ‘bubble reputation’.
3. What are the distinguishing features of this stage?

Read the given line and answer the question that follow.

And then the justice,

In fair round belly with good capon lin'd,

With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,

Full of wise saws and modern instances;

1. Whom does justice refer to?
2. Describe his appearance.
3. How does he behave with the people around him?
4. What does he do to show his wisdom?

Complete the table based on your understanding of the poem.

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

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 describes the characteristics of the various stages of man. You are in the second stage of life. What do you think of your roles and responsibilities at this stage? Discuss with your partner and share your ideas with the class

Listen to the poem and fill in the blanks with appropriate words and phrases. If required listen to the poem again.

The World Is Too Much with Us

The world is too much with us; late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers; Little we see in ______that is ours; We have given ______away, a sordid boon! This Sea that bares her bosom ______, ______that will be howling at all hours, And are up-gathered now like ______, For this, for everything, we are ______; It ______us not. Great God! I'd rather be A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn; So might I, standing on this pleasant lea, Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn; Have sight of Proteus rising ______Or hear old Triton blow his wreathed horn.