A2. Answer These Questions
Q1. What are the seven stages of a person’s life? Mention the notable characteristics of each stage.
- Infant: A helpless baby crying and needing attention.
- Schoolboy: A child unwilling to go to school, walking slowly and carrying a bag.
- Lover: A young person full of emotions, writing poems and dreaming about love.
- Soldier: A brave and ambitious person, eager for honor and quick to fight.
- Justice: A mature person full of wisdom and fair judgments, enjoying comfort and respect.
- Old Age: A man growing weaker, wearing glasses, and losing his strength and voice.
- Second Childhood: The final stage, where a person becomes dependent on others and forgets things, similar to being a baby again.
Q2. Why does the schoolboy walk at a snail’s pace? Is he not happy?
The schoolboy walks slowly like a snail because he does not want to go to school. He is unhappy because he dislikes leaving his comfort and feels burdened by schoolwork.
Q3. What does a man do in the third act?
In the third act, a man plays the role of a lover. He expresses his love through romantic gestures, writes poems, and sings emotional songs, often feeling deeply in love.
Q4. What makes the soldier quick in a quarrel?
The soldier is quick in a quarrel because he is eager for honor and fame. His ambition drives him to take risks and fight bravely, sometimes even without thinking carefully.
Q5. How does a man play his part as the justice?
As the justice, a man is wise and fair. He uses his life experiences to give good advice and make sound decisions. He also enjoys a comfortable and respected life during this stage.
A3. Answer the Questions with Reference to the Context
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?
The world is compared to a stage. Life is like a play where men and women act as players, performing their roles from birth to death.
b. Explain ‘exits’ and ‘entrances.’
‘Entrances’ refer to a person’s birth, and ‘exits’ refer to their death. These represent the start and end of life.
c. Name the figure of speech used in these lines.
The figure of speech is a metaphor, as the world is directly compared to a stage.
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?
The last scene is about the seventh stage of life, which is old age or second childhood.
b. How is the last act like second childhood?
The last act is like second childhood because, just like a baby, the person becomes dependent on others and loses their memory and strength.
c. What are the characteristics of this stage?
In this stage, a person forgets things, loses physical abilities, and becomes weak and helpless. They live in a state of oblivion, unaware of their surroundings.