the poem by shakespear first person 10 points...?

Question

ok the poem called SEVEN AGES OF MAN by shakespear
i read it over and over I dont really understand it can u help me out? ty

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.
And 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

Answer 1

He is comparing the seven ages in a man's life to "acts" as a progression in a play.

1. birth ("entrance" onto the "stage of life")
2. infancy - helplessly dependent
3. childhood as a schoolboy
4. young lover dramatically wooing his mistress
5. soldier seeking to fight to prove himself
in the face of conflict or danger
6. older justice or wise sage
sharing his experience
7. death ("exit")

According to enotes, this speech is supposed to be a pessimistic statement on the "futility" of human life as useless striving, equating the elderly stage with "senility" not wisdom, so that the reference to "wisdom" is intended sarcastically not literally.

It also gives some background, that it was a common concept at that time to describe human development as 7 stages.

http://www.pinkmonkey.com/booknotes/monkeynotes/pmAsYouLikeIt22.asp

Monkey Notes summarizes Jacques' speech below:

"Orlando apologizes for his behavior and tells the Duke that his faithful servant must be served before he can eat. When the duke tells Orlando to bring the servant, Orlando departs. While they wait for Orlando's return, Jaques describes the seven ages of man, from infancy to old age. He states that all the world is a stage, and all men and women play the seven ages of life upon it."

Answer 2

This poem is talking about the various roles man plays/has throughout his life. He starts at infancy with a crying puking baby and moves to a 'school-boy' who doesn't want to go to school. Next is 'the lover,' a young adult or teen falling in love for the first time, followed by maturity and his service as a 'soldier'.

This is from the play "as you like it" there is another poem that is wrote that is similar but not quite the same. It is a monologue by the character, Jaques. Some of it is missing.

the poem ends with the death of man, '... sans teeth, sans everything" which gives the idea that even though man goes through all sorts of trials and tribulations and even successes, everyone winds up the same despite their roles.

Answer 3

I think it is a persons life. He is comparing a persons life to acting, being on stage.
the 3rd line means birth and death,
the rest is someone life.
The end i quite don't understand, but i think it means the afterlife.

Answer 4

It talks about life and the stages of it and how we should react towards it
It is talking about how life is a big play towards god