LITERATURE OF ENGLAND

Being the origin of the English language,

England has yielded many noteworthy literary
works and authors. While each of these is
unique, they represent England’s literature as a
cohesive body. Over the ages, different styles
and approaches to literature have become
evident.

The oldest surviving texts are written in Old

English and are from the early part of the
Middle Ages. Before these, literary works were
in the form of oral tales that were passed down
from one generation to the next.

The Anglo-Saxons brought Germanic poetry

and performances with them when they
inhabited England. Thus, even the essentially
English literature of the time became
influenced, often adapting Germanic poems and tales.

The 1100’s saw the development of Middle English, which was far more influenced by
French and Latin than the English of old. By this time, poems and tales were being
written down, thereby allowing a greater number of people to have access to and
enjoy it.

The English Renaissance of the 15th Century brought about a tendency toward the
use of vernacular literature, or the English of the common people. This meant that a
vast number of others could now appreciate books, poems and dramas.

Elizabethan literature was part of the Renaissance movement (along with many
others). Especially popular was drama and theatre, which was greatly influenced by
Greek and Roman cultures. Comedy and tragedy were popular themes, playing a
cathartic role for the spectators as they were able to vent pent-up frustrations in the
name of literature.

The 18th century was dubbed the “Age of Enlightenment” as literature reflected the
society’s tendency to rely on science, politics, religion and economy for guidance,
rather than on gods, fate and chance.

Several styles followed over the course of the next few decades. These include
Romanticism, Victorianism and Modernism. All of these played their important role
in the creation of English literary history. Modernism is particularly interesting as it
presented a different perspective; one that moved away from everything being
certain and objective (typical of Victorian literature).

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 UNIT 4: THE SEVEN AGES OF MAN
(Literature of England)

Learning Outcomes:
1. Read and interpret William Shakespeare's "The
Seven Ages of Man.
2. Identify the figures of speech used in the poem.
3. Relate life cycle development to realities of life.

Think about the life span and make a list of what you would consider the periods of
development. How many stages are on your list? In your opinion, at what stage of
life are you now?

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The Seven Ages of Man by William Shakespeare

All the world’s a stage’ is the opening line from a monologue by a character, Jaques,
in Shakespeare’s play, As You Like It. Through Jaques, Shakespeare takes the
audience on a journey of the complete lifecycle of a human being, made particularly
vivid by its visual images of the different stages of an Elizabethan’s life. The famous
monologue is also known as ‘The Seven Ages of Man.’

In this monologue, Shakespeare is seeing life as a drama acted out on a stage in a

theatre. Each phase of life is an act in the drama. He has been a great playwright and
poet of his era. He views life realistically. Shakespeare is known for the realism of his
writings and is amongst the most quotable authors in world. By this experience, he
knew or understood a lot about many things. He knew about the lives of monarchs
and the way they operate – what goes on in their private and public lives; he knew

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about low life in the inns and taverns of London, and he knew about the lives of rural
folk. He knew about warfare and diplomacy and he knew much more.

As you would go along reading the speech, you might encounter some words or
expressions that deviates intentionally from the literal statement. They are called
figures of speech. Through the use of figures of speech, it allows us to assess,
interpret and critically analyze not only the writer's attempt, but also his or her
purpose.

There are many different types of figures of speech. Two that are closely related are
similes and metaphors. A simile is a comparison between two objects using the
words 'like,' 'as,' 'seems' or 'appears.'

Example:

'My dog is like a tornado; she dashes through the house, destroying everything she
touches.'

The first part contains the simile: the dog is being compared to a tornado. The second
part explains the comparison. The dog is like a tornado because she destroys things
wherever she goes. The use of the simile gives a better picture of the dog and adds
some color to the description.

A metaphor, then, is a comparison between two objects without using the words
listed above. Metaphors are usually stated as one object is another object. Look at
the following poem by Emily Dickinson:

'Presentiment - is that long shadow - on the lawn -

Indicative that Suns go down -
The notice to the startled Grass
That Darkness - is about to pass -'

In this poem, Dickinson states that presentiment is a shadow. Is presentiment, which

means foreboding or anxiety, literally a shadow? Dickinson makes the comparison to
give a better description of how anxiety can creep up on a person and cause fear.

In an extended metaphor, the author takes a single metaphor and employs it at

length, using various subjects, images, ideas and situations. They are commonly used
in poetry, as well as prose.

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Example:

In Robert Frost’s "The Road Not Taken" we can envision things like yellow woods and
plush undergrowth. Although we have this lovely mental image of a man walking
through a deep forest, it's actually a metaphor for life. Frost is remarking on his choice
to not "go along with the crowd" but, instead, choose his own path in life. In the end,
it gave him the remarkable life he led.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
[...]
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

About the Author

William Shakespeare (26 April 1564 (baptised) – 23
April 1616) was an English poet, playwright, and actor,
widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English
language and the world’s pre-eminent dramatist. He
is often called England’s national poet and the “Bard
of Avon”. His extant works, including some
collaboration, consist of around 38 plays, 154 sonnets,
two long narrative poems, and a few other verses. His
plays have been translated into every major living
language and are performed more often than those of
any other playwright.

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 Other Types of
Figures of Speech

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 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 schoolboy, 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 honor, 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 lined,
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 slippered pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;
His youthful hose, well saved, 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.

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 MODULE 3: Unit 4

Name:________________________________________________ Date: __________

Year/ Course/Section:___________________________________ Score: _________
Professor/Instructor: _____________________________________________________

Exercise 1. 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 ____. The last scene of all is his second
childhood. Slowly, he loses his _____ of sight, hearing, smell and taste and exits from
the roles of his life.

attention treble reluctantly

actors maturity reputation
serious faculties composing
enter promises dependent

Write your answers here.

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6. ______________________
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12. ______________________

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Exercise 2. From your understanding of the poem, answer the following questions
briefly in a sentence or two.

1. What is the world compared to?

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2. “And they have their exits and their entrances” - What do the words ‘exits’ and
‘entrances’ mean?
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3. Bring out the features of the fourth stage of a man as described by the poet.
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4. When does a man become a judge? How?
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5. Why is the last stage called second childhood?
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Exercise 3. Read and understand the following questions then choose the letter of
your answer. Write your answer in the space before the number.
_____ 1. All the world's a stage is an extended metaphor for :
a. the life shown in well-known plays
b. life of well-known actors
c. seeing the well-known plays
d. life of man that comes to an end.

_____ 2. All 'have their exits and their entrances'. Exits and entrances refer to :
a. birth and death
b. beginning and end of play
c. coming and going of actors
d. the end of the Shakespearean era
_____ 3. The seven roles that a man plays corresponds to his :
a. chronological age in life c. desires
b. mental age in life d. idea of a perfect life

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_____ 4. The word which means crying in the poem :
a. weeping c. mewling
b. puking d. woeful
_____ 5. The Whining school boy is compared to :
a. a bearded pard c. a creeping snail
b. a sighing furnace d. a fighting lion
_____ 6. Who is singing a woeful ballad
a. soldier c. lover
b. judge d. pantaloons
_____ 7. The characteristic feature of soldier is :
a. dependent c. forgetfulness
b. bearded d. moody
_____ 8. Which of the following is a simile?
a. bearded like the pard c. all the world's stage
b. both of them d. none of the above
_____ 9. Which of the following is considered as a metaphor :
a. the bubble reputation c. creeping like snail
b. both of them d. none of the above
_____ 10. The word in the passage which means 'without' :
a. oblivion c. treble
b. sans d. shank

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Exercise 4. Based on your understanding of the poem, answer the question in about
100 – 150 words each. You may add your own ideas if required, to present
and justify your point of view.

Shakespeare has skillfully brought out the parallels between the life of man and
actors on stage. Elaborate this statement with reference to the poem.

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