THE SEVEN AGES OF MAN

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.

REFERENCE: These lines have been taken from the poem, “The Seven Ages of Man” written by William
Shakespeare.

CONTEXT: The poet says man’s life can be divided into seven stages. These stages, starting from infancy and
boyhood, pass through adolescence and youth. During this time, he acts as a lover and a soldier. In the fifth stage,
man acts as a justice. At the sixth stage, man becomes very thin and weak. His clothes become loose on his body and
his voice becomes shrill. The last stage is that of an extreme old age when he has no teeth, no eyes, nothing left.

EXPLANATION: In this extract, Shakespeare tells us that our world is just like a stage and all human beings are
just like players. We come on this stage at our fixed timings and leave it when our parts are over. Thus, Shakespeare
says our birth and death are just like the entrance and the exit.

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.

EXPLANATION: In this extract, Shakespeare divides man’s life into seven stages. Each of us has to play our part
at all these stages of life. Shakespeare describes the first two stages of man’s life. At first, man is helpless infant,
crying in the arms of his nurse and often feeling sick and weak. Then he enters the second stage of his life. As a
school boy, he goes to school with his heavy satchel on his shoulder. At this stage, he is a student and goes to school
reluctantly, walking lazily like a snail.

Unwilling 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.

EXPLANATION: In this extract, the poet describes how reluctantly man goes to school when he is a schoolboy.
Shakespeare describes the third and the fourth stages of man’s life. At the third stage, man enters the age of love and
romance. He makes love, sighs for his beloved and writes ballads in praise of the eyes of his beloved. At the fourth
stage, he acts as a soldier. He is full of strange oaths and bearded like a leopard.

Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,

Seeking the bubble reputation,
Even in the canon’s mouth; and then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lin’d

EXPLANATION: In this extract, the poet describes the man to be young and quarrelsome. At his stage, he wants to
become famous and would even stake his life for this purpose. Shakespeare describes the fifth stage of man. Man
plays the role of a justice at this stage. He is plump due to over eating.

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.

EXPLANATION: In this extract, Shakespeare describes how the man has become a strict person at this stage. He
talks wisely and with learned manners. He quotes famous writers and gives modern instances to show that he is very
well–read. In this way, he plays his part and enters the next stage of his life. the sixth stage of man’s life. It is the
time when man enters into his sixties. Now he is an old man. His pantaloon becomes loose on his body.

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.

EXPLANATION: In this extract, Shakespeare describes that His eyesight becomes weak and he wears spectacles.
The stockings which he used to wear in his youth become too big for his thin legs and even his voice which was
quite manly till now, becomes shrill like that of a child.

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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EXPLANATION: In this extract, Shakespeare describes that now he develops a whistling sound in his speech. How
helpless man becomes at the last stage of his life. This stage takes man near his grave and ends his life. It is no better
than second childhood. Now man has no teeth, no eyes and no taste. His pleasures too come to an end and he is no
better than a moving skeleton. As a matter of fact, this stage is the most pitiable stage of man’s life.

THE MAN OF LIFE UPRIGHT

The man of life upright
Whose guiltless heart is free
From all dishonest deeds
Or thought of vanity.

REFERENCE: These lines have been extracted from the poem, “The man of Life Upright” written by Thomas
Campion.

CONTEXT: This poem describes the qualities of an upright and honest man. This man is fearless, ascetic, loving
and pious. He has no wishes for worldly name and fame.

EXPLANATION: This extract reveals that the upright man has clear conscience and he does not harness dishonest
thoughts and deeds. He does not show any pride in his achievements or successes.

The man whose silent days

In harmless joys are spent
Whom hopes cannot delude
Nor sorrow discontent

EXPLANATION: In this stanza, Campion describes that the days of an upright man are silent and are spent
without harming others. He spends these days joyously. He has neither hopes to rise nor sorrow for downfall.

That man needs neither towers

Nor armour for defence
Nor secret vaults to fly
From thunder’s violence

EXPLANATION: In this extract, the poet states that the upright man does not need high walls or protective
clothing in order to save himself. He does not require secret cellars to hide from the violence and destruction.

He only can behold

With unaffrighted eyes
The horror of the deep
And terrors of the skies

EXPLANATION: In this extract, the poet says that the upright man is the only one who is able to face all the
dangers in the depth of the oceans and risks in heights of the skies.

Thus scorning all the cares

That fate or fortune brings
He makes the heaven his book
His wisdom heavenly things

EXPLANATION: In this extract, the poet mentions that the upright man hates all the worries of the world. He does
not finds pleasure with wealth and fortune. This is the reason why he indulges in the religious activities and utilizes
most of his time in contemplating on religious matters.

Good thoughts his only friends

His wealth a well – spent age
The earth his sober inn
And quiet pilgrimage

EXPLANATION: In this extract, the poet says that the upright man harness good thoughts. He keeps these good
thoughts as his friends. He loves to learn from his personal experiences. He considers this world as an inn. He feels
that man has come to this world for a very short stay.

LINES FROM SAMSON AGONISTES

He patient, but undaunted, where they led him,
Came to the place; and what was set before him,
Which without help of eye might be assayed,
To heave, pull, draw, or break, he still performed
All with incredible stupendous force,
None daring to appear antagonist

REFERENCE: These lines have been extracted from the poem, “Samson Agonistes” written by John Milton.

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CONTEXT: This poem describes the death of a Jewish hero, Samson. He was taken captive by the Philistines
through the treachery of his wife. Samson was a man of immense strength. He killed the Philistine leaders by
bringing down the roof of a great temple upon their heads, but he also sacrificed his own life at the same time.

EXPLANATION: In this extract, Milton describes the scene when Samson being very patient and unafraid was led
to a place which was already prepared for him. Though his eyes were torn away and he could not see, he was able to
attempt daring tasks. He lifted, pulled, drew and broke very heavy and hard objects to show feats of his strength. He
performed all these feats with such an unbelievably amazing strength that no one there had courage to come in his
opposition.

At length of intermission sake they led him

Between the pillars; he his guide requested
(For so from such as nearer stood we heard)
As over–tired, to let him lean a while
With both arms on those two massy pillars
That to the arched roof gave main support.

EXPLANATION: In this extract, Milton describes the moments when Samson had performed all the daring feats
and now there was an interval so he was led away from the centre position. When he reached between the pillars, he
requested his guide to allow him to lean for a while because he was very tired. He put both his arms around the two
massy pillars and felt them. These two massy pillars were erected to give support to the arched roof over them.

He unsuspicious led him; which when Samson

Felt in his arms, with head a while inclined
And eyes fast fixed, he stood, as one who prayed
Or Some great matter in his mind revolved.

EXPLANATION: In this extract, the poet describes that the guide of Samson did not suspect Samson was going to
pull the roof down. He led Samson to the pillars and Samson felt them in his arms with his head lowered. He kept
his blind eyes focused hard on front of him. He portrayed as if he was in the praying position or thinking over some
matter of very great importance.

At last with head erect thus cried aloud

Hitherto. Lords what your commands imposed
I have performed as reason was obeying
Not without wonder or delight beheld
Now of my own accord such other trial
I mean to show you of my strength yet greater
As with amaze shall strike all who behold

EXPLANATION: In this extract, the poet describes the moment when Samson straightens his head and speaks at
the top of his voice addressing the Philistine leaders. Samson tells them that he had performed all what was
commanded by them as he had no choice but to obey. He tells them that all of them witnessed his feats with
amazement and delight. He further feels happy and says that he is going to show them yet another feat of greater
strength. He tells them that this feat of his will bring a great amount of amazement on all those who behold.

This uttered straining all his nerves he bowed

As with the force of winds and waters pent
When mountains tremble those two massy pillars
With horrible convulsion to and fro
He tugged he shook till down they came and drew
The whole roof after them with burst of thunder
Upon the heads of all who sat beneath

EXPLANATION: In this extract, the poet describes the moment when Samson gathers all his strength. His strength
is compared with the force of winds and with that of rushing waters. With this kind of force even the mountains are
said to be trembling. Samson used his strength on those two massy pillars. With a stunning strength he pulled and
shook the pillars and brought the roof down. The whole roof fell down with a burst of thunder on the heads of all
those Philistine leaders who had came together in the temple to solemnize their feast.

Lords, ladies, captains, counselors or priests,

Their choice nobility and flower not only
Of this, but each Philistian city round
Met from all parts to solemnize this feast
Samson with these inmixed, inevitably
Pulled down the same destruction on himself.

EXPLANATION: In these lines the poet tells us that the people who had gathered together in the temple were
lords, ladies, captains, counselors and the priests of the Philistine. They were the best people in their nation. They
had come from far and wide to celebrate this feast of theirs. Samson who did not belong to them was also under the
same roof so in bringing down the destruction upon them, he also sacrificed his own life and he was, too, crushed
under the roof.

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 LINES FROM AN ESSAY ON MAN
Heaven from all creatures hides the book of Fate
All but the page prescribed, their present state
From brutes what men, from men what spirits know
Or who could suffer being here below?

REFERENCE: These lines have been extracted from the poem, “An Essay on Man” written by Alexander Pope.

CONTEXT: In this poem, Pope thanks God for keeping man ignorant of his future. He thinks it is a blessing. He
says life would have been a curse if we had known what’s going to happen the next day.

EXPLANATION: In this extract, the poet tells us that God hides the future from all the creatures. Man has only
been endowed to know his present state. All that is in future is a secret. It is only known by God. The poet says that
God hides everything from animals what man knows. In the same way, God hides everything from man what angels
know. Pope reckons it a blessing in disguise. He says no one can live on this earth peacefully if they know their
future.

The lamb thy riot dooms to bleed today

Had he thy reason; would he skip and play?
Pleased to the last, he crops the flowery food
And licks the hand just raised to shed his blood.

EXPLANATION: This extract expresses that a lamb which is going to be butchered today is not aware of its death.
If it has enough sense to know that it is going to be killed, it will not jump and play. The lamb remains happy to the
last moment. It eats the grass happily. It is so ignorant of its fate that it licks the very hand that is going to slaughter
it.

O blindness to the future! Kindly given

That each may fill the circle marked by Heaven:
Who sees with equal eye, as God of all
A hero perish or a sparrow fall
Atoms or systems into ruin hurled
And now a bubble burst, and now a world

EXPLANATION: In this extract, Pope considers it the kindness of God that we have been kept blind about our
future. This has been done by God so that each of us man fulfill our predestined tasks. God does not discriminate
between small and big things because He is the God of all. No matter whether a hero is destroyed or a small sparrow
falls; no matter whether tiny atoms are damaged or the huge solar systems are shattered; no matter whether a bubble
explodes or the world is annihilated, God sees everything indiscriminately.

Hope humbly then; with trembling pinion soar;

Wait the great teacher Death; and God adore!
What future bliss, he gives not thee to know,
But gives the Hope to be thy blessing now.

EXPLANATION: Through this extract, the poet expresses his feelings that man should always be humble and
fearful in his hopes and aspirations to rise. The poet calls death, “The Great Teacher”. He suggests man to wait for
it and in the meanwhile, praise God for his blessings and gifts. The poet further says that God has not let man know
what pleasures and happiness the future holds. However, God has endowed man with an intrinsic instrument called
“hope” to get going. Pope says man should be thankful to God for this blessing.

Hope springs eternal in the human breast

Man never Is, but always To be blest
The soul uneasy and confined from home
Rests and expatiates in a life to come

EXPLANATION: In the lines given for explanation, the poet expresses his idea that man lives on hope. It is
something which keeps man moving ahead in life. Pope says that man is never satisfied with his present state. He
always wants to be happier and hopes to be in future. His soul is always uncomfortable and restricted in this world.
It wants to go back to its real home – the heaven, from where it was sent down. It wants to rest in the life after death.
It wants to find space and freedom to move about.

STANZAS FROM AN ELEGY WRITTEN IN A COUNTRY CHURCHYARD

The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power
And all that beauty all that wealth e’er gave
Awaits alike th’ inevitable hour
The paths of glory lead but to the grave

REFERENCE: This stanza has been extracted from the poem, “An Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard”
written by Thomas Gray.

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CONTEXT: This is an elegy written in narrative form. In this elegy, Thomas Gray expresses his grief over the
deaths of those poor rustics who have been buried in the country churchyard. He looks at the graves and imagines
their simplicity, honesty and solitude. He says we should not mock at them.

EXPLANATION: In this stanza, the poet tells us that no one should be proud of their noble birth or high rank in the
society. No one should be conceited with the thought that they are beautiful and wealthy. The poet says whether you
are poor or rich; you have a high rank or low rank; all of us have to come to the final hour. All our paths to success
and splendour take us straight to the grave in the end, so we should not be proud and haughty.

Can storied urn or animated bust

Back to its mansion call the fleeting breath?
Can honour’s voice provoke the silent dust,
Or flattery soothe the dull cold ear of Death?

EXPLANATION: In this stanza, the poet expresses his opinion that the decorated vases and beautiful statues in the
honour of a dead man cannot bring him back to life. The poet further says that uttering words of praise cannot raise
people from the dead. Death cannot be delayed or diverted by using soft–spoken words. Gray means to say that
death is more permanent than mere sleep.

Full many a gem of purest ray serene

The dark unfathom’d caves of ocean bear
Full many a flower is born to blush unseen
And waste its sweetness on the desert air

EXPLANATION: In this stanza, the poet says that many beautiful, pure and precious gems remain hidden in the
depth of the oceans. They never get a chance to be displayed and hence no one knows about their worth. Similarly
many flowers bloom in the desert and die away unseen because there is no one to praise their beauty. In the same
way, many intelligent men are born in this world but as they never get a chance to show their merits, they pass away
without being recognized by any body.

Their lot forbade; nor circumscribed alone

Their growing virtues, but their crimes confined
Forbade to wade through slaughter to a throne
And shut the gates of mercy on mankind.

EXPLANATION: In this stanza, the poet tells us that it was the fate of the poor rustics which not only stopped
them from showing their great virtues but also caused them to keep their crimes restricted. The poet further says that
their fate stopped them to walk through the killings to achieve success. Had they been allowed to do this by their
fate, God would have ceased to be merciful on mankind.

Far from the madding crowd’s ignoble strife

Their sober wishes never learned to stray
Along the cool sequester’d vale of life
They kept the noiseless tenor of their way

EXPLANATION: In this stanza, the poet says that the people who lie buried in this country churchyard are far
away from the turbulent behaviour of the people and their immoral fighting. The poet says that these people were
quite simple and satisfied. Their simple wishes were quite different from the mad, foolish wishes of the common
man who is always running after material gains. They passed through the valley of life in a very silent and graceful
manner and reached their destination, the grave, calmly. The poet believes that the people who lie buried in this
village churchyard lived their lives peacefully and lived quite happily.

THE SOLITARY REAPER

A voice so thrilling ne’er was heard
In spring–time from the Cuckoo–bird
Breaking the silence of the seas
Among the farthest Hebrides.

REFERENCE: These lines have been taken from the poem, “The Solitary Reaper” written by William
Wordsworth, famously known as the poet of nature.
CONTEXT: In this poem, the poet tells us that while passing through a valley, he see a lonely girl reaping a field.
This makes him happy and excited. The girl is singing as she is reaping. The poet is so much joyous that he feels the
sweet voice of the girl is echoing in his ears, although he does not understand the words of her song.
EXPLANATION: In this extract, the poet expresses his excitement. He says that the voice of the singing girl is so
exciting that he has never heard a voice like this before. He says that even the famous songbird, cuckoo, does not
sing as charmingly and as thrillingly as the young village girl does. The songs of cuckoo which are heard from far
away islands of Hebrides cannot match the sweetness of the song of the girl.

Or is it some more humble lay,

Familiar matter of today?
Some natural sorrow, loss or pain,
That has been, and may be again.

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EXPLANATION: In this extract, the poet wonders what the girl sings. He thinks that she sings about some
ordinary matter of daily life. Then he thinks that perhaps it is some natural sorrow, some kind of loss or some
problem that might have happened in the past that she sings about. The poet says that the girl sings because she fears
that the bad thing which happened in the past may happen again.

I listen’d, motionless and still;

And, as I mounted up the hill,
The music in my heart I bore
Long after it was heard no more.

EXPLANATION: In these lines Wordsworth tell us how mesmerized he was as he listened to the village girl
singing. The poet stood without any movement and silently. He climbed up the hill and walked away. However, he
could still draw that sweet song from his memory which he had heard from the lonely reaper. The poet says that he
remembered that song and enjoyed it in imagination even after a long time.

MUSIC WHEN SOFT VOICES DIE

Music, when soft voices die,
Vibrates in the memory;
Odours, when sweet violets sicken,
Live within the sense they quicken.

REFERENCE: This stanza has been taken from the poem, “Music When Soft Voices Die” written by Percy
Bysshe Shelley.

CONTEXT: In this poem, Shelley praises the lasting quality of love. He says a good piece of music remains in
memory long after it is heard. Sweet smell of violets remains in our senses long after the flowers are dead. Petals are
strewed on the beloved’s bed. In the same way, the poet loves and enjoys the memory of his beloved.

EXPLANATION: In this extract, the poet tells us that a good piece of music echoes in the imagination long after
the singing voice is heard. Moreover, he also says that the pleasant smell of violets remain in our senses long after
the flowers are dead. Thus it is maintained that beauty is immortal and beautiful things leave a permanent
impression on our memories.

Rose leaves, when the rose is dead,

Are heaped for the beloved’s bed;
And so thy thoughts, when thou art gone,
Love itself shall slumber on.

EXPLANATION: In this stanza, the poet tells us that when the rose fades away, its leaves are plucked and strewed
on the beloved’s bed to make them feel special. In the same way, the poet says, the beautiful memories of his
beloved will be cherished and enjoyed long after she is dead. In this stanza, the poet actually compares his beloved’s
sweetness to that of a rose and shows that it is everlasting.

SAY NOT THE STRUGGLE NAUGHT AVAILETH

If hopes were dupes, fears may be liars;
It may be, in yon smoke conceal’d
Your comrades chase e’en now the fliers,
And, but for you, possess the field.

REFERENCE: These lines have been extracted from the poem, “Say Not Struggle Naught Availeth” written by
Arthur Hugh Clough.

CONTEXT: In this poem, the poet tells us that we should never lose heart. He tries to prove that every effort has an
effect. By giving some examples, he says that our labour and pain always yields results. Therefore we should
continue our efforts and never feel disappointed.

EXPLANATION: In these lines, the poet says that if we faced with failure or our hopes have not come true, we
should not be disappointed. Our fears may also be unreal and baseless. Sometime, we feel that beyond the smoke, in
the battlefield, our army has been defeated; our companions feel that they have been killed. But in reality, they have
won the battle. So we should always wait for the result and never be disappointed.

LINES FROM ULYSSES

Old age hath yet his honour and his toil,
Death closes all; but something ere the end,
Some work of noble note, may yet be done,
Not unbecoming men that strove with gods.

REFERENCE: These lines have been extracted from the poem, “Ulysses” written by Alfred Lord Tennyson.

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CONTEXT: In this poem, Ulysses, a Greek hero, encourages his companions to move ahead with their efforts. He
inspires them to rise and achieve some great things before their death. He also reminds them about their bravery in
the face of storms and dangers when they were young.

EXPLANATION: In these lines, Ulysses encourages his companion by saying that no doubt old age brings its
difficulties, but it also brings dignity. He encourages his men that they should do something great befitting great
heroes who often fought against gods. Ulysses actually refers to the old battles between gods and men in Greek
mythology.

It may be that the gulfs will wash us down,

It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,
And see the great Achilles, whom we knew

EXPLANATION: In these lines, Ulysses encourages his men to sail on with hope and confidence. He tells them
that no doubt there is the danger that they might get drowned in the sea. But at the same time, it is also possible that
they might reach the Happy Islands and meet their beloved hero, Achilles whom they know well.

One equal temper of heroic hearts,

Made weak by time and fate but strong in will,
To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield.

EXPLANATION: In these lines Ulysses encourages his companions by saying that they all have hearts of the same
quality as their heroes had. He says that their hearts are strong although weakened by old age, they have a strong
will power with which they can achieve their goal. Ulysses advises his companions to be courageous and continue
their struggle.