Seven+Ages+of+Man

[|**The Seven Ages of Man**] Shakespeare, William (1564-1616) As You Like It, II.vii.139-166 (Jaques) All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players, They have their exits and entrances, 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 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 towards childish treble, pipes And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all, Is second childishness and mere oblivion, >> 1.   Count syllables in each line >> 2.   Break line into groups of 2 syllables >> 3.   Look at the twos (find a key to unlock) >> 4.   Compare other twos >> 5.   Count the twos >> 6.   Determine/identify the dominant meter in this poem. >> 7.   Consider how meter contributes to the poem. >> >> Practice finding the meter of the bolded lines >> (follow suggestions to the right) >> 1.   ** And one man in his time plays many parts, ** >> >> 2.   ** That ends this strange eventful history, ** >> >> 3.   ** Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything. **
 * And one man in his time plays many parts,**
 * That ends this strange eventful history,**
 * Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.**
 * Suggested Activities: **
 * Read the Poem
 * Understanding the Poem—Comprehension Questions:
 * What does “players” mean in line 2?
 * Paraphrase line 3 (put it in your own words)
 * Paraphrase line 4 (put it in your own words)
 * What are the seven ages of man? List each stage.
 * Paraphrase last three lines (put in your own words)
 * Read the poem again. Summarize the meaning of the entire poem.
 * Skill Focus: practicing finding meter in poetry
 * Review Iambic and Trochaic definitions
 * Look at Example/Model Lines of each type in notes
 * Finding Meter Suggestions:
 * Relate the ideas of this poem to “The Masque of the Red Death”

Other Information: Each room represents a stage in human life. The colors begin bright and happy representing innocence and vitality and progressively become more somber to represent the slowing of body performance and function and the aging process. It is similar to Shakespeare's poem "The Seven Ages of Man" where he describes seven typical roles—infant, schoolboy, lover (adolescent), soldier (young man), justice (middle age), old man, and finally the senile elder near death--for human life. Colors all have meaning...check the following website to see how blues, greens, yellows, etc. might affect a person's mood and then compare it to the number in sequence to the seven stages of a man's life--does it make sense to you why the room is that color scheme? How does it fit? http://www.biopulse.org/color.html http://www.enotes.com/masque-red/q-and-a/why-do-you-think-prospero-decorated-rooms-way-he-13787

Below is a blurb about the other possibility:

There are seven chambers in the abbey. Each room is decorated a different color and draped with lush fabrics and plush furniture. Some critics believe each room is meant to represent a decade from his life. The colors he uses for each room therefore would indicate his mental and physical health and attitude. The seventh room is black with red windows and a large clock. This seems to symbolize Prospero's death. Red is symbolic of blood and black for death. This room is in the west end of the house, as well, and the sun sets in the west. The clock could be symbolic of his lifespan. When the clock had stopped, everyone had died.
 * Sources:**http://www.enotes.com/masque-red/style