The Seven Ages of Man by William Shakespeare

1. The Seven Ages of Manby William Shakespeare Feature Menu Introducing the Poem Literary Focus: Extended Metaphor

2. The Seven Ages of Manby William Shakespeare

3. The Seven Ages of ManIntroducing the Poem Is living most like walking through passages? going on a voyage? Or, like playing parts in a play?

4. The Seven Ages of ManIntroducing the Poem In these lines from Shakespeare’s comedy As You Like It, Shakespeare compares the world to a stage, people to actors, and their lives to roles in a play. In the play, Jaques speaks these lines as a monologue—a long speech delivered by a single character. Here the lines are presented as a poem. [End of Section]

5. The Seven Ages of ManLiterary Focus: Extended Metaphor A metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things, in which one thing becomes another thing without the use of the word like, as, than, or resembles. The dawn of day is the opening line of an unwritten book.

6. The Seven Ages of ManLiterary Focus: Extended Metaphor An extendedmetaphor is a comparison developed over several lines of writing. The hours of climbing sun are paragraphs seeking their conclusion; And sunset is the final page of day. [End of Section]