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Unit 2: The Seven Ages of Man by William Shakespeare

heavily stressed upon – eyes, teeth, taste and the first and last syllables of everything. The five Notes
unstressed syllables are placed in front of stressed syllables. At the same time, one can also find
the pause in the middle of the lines as well as at the end of lines. In several lines of the passage,
a sentence ends in the middle of line and has a pause, before a new sentence begins. Several lines
run on to the next with no pause. We find adequate regularity in the patterns of lines and their
meters. Such regularity makes the readers believe that it is poetry with freedom. Moreover, to
understand this dramatic masterpiece, one must read it out loudly. Undeniably, William
Shakespeare was an immensely talented poetic craftsman. If his words are spoken in the right
spirit, everything else appears right.

2.5.4 Figures of Speech

William Shakespeare makes use of several figures of speech with an immense beauty and
charm. Figures of speech help to make beautify the language and make it decorative and figurative.
Besides these functions, figures of speech also convey the poet’s basic theme easily and clearly.
Thus Shakespeare has made generous use of metaphor, simile, alliteration, symbols and rhythm:
(i) Simile: The word simile comes from a Latin word ‘similis’ which means something
similar. A Simile can thus be defined as a figure of speech in which two fundamentally
unlike objects are openly compared, usually in a phrase introduced by like or as. In this
poem, Shakespeare has used simile in three different places. In the second stage of his
poem, Shakespeare compares a school boy not willing to go to school with a snail as it is
the slowest creature. So the school boy moves slowly like the snail because he enjoys
playing and doesn’t want to attend school. In the third stage, Shakespeare compares the
sound of furnace to the sighs taken in pain and grief of the lover. Another simile is used in
the fourth stage, where according to the poet; the man becomes a soldier because he holds
responsibility of taking correct decisions and takes oaths which he fulfils. This man’s
beard is compared with the stains of leopard. His beard is his honour and it seems dearer
to him than even his life.
(ii) Metaphor: It is an implied simile. It can be defined as a figure of speech in which a phrase
or word that ordinarily designates one thing is used to designate another, thus making an
implicit comparison. A metaphor shows direct comparison of two things. In this poem,
the poet directly compares the world with a stage, where all human beings come and play
their respective roles. The poet also compares all men and women with actors who play
their roles.
(iii) Alliteration: It is the repetition of the same sound or letter at the beginning of each or
most of the words in a sentence. The simplest way to use alliteration is to repeat the
starting letter of the words. In The Seven Ages of Man, there is a good example of alliteration
in the old age where the poet emphasises on shuddering of his legs. Despite his weak legs
he doesn’t refrain from fulfilling his duty or going his hobby.
(iv) Rhythm and Symbols: Rhythm is opposite to alliteration. In Rhythm, the same word is
repeated in a line. For instance: sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste and sans everything. In this
instance the repetition of the word ‘sans’ displays rhythm. Symbol is yet another very
interesting figure of speech. The poet uses a symbol to explain some specific thing more
and more, so that the readers do not face any difficulty. William Shakespeare uses word
exits which symbolises death. Entrances on the other hand symbolise birth, when an
individual comes in this world to play his role. A soldier’s beard is a symbol of bravery.

Example: “Even in the cannon’s mouth” is a personification

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