NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Literature Reader Chapter 10

Unit-10 : Solutions of Questions on Page Number : 81

Q1 : All the world is a stage is an extended metaphor for-
(i)The life shown in well known plays
(ii) Seeing the well known plays
(iii) Life of well known plays
(iv) Life of man that comes to an end
Answer :
(iv) Life of man that comes to an end

Q2 : All ‘have their exits and their entrances’ Exits and entrances refer to __________.
(i) Birth and death
(ii) Beginning and end of play
(iii) Coming and going of actors
(iv) The end of the Shakespearean era
Answer :
(i) Birth and death

Q3 : The seven roles that a man plays correspond to his___________.
(i) chronological age in life
(ii) desires
(iii) mental age in life
(iv) idea of a perfect life
Answer :
(i) chronological age in life

Q4 :
__________all the men and women merely players
They have their exits and their entrances __________.
Answer :
The quoted lines are from the poem “The Seven Ages” by William Shakespeare. The poet has compared the world to a stage and men and women with actors. Just as actors in a play enter the stage to perform their respective roles, men and women take birth in this world and then, having performed their roles through various stages, meet death. The quoted lines employ extended metaphor to bring home the idea of transitoriness of human life.

Q5 : And then the lover
Sighing like furnace__________.
Answer :
The quoted lines occur in the poem “The Seven Ages” by William Shakespeare. With the help of a simile, the poet explains that on attaining adolescence, men fall in love. The passion of love becomes active like heat generated in a furnace. However, this surging passion also declines after crossing a certain point of time. In this line, the poet hints at momentary nature of human affairs.

Q6 : Read the poem again and note down the metaphors and similes. Copy and complete the following chart.

Which comparison(s) do you find most interesting? Why?
Answer :

Q7 : In this poem, life is compared with a play. Just as in a play, a man acts many parts,
so also in life, a man plays many roles. Can you think of some other comparison
for life? (For example, life could be compared with the seasons in nature, the
days of the week, the lessons in a school day). Select one of these comparisons
(or choose one of your own), and write about the similarities that life has with it.
(80-100 words)
Answer :
A model answer has been provided for students’ reference.
It is strongly recommended that students prepare the answer on their own.
Human life can be compared with seasons in nature. Human life is divided into different phases like different seasons in nature. Each phase in human life has unique characteristics. Similarly every season has characteristics of its own. From birth to death human beings pass through various phases. These phases are temporary in nature. Seasons are also temporary. One season succeeds another. From birth to death human beings experience the emotions of pain and joy like wise there are various moods of nature. Summer is hot, winter is cold. Rainy season is full of rain. Spring and autumn have their own characteristics. We can compare our childhood with the spring season as during this phase everything has a humble beginning. Youth can be compared with the summer season as youth is full of activity. Rainy season has similarity with the gloom and pain we experience in our life. We can compare the autumn season with our middle age when we become mature and settled,looking after offsprings and enjoying the fruits of our actions performed during the youth as during this season various fruits start ripening. Winter season has similarity with old age in human life. During winter the environment becomes cold and inactive just as in old age we become in active. Thus, the seasons in nature have striking similarity with the various phases in human life.