Introduction
Teacher asks the following questions to the class
Have the students write about a memorable moment (such as moving, transitioning into high school, going on a first date, etc.) in their life. How old were they? What were their actions and reactions to this moment? How and why did this moment affect/change your life? The teacher could provide an example to model what the students are to do.
Now, invite a few students to share what they wrote. Ask the class to respond to the following question: If you were to live for seventy years, what kinds of stages (moments of transition, moments of change) would you encounter in your lifetime? How many stages could you have? During the discussion, have a scribe write down the responses on the board.
Process
Teacher now display or hand out copies of the soliloquy divided into seven parts, and divide the class into seven groups (between three and five students per group). Explain that Shakespeare discussed seven stages that men and women encounter in their lifetimes. Not yet knowing how Shakespeare divided up the seven ages of man, have each group only read the passage that they were given and decide upon its meaning/ stage in life. Out of the seven stages described by Shakespeare, what number is their stage? How do they justify their decision?
Then teacher plays the video
About the Poet:
William Shakespeare is regarded as the greatest writer in the world of English literature. He was an English poet, a dramatist and an actor. Shakespeare was born and brought up in Stratford-upon-Avon and is often regarded as the ‘Bard of Avon.’ He is considered as the national poet in England. His works consist of about 38 plays, 154 sonnets, some long narrative poems and other verses. There is considerable controversy regarding his physical attributes, sexuality, religious beliefs etc. Some of his famous dramatic tragedies include Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello and King Lear. Shakespeare died on 23rd of April, 1616 at the age of 52, survived by his wife and two daughters.
Summary and Analysis of The Seven Ages of Man
Shakespeare considers the world a stage and men and women actors on the stage of life. They play seven roles according to their age. The first stage, as described by the poet, is the infant who is being carried by a nurse. The infant cries and vomits all the time. Later, that infant grows into a schoolboy, not willing to attend school which is the fourth stage of a man’s life. The third stage is that of a lover who is lost in his thoughts of love. The lover writes poetry to his lady’s beauty. In the fourth stage, as he grows older, he joins the army and becomes a soldier. He is physically fit and is aggressive, short-tempered and ambitious in nature.
The fifth stage shows that with maturity and wisdom, the family man becomes a judge. He is a fair, healthy man full of wisdom. His look is authoritative and he advises people. The sixth stage is about the man who has grown old and is seen in a pantaloon and spectacles. His authoritative voice has grown weak and his voice trembles as he talks. The last stage is about the senile man who loses his teeth, his vision and his hearing. After this, the man part in the play ends and he exits from the stages of his life forever.
After explaining the poem teacher conducts the activity.
It is now time to show some creativity and interpretation of the text. Have each group create a “sculpture” or frozen scene from the members of their group to represent the any stage of man that is being discussed in the poem. Everyone will present their sculpture/scene for the class, and those in the audience will decide what stage of man is being represented. What words did they have to look up? What did they discover?