introducing the poem literary focus: extended metaphor the seven ages of man by william shakespeare...

Introducing the Poem

Literary Focus: Extended Metaphor

The Seven Ages of Manby William Shakespeare

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The Seven Ages of Manby William Shakespeare

Is living most like walking through passages? going on a voyage? Or, like playing parts in a play?

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.

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The Seven Ages of ManIntroducing the Poem

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.

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

the opening lineis

The Seven Ages of ManLiterary Focus: Extended Metaphor

of an unwritten book.

And sunset

An extended metaphor is a comparison developed over several lines of writing.

The hours of climbing sun

The Seven Ages of ManLiterary Focus: Extended Metaphor

are

paragraphs seeking their conclusion;

the final page of day.is

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