NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Literature Reader Chapter 10

NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Literature Reader Chapter 10 The Seven Ages help students understand the poem written by William Shakespeare. This chapter is part of the CBSE Class 9 English syllabus. The poem talks about the seven stages in a man's life, from childhood to old age. These solutions explain the poem in easy words and also give answers to the textbook questions. It helps students learn better and do well in their exams.

NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Literature Reader Chapter 10 The Seven Ages Overview

Chapter 10 The Seven Ages is a poem written by William Shakespeare. It is part of the Class 9 English Literature Reader in the CBSE syllabus. In this poem, Shakespeare compares the world to a stage and people to actors. He explains that every person plays seven different roles in life – from being a baby to growing old.

The NCERT Solutions for this chapter help students understand each stage clearly. The answers explain the meaning of the poem, important lines, and literary devices like metaphors and similes. These solutions are written in simple language to help students understand the poem better and prepare well for exams.

NCERT Solutions for Class 9th Ch 10 The Seven Ages Literature Reader Question Answer 

Below are the detailed answers to all the textbook questions from the poem The Seven Ages by William Shakespeare. These solutions will help students understand the poem’s message, the seven stages of life, and the use of poetic devices more clearly, helping them prepare well for their exams.

Question 1. What according to you are the stages of a person’s life? What characteristics would you associate with each stage? (e.gchildhood : innocence, joy)
Answer:
Apart from the seven stages described by Shakespeare, here are three more common stages of life and their characteristics:

According to Shakespeare, a man's life is divided into seven stages. Each stage shows how a person's role and behavior change as they grow older. Here are the seven stages and their main characteristics:

Question 2. Listen to this extract from Shakespeare’s play As you like it, As you listen, read the poem aloud, you can do this more than once.
Answer:
Reading the poem aloud helps us understand the rhythm, emotions, and meaning of the lines better. When we hear or speak the words, we can feel the different moods in each stage of life that Shakespeare describes. It also helps in improving our pronunciation and fluency in English. Reading it more than once makes it easier to remember and understand the poem deeply.

Question 3. On the basis of your understanding of the poem, answer the following questions by ticking the correct choice:
(a) All the world’s 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 actors.
(iv) the life of man.

Answer:
(iv) the life of man.

(b) 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

(c) 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

Question 4. Having read this extract, identify the stages of a person’s life as Shakespeare has done. Write down these gtages in your notebook, and sum up the characteristics of each stage in two or three words. e.g.

Answer:

Seven Stages of Life – As Described by Shakespeare

Question 5. Work individually, and rank the seven stages in order of attractiveness. If you think being a schoolboy is most attractive, you could rank it number 1. Then, work in groups of four and compare your individual rankings.
Answer:

Question 6. Explain the meaning of the following:
(a) …all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances…
(b) And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace…
(c) a soldier,
…Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon’s mouth.
Answer:
(a) Shakespeare says that life is like a play and we are all like actors on a stage. We come into the world (make our entrance), play our roles, and then leave (make our exit) when our time is over. Just like in a play, everyone has a part to play in life.

(b) This line describes a young man in love. He is full of emotions and often sighs deeply, just like a furnace gives off heat. It shows how passionate and emotional people can be when they are in love.

(c) Here, Shakespeare talks about a brave soldier who wants fame and honour, even if it is short-lived like a bubble. He is so eager for reputation that he is ready to face danger and death, even to the point of going into a cannon’s mouth. It shows his courage and risk-taking nature.

Question 7. You already know the two literary devices generally used by writers for comparison, Le. metaphor and simile. e.g.
(a) He was a lion in the battle, (metaphor)
(b) He fought like a lion, (simile)
In (a) the writer talks of the soldier in terms of a lion. The comparison is implied. In (b) the writer compares the soldier to a lion with the use of the word like, (as may also be used for such comparisons.)
Read the poem again and note down the metaphors and similes. Copy and complete the following chart:

Answer:
The most interesting comparison is "all the world’s a stage". It’s a powerful metaphor that makes us think about life like a drama, where everyone plays a role. Another good one is "bubble reputation" — it shows how fame doesn’t last long and can disappear quickly, just like a bubble. The simile "sighing like a furnace" is also quite expressive. It shows how deeply a lover feels emotions, almost like a furnace burning with heat.

Question 8. 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:

Life can be compared to the seasons of nature. Spring is like childhood, full of new beginnings, growth, and joy. Summer represents youth, when there is energy, passion, and strength. Autumn is like middle age, a time of maturity, wisdom, and reflection. Finally, winter stands for old age, when things slow down and life becomes calm and quiet. Just as seasons change, human life also moves from one stage to another. Each season, like each stage of life, has its own beauty and importance.

Class 9 English Literature Reader Chapter 10 PDF Download

Students can download the PDF from the link below to access the NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Literature Reader Chapter 10  The Seven Ages.

This PDF contains easy-to-understand answers that explain each stage of life described in the poem. It helps students understand the meaning, theme, and literary devices used by Shakespeare. The solutions are perfect for revision, exam preparation, and class discussions. 

Benefits of Using NCERT Solutions for Chapter 10  The Seven Ages

• These solutions clearly explain all seven stages of human life with examples, making the meaning easy to understand.

• Written in simple, student-friendly English, they help learners grasp the poem's ideas and emotions.

• Based on the latest CBSE Class 9 English syllabus, making it suitable for school tests and exams.

• Helps students learn how to write structured answers for both short and long questions.

• Great for quick revision, as key points and meanings are clearly summarized.

• Encourages students to explore themes like life, aging, and human nature through Shakespeare’s view.

• Includes textbook questions and answers, improving confidence and preparation.

• Perfect for self-study, especially for students who want to understand the poem deeply without extra help.