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This poem is a master piece of Shakespeare's keen observation and fine poetry.

He
is regarded the world's greatest dramatist and poet. In this poem Shakespeare has
masterfully described various stages of human life. He compares the world with a
big stage and all human beings with actors playing their allotted roles., sometimes
referred to as the seven ages of man: Infant, schoolboy, lover, soldier, justice,
pantaloon, and second childhood
The man in the poem goes through these stages:
Infancy: In this stage he is a baby. Man first appears on this stage as an infant
crying and vomiting in the nurse's arms
Childhood: It is in this stage that he begins to go to school. He is reluctant to leave
the protected environment of his home as he is still not confident enough to
exercise his own discretion.
The lover: In this stage he is always remorseful due to some reason or other,
especially the loss of love. He tries to express feelings through song or some other
cultural activity. Soon he grows into a young man burning with the passion of love
and singing in praise of his beloved.
The soldier: It is in this age that he thinks less of himself and begins to think more
of others. He is very easily aroused and is hot headed. He is always working towards
making a reputation for himself and gaining recognition, however short-lived it may
be, even at the cost of his own life. Fourth stage is that of an ambitious soldier who
is ready to undertake any adventure in order to gain honour and fame
The justice: In this stage he has acquired wisdom through the many experiences
he has had in life. He has reached a stage where he has gained prosperity and
social status. He becomes very attentive of his looks and begins to enjoy the finer
things of life.
Old age: He begins to lose his charm both ph ysical and mental. He begins to
become the brunt of others' jokes. He loses his firmness and assertiveness, and
shrinks in stature and personality. Sixth stage finds him as an old man with
spectacles on the nose and a big in his hand. His size shrinks and his manly voice
turns into thin childish voice.
Mental dementia and death: He loses his status and he becomes a non-entity. He
becomes depe ndent on others like a child and is in need of constant support
before finally dying. In the next stage he plays his part as a wise and serene justice.
His last stage is very miserable as he loses almost all his scenes and joy. The poem
draws a sad and pessimistic picture of human life. The underlying meaning is that of
temporariness and changing phases of life that pass rather too quickly. The
language is simple and imagery is fascinating.

The poem ' Casabianca' was written by Mrs. Felicia Dorothea Hemans. It starts out
with the well known line, "the boy stood on the burning deck". The story relates to
an extraordinary incident of devotion and heroism witnessed during the Battle of

the Nile.
It was on the evening of July 28 of 1798 that the English naval squadron under Lord
Nelson sailed in. They had caught the French fleet at anchor and unprepared. The
French flagship was the L'Orient and it soon found itself flanked by English ships
attacking from both sides. A fierce battle was soon raging and the flashes of 2000
guns lit up the ships in the gathering darkness. L'Orient was caught by the English
broadsides and was set ablaze.
It was then that the English sailors saw an amazing sight. There on that burning
deck they saw a boy standing alone. He was Cassabianca, the 12 year old son of
one of the ship's officers. There he stood, alone at his post. He was surrounded by
flames and facing the astonished English foe. Soon afterwards the fire reached the
powder magazine deep down in the hold. The boy perished when the whole ship
erupted in a massive explosion.
The sound of L'Orient blowing up was heard at Rosetta 20 miles away. And the glow
of the fireball was seen in Alexandria. It was an enormous explosion of a magnitude
rarely seen back in those times. The English sailors stood in awe at what they had
just witnessed. For some twenty minutes the guns were silent. The English officers
and men were absolutely horrified at the carnage that had taken place. They sent a
ship to rescue the survivors from the water. About 70 French sailors were saved.
The account of that boy who stood on that burning deck was told and retold.
Eventually it passed on into legend. The story remains a classic example of devotion
and faithful service. And the poem continues to serve as a source of inspiration and
wonder for many throughout Christendom. That boy who stayed at his post on that
burning deck has not been forgotten. And the story of his heroic stand is
remembered right up to the present day.
Casabianca" is a very famous poem written by Mrs Hemans, a poem which brings
tears to the eyes of its readers. The poem commemorates an actual incident that
occurred in 1798 during the Battle of the Nile aboard the French ship L'Orient.
Casabianca (Giocante), the 12 year old son of Louis de Casabianca,the admiral of
the French warship, was a faithful and brave boy. He had received orders from his
father not to abandon his post on deck till he returned. However, as the battle raged
on, Casabianca's father was mortally wounded and killed. The ship caught fire and
was burning out of control. The flames were rolling on fast and spreading and
shrouding the ship like fog. Young Casabianca called out to his father many times,
asking him if he could leave his post, but the orders never came as the admiral was
dead. The young faithful boy, determined not to disobey his father, stood on the
burning deck at his post.The twining flames began garlanding the ship like a wreath.
The engulfing fire soon caught the ship's magazine and a massive explosion took
place. The gallant youth, his dead wounded shipmates, all perished in the blast. The
noble ship which once stood with pride with its pennon, mast and helm, was strewn
apart and lay scattered in the wild blue sea.

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