Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Region VII, Central Visayas
Division of Bohol

Grade 9-ENGLISH
First Quarter

ACTIVITY SHEET NO. 2

Activity Title : Making Inferences

Learning Competency: Infer thoughts, feelings and intentions in the material
viewed. (EN9VC-Ia-3.8)
Learning Target : Make inferences from the poem “The Seven Ages of Man”
Reference : A Journey through Anglo-American Literature, pp. 9-10

Concept Notes:

Making an inference involves using what you know to make a guess about what
you don’t know or reading between the lines. Readers who make inferences use the
clues in the text along with their own experiences to help them figure out what is not
directly said, making the text personal and memorable.
There are five steps to make an inference:
1. Read the text.
2. Read and understand the question.
3. List the relevant details.
4. Hunt for clues.
5. Practice.

Task 1: Read the poem “The Seven Ages of Man” by William Shakespeare and make
your inference on what happens to man when he gets old.

The Seven Ages of Man

(By William Shakespeare)

All the world’s a stage,

And all the men and women are merely players;
They have their exits and entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts
5 His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms;
And then the whining school boy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
10 Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
 Made to his mistress’ eyebrow. Then a soldier
Full of strange oaths, and bearded like a pard,
Jealous in honor, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation

15 Even in the cannon’s mouth. And then the justice,

In fair round belly with good caper lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of white saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
20 Into the lean and ,slippered pantaloons,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;
His youthful hose well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
25 And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

Task 2: Answer the following questions:

1. What comprises the seven ages of man or stages in life of man based from
the poem?
2. What is compared to the stage in the first two lines? How are the two related?
3. Is the message of the poem worthwhile?
4. Do you think the persona of the poem has a great understanding of the
universal experience of man performing a role in each stage?
5. What would be the most effective way of performing your role/s in life?
6. Do you agree with the persona’s description of old age? Why?
7. How does the poem make you feel about the importance of recognizing and
performing a role in life effectively?
8. Is there a part of the poem which reminds you of someone in real life?
9. Do you agree with the persona’s description of the last age of man in the last two lines
of the poem? Why?
10. Do you agree when he says that the last stage is “second childhood without
everything?” Prove your point.

Task 3. Write 15-20 sentences about this question.

How do you see YOURSELF in 5 years? In 10 years? In 20 years?