Crabbed Age and Youth

                                -William Shakespeare

Crabbed age and youth cannot live together:

Youth is full of pleasance, age is full of care;

Youth like summer morn, age like winter weather;

Youth like summer brave, age like winter bare.

Youth is full of sport, age's breath is short;

Youth is nimble, age is lame;

Youth is hot and bold, age is weak and cold;

Youth is wild, and age is tame.

Age, I do abhor thee; youth, I do adore thee;

O, my love, my love is young!

Age, I do defy thee: O, sweet shepherd, hie thee,

For methinks thou stay'st too long.

eva©K¨ I ‡hŠeb KL‡bv GKm‡½ evm Ki‡Z cv‡i bv| 

‡hŠeb Avb‡›` fiv, Avi eva©K¨ D‡Ø‡M| 

‡hŠeb M«x‡®§i mKv‡ji g‡Zv c«vYešÍ, 

Avi eva©K¨ kx‡Zi w`‡bi g‡Zv wbR©xe| 

‡hŠeb mvnmx I ¯ú›`bkxj, 

Avi eva©K¨ `ye©j I ¯’wei| 

‡hŠeb D”Q¡j I DËß, 

eva©K¨ kxZj I kvšÍ| 

eva©K¨, ‡Zvgv‡K Avwg N…Yv Kwi; 

‡hŠeb, ‡Zvgv‡K Avwg fv‡jvevwm! 

In, Avgvi ‡c«g, Avgvi ‡c«g GLbI ZiæY! 

eva©K¨, ‡Zvgv‡K Avwg Zy”Q Kwi; 

In, wgwó ‡glcvjK, G‡mv! 

KviY g‡b nq, Zywg A‡bK ‡`wi KiQ| 

A) Questions

1.   What is the main idea of the poem?

- The poem contrasts youth and old age, highlighting the vibrancy of youth and the hardships of old age.

2.   How does the poet describe youth?

-Youth is described as full of pleasure, boldness, energy, and liveliness, like a summer morning.

3.   How is old age depicted in the poem?

-Old age is depicted as full of care, weakness, and coldness, like the harshness of winter.

4.   What metaphor does the poet use for youth?

-The poet compares youth to a summer morning, bright and cheerful.

5.   What metaphor does the poet use for old age?

-The poet compares old age to winter weather, cold and barren.

6.   What is the poet's attitude towards youth and age?

-The poet adores youth and abhors old age.

7.   What qualities of youth are contrasted with old age?

-Youth is nimble, wild, and bold, whereas old age is lame, tame, and cold.

8.   What does the poet say about his love?

-The poet says that his love is young and vibrant, aligning with the beauty of youth.

9.   Why does the poet defy old age?

-The poet defies old age because it symbolizes decay and contrasts with the joyful vitality of youth.

10.           What literary devices are prominent in the poem?

-The poem uses metaphors, personification, and contrast to emphasize the differences between youth and age.

 B) Imagery

The poem is filled with rich, vivid imagery. Here are three Imagery along with its explanations:

1.  "Youth like summer morn, age like winter weather" - This imagery contrasts

      the freshness and vitality of youth with the cold and harshness of old age.

2.  "Youth is nimble, age is lame" - This creates a visual image of the agility and

     energy of youth compared to the slow and impaired movement of age.

3.  "The smiles that win, the tints that glow" - This evokes the bright and charming

     expressions of youth, contrasting them with the faded demeanor of old age.

Similes

Here are two Similes along with its explanations:

1.  "Youth like summer morn, age like winter weather;" -Youth is compared to a

summer morning, symbolizing vitality and joy, while age is likened to winter weather, representing coldness and discomfort.

2.  "Youth like summer brave, age like winter bare;"- Youth is likened to the

bravery of summer, full of vibrance and beauty, while age is compared to the barrenness of winter, signifying desolation and frailty.

Metaphor

Here are three Metaphors along with its explanations:

1.    "Youth like summer morn, age like winter weather"-Youth is compared to a

bright and pleasant summer morning, while age is likened to the harsh and cold weather of winter.

2.   "Youth is full of sport, age's breath is short"- Youth is described as lively and

energetic, symbolizing playful activity, whereas age is portrayed as frail with short breath, indicating weakness.

3. "Youth is nimble, age is lame"- Youth is depicted as quick and agile, while age

is metaphorically referred to as lame, emphasizing physical decline.

C) Express my feelings

The poem beautifully contrasts youth and old age. Youth is vibrant, full of energy, and adventurous, while age is frail, burdened, and restrained. It resonates with the longing to embrace the liveliness of youth and the reluctance to face the limitations of old age. The poet’s admiration for the joys of youth inspires a deep appreciation for life’s fleeting, energetic moments.