Deer (a.k.a. Venison)
We can hardly turn a page in As You Like It without reading about how someone killed or injured a deer while hunting for a tasty snack. This is understandable given that there aren't any taco truc...
Deer Horns and Cuckolds
In Shakespeare's day, horns and antlers were a common symbol of a "cuckolded" husband, a.k.a. a man whose wife has cheated on him. So, whenever horns come up in a play, we know there's a 99% chanc...
Deer Hunting and Social Injustice
We know what you're probably thinking. There's a lot of deer talk in As You Like It and it's not always about sex. For example, when Jaques goes on and on about a wounded deer he watched cryi...
Wrestling
After Orlando rumbles with Charles during the big wrestling scene in Act 1, Scene 2, the characters just can't resist the urge to turn the wrestling match into a metaphor for romance. Rosalind gus...
Arden
We had a feeling you'd come sniffing around here for the 411 on the Forest of Arden. We talk about it in "Setting," which is where you should head now if you want the details.
All the World's a Stage, or The Seven Ages of Man
Jaques's big "all the world's a stage" speech (a.k.a. "the seven ages of man" speech) is one of the most famous passages in Western literature. If you haven't already read it, check it out below.A...
All the World's a Stage...
When Jaques says "all the world's a stage," he draws our attention to the theatricality of day-to-day living and he also reduces human life to an acting role, which is a pretty cynical thing to do....
The Seven Ages of Man...
Jaques also breaks down a human life into seven stages: Puking infantWhining school boyYoung, sighing loverSoldierThe "justice" or upstanding leaderSilly old man who thinks he's still young ("panta...
Orlando's Cheesy Love Poetry
Of course you want to know all about the poetry with which Orlando litters the forest. Check out our character page on Orlando for all the juicy details...
She-Snakes and She-Lions
In Act 4, Scene 3, Orlando spots a "green and gilded" she-snake wrapped around his treacherous brother Oliver's neck and ready to strike. Orlando's approach frightens the snake away, but then a hu...
Roses
When Celia tries to cheer up her beloved cousin Rosalind (who has just been booted out of court), she calls her "my sweet Rose,/ My dear Rose" (1.2.21-22). In case you hadn't noticed, it's pretty...