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What is a five to six sentence summary of Shakespeare's poem "Under the Greenwood Tree"?
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Shakespeare's poem "Under the Greenwood Tree" from As You Like It explores the contrasting views of pastoral life. Amiens sings of the joys of living in nature, free from ambition and enemies, inviting others to join him. However, Jaques counters with a cynical view, suggesting those who abandon wealth for pastoral life are fools. The poem reflects the play's theme of fantasy versus reality, where characters play roles even in a seemingly idyllic setting.
The song is split into three sections interspersed between dialogue in Act II, scene 5 of As You Like It.
In the first section, Amiens, a courtier, sings:
Under the greenwood tree
Who loves to lie with me
And turn his merry note
Unto the sweet bird’s throat,
Come hither, come hither, come hither.
Here shall he see
No enemy
But winter and rough weather.
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Who doth ambition shun
And loves to live i' th' sun,
Seeking the food he eats
And pleased with what he gets,
Come hither, come hither, come hither.
Here shall he see
No enemy
But winter and rough weather.
In this section, the group celebrates the joys of the pastoral life: in the forest, people do not pursue ambition, but instead appreciate life in nature and are satisfied with what food they can get. Unlike in the court, there are no enemies here.
The third section is composed by the sour Jaques, a lord who doesn't like the pastoral world, and goes as follows:
If it do come to pass
That any man turn ass,
Leaving his wealth and ease
A stubborn will to please,
Ducdame, ducdame, ducdame.
Here shall he see
Gross fools as he,
An if he will come to me.