Suckling

Suckling may not be Shakespeare, but he is fun. The persona he creates is the classic "player" in the tradition of Donne and Jonson.

Pay attention to the tone of the poems. Think about the speaker's attitude and moral view.

Suckling uses sarcasm and mock hyperbole to establish tone.

Herrick

Watch for the oxymorons and playful contradictions in "Delight in Disorder." Even the title is oxymoronic.

This guy defines Mannerism.

"To the Virgins" is more serious in tone than the others, but it is in the carpe diem traiditon of Jonson and "The Flea."

Lovelace

If you can explain the playful paradoxes in Lovelace, you will understand the baroque and the Cavaliers.

back to 17th century poetry