Sir John Suckling Essays - Aglaura, Sonnet 1, Sonnet, The Goblins

Sir John Suckling Sir John Suckling was an English, Cavalier poet who was born in Twickenham, Middlesex, on February 10, 1609. His mother died in 1613, when he was four years of age. His father, descendant of a prominent Norfolk family, was appointed Comptroller of James I's household in 1622. Suckling matriculated at Trinity College, Cambridge in 1623, but left without taking a degree in 1626. Suckling inherited extensive estates after his father's death in 1627. At the age of eighteen, he pursued a military and ambassadorial career in the Low Countries, and was knighted as a result in 1630. He returned to the English court in 1632 where through his wealth and charm he was known as an "elegant and popular gallant and gamester, credited with having invented the game of cribbage." (MacLean 252) In 1637 Suckling wrote the prose work Account of Religion by Reason. His play, Aglaura, was published in 1638 and performed twice for Charles I. The play had two different endings, one tragic and one happy. Critics did not favor it, but it introduced some wonderful lyrics, such as "Why so pale and wan, fond lover?" (Crofts 51) That same year, Suckling's comedy The Goblins was published. "It was much influenced by Shakespeare's The Tempest and it is generally thought to be Suckling's best." (Andromeda Interactive Ltd.) In 1639, Suckling recruited and equipped cavalry to help the King in Scotland. "He was ridiculed by London wits for the troops' elaborate uniforms (scarlet coats and plumed hats) but was well-esteemed by the King." (Andromeda Interactive Ltd.) In 1640, Suckling sat in Parliament for Bramber and took part in an unsuccessful action against the Scots. Suckling was involved in a royalist plan in 1641 to make use of the army on behalf of Charles I. When Parliament ordered him to account for the movements he made, Suckling fled through Dieppe to Paris. A few months later, he is said to have committed suicide by taking poison. Most of Suckling's work first appeared in Fragmenta Aurea of 1646. As Thomas Crofts writes: "Suckling's verse, of course, smacks of the court: it is witty, decorous, sometimes naughty; all requisites for the courtier poet. But these qualities alone would not have sufficed to "perpetuate his memory." It should be remembered that the court swarmed with now-forgotten versifiers. Suckling has his own voice, a deft conversational ease mixed at times with a certain hauteur or swagger, which qualities were not incompatible with his high birth and military occupation.... Though his oeuvre is comparatively small, Suckling is an exemplary lyric poet, as well as one of the most vivid personalities of his age." (Crofts 51) As was mentioned in many of the biographies that were written about him, Suckling was an exemplary writer and poet. The two pieces of his work that I want to focus on in this paper are Sonnet I and Sonnet II. My purpose is to analyze the piece and explain how it relates to events in his life, or just how it relates to his personality and the type of person that he is. Sonnet I is a piece that focuses on Suckling himself, like most of his work does. It is about Suckling and the fact that he is no longer drawn to a certain woman the way he used to be drawn to her. There was a time, though, where he was infatuated with her. In this piece, he ponders the stages of life, mainly the sexual stages of human life. Sonnet I 1 " Dost see how unregarded now 2 That piece of beauty passes? 3 There was a time when I did vow 4 To that alone; 5 But mark the fate of faces; 6 The red and white works now no more on me, 7 Than if it could not charm, or I not see. 8 And yet the face continues good, 9 And I still have desires, 10 Am still the selfsame flesh and blood, 11 As apt to melt, 12 And suffer from those fires; 13 Oh, some kind of power unriddle where it lies, 14 Whether my heart be faulty, or her eyes. 15 She every day her man does kill, 16 And I as often die; 17 Neither her power, then, nor my will 18 Can question'd be, 19 What is the mystery? 20 Sure beauty's empires, like to greater states, 21 Have certain periods set, and hidden fates." (Crofts 52-53) Lines 1 and 2 of the piece pose a question to someone. It

Your Guide to a Successful Second Interview

Your Guide to a Successful Second Interview You’ve survived your first interview. Congratulations! And the hiring manager has called you back in for a second round. Congrats again! You must have done something right, right? But that doesn’t mean you don’t have to prepare as arduously for your second interview as you did for your first. First, understand this is not a guarantee you’ll get the job. If anything, the competition has narrowed and become more fierce. You can’t rest on your laurels yet. You have to fight! You’ll probably be sitting down with someone higher up on the food chain- sometimes a lot higher up- as well, so your preparation and your game have to be top notch. There’s a lot more pressure. The stakes are higher. But you have another, more targeted chance to prove you are the right candidate for the job.Step 1: StrategizeMake sure you know exactly what the job is- what it entails, who you’d be reporting to, etc. Then make sure you know who exactly will be interviewing you- and read up as much as you can on who they are. You’ll want to impress your interviewer(s) with your expansive knowledge of the industry/company/role, but not scare them away. Strike a good balance.Be sure to prepare a brand new list of questions you should be prepared to ask when that section of the interview comes up. Tailor your research to this job in particular, and reach out to your contacts to see if you can chat with anyone who works or has worked in that office. It’s not a bad time to figure out what really matters to you in a job- and make doubly sure you want this one, as you move closer to potentially getting it.Step 2: PlanThere are three types of interviews: one-on-one interviews with a department head, director, or even owner; panel interviews with a group of higher-ups (think firing squad); and group interviews where you’re being interviewed alongside your competition. Each requires a slightly different strategy, so be sure to k now going in which scenario to prepare for. Mock interviewing with friends or current contacts is always a good idea to make sure you’re on your game.Step 3: Ask QuestionsWhether you’re talking to a supervisor, an HR manager, or a potential future coworker, you’ll absolutely need some questions to ask. Prepare a ton and then choose the one that makes the most sense when you’re on the ground. Make a list of questions for each type of person- that way you won’t run into an HR rep and only have questions prepared for your would-be immediate supervisor. When in doubt, ask about a typical day in the office, the work culture, or whether there is potential for professional growth.Your Top 5 Tips for a Second InterviewNo matter which sort of interview you’re facing, or with whom, here are five great ideas to keep you at the top of the heap.1. Be respectfulEven if you think you should be speaking with someone higher up on the food chain, treat whomev er interviews you with utmost respect. Make eye contact, be pleasant, shake hands firmly and warmly. And get a business card. You’ll thank yourself come thank you note time!2. Assess and analyzeRemember, a second interview is also a chance for them to start selling you on the job. Keep an eye out for red flags. Try to get a sense of your potential future coworkers. Ask yourself how you would feel in this environment, with this team. Do you respect the people who would be your supervisors?3. PrepareAs we said before, you have to prepare even more for a second interview than a first. You’ll need more information about the nitty-gritty details of the job, as specifics are much more likely to come up. Do your homework. Show how much you know about the job and about the company and industry.4. BreatheIt’s easy to get so stressed that you hold your breath. Don’t! Figure out what you’re going to say going in, and try to get through it. Take a moment to in ternalize questions before answering so you really make use of your preparation.5. Be honestThis should go without saying, but it bears repeating: no long-term good will come of you telling your interviewer what they want to hear. Be honest about your skills and your needs and you won’t end up in a job you don’t want or can’t handle.