Cozy Apologia- Rita Dove Flashcards
What does the speaker do while waiting for the storm to hit?
Hunkers down, snug and safe in her study
What does Hurricane Floyd do to as well as disrupting the business of daily life?
It allows the speaker to daydream and the speaker finds herself daydreaming about her partner
What reminds her of her partner and what does she picture him as?
Everything she sees and pictures him as a knight in shining armour, protecting her
What does she think he’s a vivd contrast to?
The “worthless” boys she used to date
What is the speaker embarrassed by and what does she draw comfort from?
She is embarrassed by how content their cosy, ordinary lives have made them and she draws comfort from filling the ‘stolen time’ resulting from the hurricane’s approach with thoughts of Fred
What does the word ‘apologia’ mean and what might a paraphrase of the poems title be?
It means a ‘defence’ and a paraphrase could be ‘A defence of cosiness’
What powerful storm is the poem set against?
Hurricane Floyd which hit the east coast of the USA in 1999
Who is Rita Dove married to and what nationality is she?
She’s married to the writer Fred Viebahn (probably the “Fred” in the poem) and is American
What cliched image does she use in the first stanza?
A knight in shining armour
What does Dove reminisce on in the second stanza?
Her childhood ’crushes’
What does Dove end on in the final stanza?
How happy she is with her everyday, ordinary life/ relationship
What are the possible themes and links to other poems?
Relationships and love- Sonnet 43, She Walks in Beauty, Valentine
What line shows the poem is in first person and could be autobiographical?
“I could pick anything and think of you”
What tone does the ironic cliche “the chain mail glinting” have?
Dreamy tone but is still affectionate and humourous
What does the love poem filled with ordinary details such as “compact disks” and “faxes” show?
It is about the realities of relationships, not “the divine”
