Cozy Apologia - Context Flashcards
1
Q
Who was this poem written by?
A
Rita Dove
2
Q
When was the poem written?
A
- at the time of hurricane Floyd - 1999
- published in 2004
3
Q
Rita Dove
A
- contemporary African American poet
- former US poet laureate
- married to Fred Viebahn - poem is dedicated to him
- has lived in Virginia since 1989- the East Coast of the USA - real, first-hand experience of the event
4
Q
What does Rita Dove usually write about?
A
- combines the historical with the personal
- this poem is an ode to her husband Fred
5
Q
Hurricane Floyd
A
- 6th largest hurricane
- a very powerful hurricane which struck the east coast of the USA in 1999
- poem set during tumult of Hurricane Floyd - is about it
- people who lived in coastal regions as far as North Carolina were evacuated
- caused $6.5 billion in damages
- 87 people died in total
6
Q
What is the poem about?
A
- as a hurricane approaches, the speaker takes refuse in her study and thinks about her partners
- she compares him to everyday objects as well as a traditional knight in shining armour
- she then reacts on a range of topics, such as modern life, the hurricane and old boyfriends, before returning to her current relationship, she says their love is ordinary but genuine
7
Q
What themes are portrayed in this poem?
A
- love and relationships
- sense of place
