Cozy Apologia - Rita Dove

Question 1

Comfortable relationship - Cozy Apologia

Answer 1

“When has the ordinary ever been news?” - their love is so normal but so deep it feels special - not a highly romanticised relationship you see in the media but still just as worthy

Question 2

Two masculine forces in her life - Cozy Apologia

Answer 2

Fred - “there you’ll be” (certainty) “with chain mail glinting” (knight in shining armour, chivalrous) “standing in silver stirrups” (sibilant sounds draw attention to image of him as a saviour + expresses movement)

Floyd - “oddly male” “cussing up a storm” - angry. enjambment to show the hurricane’s movement. needs to be rescued from it/him

Question 3

Tender and all-consuming love - Cozy Apologia

Answer 3

“nothing else will do”
“I could pick anything and think of you” (“Pen” or “lamp”)
inherent sense of togetherness with them
He’s dear to her, always on her mind

Question 4

Structure - Cozy Apologia

Answer 4

Floyd disrupts the rhyme scheme
rhyme scheme in 2nd stanza is fragmented like the speaker’s memories

Question 5

Nature vs digital - Cozy Apologia

Answer 5

Nature forces these realisations, even though it is aggressive. Taking a step back from the stressful modern age has brought on good realisations about her life and relationships.
“post-post modern age”
“do-it-now-and-take-no-risks event” - hyphenated to emphasised rush. Hypocrises, everyone needs to be fast/efficient but somehow take no risks

Question 6

Fred’s superiority - Cozy Apologia

Answer 6

“teenage crushes on worthless boys”
superficial - “sweet with a dark and hollow centre”
Nobody can compare to Fred for her. Emotional depth.

Question 7

Fred makes her feel safe - Cozy Apologia

Answer 7

“to keep me from melancholy”
“i fill this stolen time with you”
she isnt concerned about this hurricane as Fred can protect her. Her reminiscence has caused her to feel slightly dreary, but since she has Fred to compare to she is fine.

Question 8

Fred protects her - Cozy Apologia

Answer 8

“One eye smiling, the other firm upon the enemy” - caring side but will fight fiercely for Rita’s safety. Brave, courageous

Question 9

Floyd’s influence - Cozy Apologia

Answer 9

caesura after “Event.” to change focus to “Today”
Moves the focus of the poem, showing how Fred is there for every aspect of her life

Question 10

Destructive aspects of nature - Cozy Apologia

Answer 10

“Big Bad Floyd” doesn’t do a lot of physical damage - more scary
poses risk - causes her to reflect on her past
“cussing up a storm” - unnecessary

Question 11

Context - Cozy Apologia

Answer 11

• married to Fred Viebhan - affectionate tribute
• Set in 1999 when Hurricane Floyd hit USA
• Americanisms