cozy apologia Flashcards
(40 cards)
who wrote ‘Cozy apologia’?
Rita Dove
what are the main themes of the poem?
- love and relationships
- sense of place
what are the possible links?
- Sonnet 43 (love)
- she walks in beauty (love)
- Valentine (love)
what is the form of the poem?
free verse which makes it sound conversational, the number of syllables in each line varies, creating the sense that it reflects the speaker’s train of thought
what is the rhyme scheme like?
starts with regular rhyming couplets so reader might expect that this is a traditional love poem, but rhyme scheme is disrupted in the middle of the second stanza, possibly reflecting destruction brought by hurricane. then a new ABAB rhyme scheme is established in the last four lines
what is the poem about?
- speaker takes refuge in her study during a hurricane (hurriane Floyd)
- thinks about her partner (Fred)
- compares him to various things
- thinks about modern life, the hurricane, and past boyfriends
- then returns to her current partner, and says their love is ordinary but genuine
what is the structure of the poem?
3 10-line stanzas
what is each stanza about?
first: compares fred to various things
second: considers modern life, the hurricane, and her past ‘crushes’
third: ends with how happy she is with her ordinary life/relationship
what is the first half of the first stanza?
I could pick anything and think of you - / This lamp, the wind-still rain, the glossy blue / my pen exudes, drying matte, upon the page. / I could choose any hero, any cause or age / And, sure as shooting arrows to the heart,
why is the title ‘cozy apologia’?
to defend her relationship as some might view it as boring or uneventful, but to her, their relationship is special and is worth protecting
what does the dedication of ‘-for fred’ do?
the dedication to her husband makes the poem personal from the start
what does the first person narrative in the poem do?
it suggests that the poem is autobiographical
what are the annotations of ‘I could pick anything and think of you’?
suggests everything in her life has memories of being with her husband
what are the annotations of ‘the lamp, the wind-still rain’?
- she compares him to ordinary domestic images, which contrasts with the imagery found in traditional love poetry
- the lamp could suggest he is the hope and happiness in her life
what are the annotations of the ‘glossy blue / My pen exudes, drying matte, upon the page.’?
- ink could symbolise the inspiration he gives her on a daily basis
- detailed, vivid image shows the importance of writing to her; it’s a big part of narrator’s identity (and possibly reflects the importance he has in her life too)
what tone does the speaker have when she mentions the cliches of cupid and romantic heroes? (‘any hero’, ‘shooting arrows to the heart’)
the speaker has a tongue-in-cheek tone, which shows she isn’t taking herself too seriously
what kind of language and imagery does the poem use?
- humorous language
- everyday images of love
- colloquial language
what is the second half of the first stanza?
Astride a dappled mare, legs braced as far apart / As standing in silver stirrups will allow - / There you’ll be, with furrowed brow / And chain mail glinting, to set me free: / One eye smiling, the other firm upon the enemy
what are the annotations of ‘set me free’?
the speaker’s partner is always associated with freedom and safety, and could imply that Dove feels that her husband rescued her from unhappy relationships
what is the first half of the second stanza?
This post-post-modern age is all business: compact disks / And faxes, a do-it-now-and-take-no-risks / Event. Today a hurricane is nudging up the coast, / Oddly male: Big Bad Floyd, who brings a host / Of daydreams: awkward reminiscences
what does the sudden change of subject and pace in the second stanza do?
the digressions give the poem a casual tone
what are the annotations of ‘do-it-now-and-take-no-risks’?
- could symbolise that life gets too busy to stop and think about the love for your partner
- hyphenation creates a sense of urgency which reflects modern communication
- (my idea) maybe gives the idea that we as a society need to be a bit more relaxed (‘cozy’)
what are the annotations of ‘a hurricane is nudging up the coast’?
the verb makes the hurricane sound gentle rather than dangerous (my idea) maybe thinking about her husband has reassured her enough that she is no longer afraid of it?
why is there lots of caesura and enjambment in the second stanza?
creates a stop-start effect which mirrors the speaker’s thought patterns
