Cozy Apologia

Question 1

What is this poem about?

Answer 1

• tribute to her husband, the poet Fred Viebahn
• her love is a powerful distraction from her writing
• can see it is clichéd, but is happy

Question 2

Context

Answer 2

• autobiographical
• Hurricane Floyd 1999

Question 3

How is love presented?

Answer 3

• rejects stereotypical depictions of love
• use free verse which adds an intimate and personal tone to their poems, enables the poets to explores unconventional ideas and challenges
• comforting

Question 4

How does it compare to ‘Valentine’?

Answer 4

• CA, romantic clichés of love are rejected in favour of the ordinary however unexciting. Conversely, in ‘Valentine’, traditional symbols of love and romance are replaced by the metaphor of an onion, an extraordinary motif
• Dove’s poem is set within the context of the couple’s cosy home, making it both intimate and personal. Conversely, the setting in ‘Valentine’ is unknown in order to reflect on the nature of love in different contexts and relationships
  Dove’s poem focuses on domesticity and complete contentment whereas Duffy’s poem explores the complexities of love, which can also bring pain and distress

Question 5

Who wrote it?

Answer 5

Rita Dove