Cozy apologia - Rita Doves Flashcards
(38 cards)
what type of poet was dove
a contemporary American poet
what is dove known for
combining the historical with the personal
who was she married to
Fred Viebahn
who is this poem dedicated to
fred
what storm is this poem about
hurricane Floyd
how bad was the storm
Floyd was very powerful, and it caused the 4th largest evacuation in American history, 6.5 billion of damage, it was deadly
what is the importance of the title and what seem does it link too
cosy = snug and warm
apologia = a written defense
The title foreshadows warm feelings associated with love
what is the importance of this poem being “for Fred”
shows that this poem is autobiographical
foregrounds the idea of love even more
what is the significance of pronouns being used in the first stanza
pronouns show that the poem is addressed to someone
establishes and intimate tone
“this lamp, the wind-still rain, the glossy blue, my pen exudes, drying matte, upon the page”
these are a list of ordinary objects = dove and Freds love is ordinary
that list of images is about writing, what does that suggest about doves feelings for Fred?
writing reminds dove for her husband, which could suggest that he is equally - if not more - important to her
“I could choose any hero”
a traditionally romantic mood is established
what does dove compare Fred to, and what does this suggest about their love
cliched image of love suggests their love is traditional
lists are used frequently in the first stanza, what could that suggest about doves husband
lists adds emphasis to the ideas hey support, emphatically traditional love, emphatically ordinary love
how has rhyme been used in this stanza
5 pairs of rhyming couplets suggests love. could suggest tradition of simplicity
in the second stanza, what tone is created by this change of topic?
“this post-post-modern age”
a conversational tone is created by the topic change
“oddly male”
dove mocks hurricane Floyd as storms are normally women names suggesting she doesnt take it seriously
“big bad Floyd”
been personified as a playground bully, undermining its power and devastation
what tone does dove create when talking about her “teenage crushes”
dove discusses her former crushes in a dismissive way which suggests that Fred is superior
“were thin as licorice and as chewy, sweet with a dark hollow centre”
the simile suggests that doves childhood crushes have no substance
Fred seems superior again
how and why has enjambment and caesura been used in this stanza?
disrupt the stanza’s rhythm
structure reflects its content, chaos and disruption grow as Floyd gets closer
“Floyd’s”
the stanza break makes this stand out, suggesting that nature has power over man
what do you notice about the rhyme scheme in this stanza
no regular rhyme scheme - due to Floyds disruption
“cussing up a storm”
hurricane Floyd sounds rude, not dangerous
dove belittles the hurricane
