Cozy Apologia Flashcards
What is it about
Autobiographical poem, Rita Dove expresses her love for her husband, Fred, during a hurricane
Who is the poet
Rita Dove
What does the title show
Suggests warmth and comfort.
Defence/ apology of ones actions.
Is she defending/ apologising for their cosy life together
What’s the context
Big bad floyd refers to 1999 hurricane Floyd, which ripped along the Atlantic coast causing $6 billion in damage
What’s the structure
Colloquial style. Use of proper nouns and enjambment. Appears informal but at first there is a regular rhyme scheme which then disintegrates
What are the themes
Love Technology Fragility Detachment Nature Creation
“I could pick anything and think of you”
Everyday items make her think of her husband- their daily lives are enter-twinned. Boring but useful things
“Sure as shooting arrows to the heart”
He makes her heart skip a beat.
“Chain mail glinting, to set me free”
He’s like her knight in shining armour, come to rescue her
What is the first stanza about
Dream lover:
Sees him as a hero, she worships him, romantic image
“Sweet with a dark hollow centre”
Was sweet at the time but meaningless now. Not much to them
What’s the second stanza about
Teenage relationships.
View of love has changed now she is older
“It’s embarrassing, this happiness”
She seems to feel she shouldn’t settle for the ordinary. Yet she is happy
“I fill this stolen time with you”
Because of the hurricane.
What’s the third stanza about
Now:
Has the power of nature- the storm reignited their relationship
