Cozy Apologia (C)

Question 1

What is the story of ‘Cozy Apologia’

Answer 1

• Describes a contented relationship, backdrop of hurricane
• Waiting for the storm the speaker hunkers down in her study
• The hurricane allows time for daydreaming about her partner.
• Everything she sees reminds her of her partner.
• She is happy with her partner

Question 2

What is the context of ‘Cozy Apologia’

Answer 2

-Rita Dove is married to fellow-writer Fred and Cozy Apologia seems to be a tribute to him.
-The poem details the couples domestic lives as writers.
-It’s set against the arrival of Floyd.
-Apologia means Defence

Question 3

What is the message of ‘Cozy Apologia’

Answer 3

-The celebration of being in a contented relationship.
- Reflection and appreciation of relationships
- Being embarrassed about happiness in a relationship

Question 4

What is the structure of ‘Cozy Apologia’

Answer 4

• First person narrative.
• Autobiographical - dedicated to Fred
  -St1 is an idealization of Fred
  -St2 is negative towards the hurricane and past relationships
  -St3 is a guilty admission of happiness

Question 5

Cozy Apologia Quote;
‘This lamp, the wind still rain, the glossy blue
My pen exudes, drying matte, upon the page’

Answer 5

• Even normal objects reminds of Fred.
• He is in everything she sees

Question 6

Cozy Apologia Quote;
‘There you’ll be’

Answer 6

• Fred is described as being like a romantic hero, the knight in shining armour.
• She sees him as a hero, and one she can rely on

Question 7

Cozy Apologia Quote;
‘Today a hurricane is nudging up the coast,
Oddly male: Big Bad Floyd’

Answer 7

• They are trapped indoors by the hurricane, which is a welcome relief from the business of life.
• The speaker considers Fred and the storm and describes different types of masculinity.
• First the hero, then ‘Big Bad Floyd’

Question 8

Cozy Apologia Quote;
‘Of teenage crushes on worthless boys’

Answer 8

• She speaks of ‘worthless boys’.
• This is in contrast to her portrayal of the steady and reliable Fred

Question 9

Cozy Apologia Quote;
‘We’re content, but fall short of the Divine.
Still, it’s embarrassing, this happiness’

Answer 9

• She says they’re content, and that their love isn’t heavenly.
• She does not use romantic clichés
• It is not wild an passionate

Question 10

Cozy Apologia Quote;
‘I fill this stolen time with you’

Answer 10

-The only thing that makes her happy is her thoughts of Fred.
-She sees this time as ‘stolen’ but is happy to ‘fill’ it with thoughts of Fred.