Cozy Apologia - Rita Dove Flashcards
Comfortable relationship - Cozy Apologia
“When has the ordinary ever been news?” - their love is so normal but so deep it feels special - not a highly romanticised relationship you see in the media but still just as worthy
Two masculine forces in her life - Cozy Apologia
Fred - “there you’ll be” (certainty) “with chain mail glinting” (knight in shining armour, chivalrous) “standing in silver stirrups” (sibilant sounds draw attention to image of him as a saviour + expresses movement)
Floyd - “oddly male” “cussing up a storm” - angry. enjambment to show the hurricane’s movement. needs to be rescued from it/him
Tender and all-consuming love - Cozy Apologia
“nothing else will do”
“I could pick anything and think of you” (“Pen” or “lamp”)
inherent sense of togetherness with them
He’s dear to her, always on her mind
Structure - Cozy Apologia
Floyd disrupts the rhyme scheme
rhyme scheme in 2nd stanza is fragmented like the speaker’s memories
Nature vs digital - Cozy Apologia
Nature forces these realisations, even though it is aggressive. Taking a step back from the stressful modern age has brought on good realisations about her life and relationships.
“post-post modern age”
“do-it-now-and-take-no-risks event” - hyphenated to emphasised rush. Hypocrises, everyone needs to be fast/efficient but somehow take no risks
Fred’s superiority - Cozy Apologia
“teenage crushes on worthless boys”
superficial - “sweet with a dark and hollow centre”
Nobody can compare to Fred for her. Emotional depth.
Fred makes her feel safe - Cozy Apologia
“to keep me from melancholy”
“i fill this stolen time with you”
she isnt concerned about this hurricane as Fred can protect her. Her reminiscence has caused her to feel slightly dreary, but since she has Fred to compare to she is fine.
Fred protects her - Cozy Apologia
“One eye smiling, the other firm upon the enemy” - caring side but will fight fiercely for Rita’s safety. Brave, courageous
Floyd’s influence - Cozy Apologia
caesura after “Event.” to change focus to “Today”
Moves the focus of the poem, showing how Fred is there for every aspect of her life
Destructive aspects of nature - Cozy Apologia
“Big Bad Floyd” doesn’t do a lot of physical damage - more scary
poses risk - causes her to reflect on her past
“cussing up a storm” - unnecessary
Context - Cozy Apologia
- married to Fred Viebhan - affectionate tribute
- Set in 1999 when Hurricane Floyd hit USA
- Americanisms