Cozy Apologia, Rita Dove Flashcards
“Cozy Apologia”
‘Cozy’ - Homely, Comforting
‘Apologia’ - Persuasive defence
Title forshadows warm feelings associated with love.
“I could pick anything and think of you”
Devotes the universitality of this connection. - All ecompassing love.
Pronouns show the poem is adressed to someone. Establishes an intimate tone.
Use of everday objects in second and third line.
Suggests Dove and Freds love is ordinary.
“… there you will be with furrow brow/ And chain mail glinting”
Cliched image of love suggests their love is traditional.
“chain mail glinting” has a dreamy tone but is affectionate and humourous.
“Post - post modern age”
A conversational tone is created by the topic change.
“Were thin as licorice and chewy”
The simile suggests that Dove’s childhood crushes have no substance.
Fred seems superior again.
“We’re content but fall short of the divine”
Contrasting language higlights the fact that their love is not extraordinary.
Divine - God.
“I fill this stolen time with you”
The use of pronouns in the last line recalls the first line. A sense of completedness.
Structure
In the first stanza, Dove uses the clichéd image of a knight in shining armour.
In the second stanza, Dove reminiscences on her childhood ‘crushes’.
In the last stanza, Dove ends with how happy she is with her everyday ‘ordinary; life/relationship.
