Study guide
Cozy Apologia by Rita Dove analysis (Grade 9)
- Institution
- WJEC EDUQAS
Indepth notes for the WJEC English Literature (9-1) specification.
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Cozy Apologia by Rita Dove (P.11)Narrative While bunkered in her “aerie”, the writer considers her embarrassing love for “Fred”, comparing
him to her past relationships whilst “Big Bad Floyd” approaches. Dove touches on the subjects of
societal pressures of who she should love and what love should be, however contradicts these
conceptions.
Contexts Written in 2003, but set against the backdrop of the arrival of Hurricane Floyd, a powerful hurricane
that hit the East Coast of the USA in 1999, killing many people and causing a lot of damage. Rita
Dove is married to Fred Viabhan, a German writer, to whom the poem is addressed.
Themes Cliché vs Realism – Nature – Rita Dove uses the force of the Strength of a Relationship
Through Cozy approaching hurricane to ground this poem is – despite the embarrassingly
Apologia, Rita Dove reality, consistently returning to the subject ordinary circumstances, the
portrays both a of “Big Bad Floyd” both subtly (“the wind- two are still deeply in love,
clichéd and a realistic still rain”) and blatantly (“Today a implying a strong
view of a relationship. hurricane is nudging up the coast,”) relationship.
Literary Autobiographical – the poem is written Personification of the approaching hurricane who
Devices in first person and Rita Dove recounts her seems “oddly male” is used by Dove as an opportunity
youth, describing “teenage crushes on to reminisce on past male figures in her life in a “host of
worthless boys” in order to, by daydreams”. This also helps to establish the Hurricane
comparison, aggrandize Fred. as a dominating presence throughout the poem.
Dove uses a variety of techniques to achieve strong imagery for Fred. First, she uses the clichéd
imagery to describe him as a knight in shining armour. Secondly, she uses the comparative language
when describing her past crushes as “worthless” and she goes to describe them using the simile of
“thin as liquorice”. Finally, the use of “bunkered” in describing Fred’s position in comparison to
using “perched” for hers, creates a sense of solidity around the character, capturing how Dove feels
secure around him.
Key In describing the fantastical scene, Dove describes an “enemy” which she is protected from by Fred.
Language This is hyperbolic, using the metaphor of an enemy to epitomise her worries, fears, etc. from which
Fred makes her feel secure. “Big Bad Floyd” has a similar presence and the fact the poem is “cosy”
by name, the readers understand she feels secure despite imminent danger, as if she is protected by her
love.
“I could pick anything and think of “Perched in [her aerie]” contributes to a feeling of
you” is an effective first line as it insecurity, possibly with the fear of the oncoming storm
establishes Dove’s intent, in writing a love as it likens to her a bird perching in its high up nest. In
letter directly addressed to Fred. contrast, he is “bunkered”.
Form and Three stanzas of ten- Initially has regular rhyming couplets, but as the poem progressed this
Meter lines each of varying breaks down, connoting the approaching of Hurricane Floyd and the
line lengths. destruction this brings.
Structure Stanza one describes a fantastical, old fashioned The enjambment across the second and third
representation of love, particularly in describing Fred stanza subverts regularity. This contributes
as a “hero” in “glinting” armour, whilst stanza two towards the aggrandization of the
is reminiscent, describing teenage years in approaching hurricane, making the poem
retrospective. The third stanza however is grounded fragmented and chaotic. Furthermore, we see
in realism, describing the reality of their relationship, this across the poem as a whole through the
cosy domesticity – not the clichéd, hyperbolic and enjambment of singular clauses across two
fantastical counterpart. The poem is separated into lines which starts from the second stanza
the fantastical and realism by the juxtaposition of the onwards, but is most notable in the final
first (end-stopped) stanza and onwards. stanza, creating a climax of sorts.
Compare Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy Sonnet 43 by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
s with…
Quotations to remember
I could pick anything and think of you – I could choose any hero…
This lamp, the wind-still rain, the glossy blue And, sure as shooting arrows to the heart,
There you’ll be, with furrowed brow … compact disks
And chain mail glinting, to set me free: And faxes…
One eye smiling, the other firm upon the enemy. … Today a hurricane is nudging up the coast.
Oddly male: Big Bad Floyd, who brings a host of They all had sissy names – Marcel, Percy, Dewey;
daydreams: awkward reminiscences Were thin as licorice and as chewy,
Of teenage crushes on worthless boys
… You’re bunkered in your We’re content, but fall short of the Divine
Aerie, I’m perched in mine Still, it’s embarrassing, this happiness –
(Twin desks, computers, hardwood floors): Who’s satisfied simply with what’s good for us,
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