Cozy Apologia - Language, Structure, Context

Question 1

Title

Answer 1

Juxtaposition between familiar word ‘cozy’ with the sophisticated word ‘apologia’
Going to explain and defend why this cosiness is worthwhile.

Question 2

Rita Dove

Answer 2

African-American
Personal poem to Fred, ‘Apologia’ defends her relationship and cosiness with Fred
First collection of poetry published in 1980
Married to a German writer, Fred Viebahn
Was Poet Laureate
Mixes personal poems with exploration of African-American themes

Question 3

Hurricane Floyd - 1999

Answer 3

Poem is based and was written during a real event
Through the poem, we get hints and representations of the chaos that the hurricane caused, as well as the chaos of feelings.
And the clash between different perceptions of love

Question 4

Mundane love

Answer 4

Their love isn’t always exciting and filled with drama
It is normal andboring

Question 5

1st Person

Answer 5

More intimate feel
Immerses reader in the moment as she would’ve been writing as the hurricane was coming

Question 6

Stanza 1

Answer 6

Traditional aspects of love
Fantastical Imagery
She acknowledges the stereotypical notions and aspects of love
Wil later show how she thinks love is something else, which is equally as valuable

Question 7

Stanza 2

Answer 7

More down to earth imagery
Brings everyone back to reality

Question 8

Stanza 3

Answer 8

Acknowledges that the love she has with Fred isn’t like the love in Stanza 1
It is more normal and boring

Question 9

Rhyme - no consistent scheme

Answer 9

Stanza 1 - Couplet, could represent fantastical nature, not real, imaginary, close rhyme faster, light hearted
Stanza 2 - More disruptions, half-rhyme - more representative of real life, more disjointed, hurricane disrupting day-to-day life
Stanza 3 - 4 alternating rhyme couplets, more distant rhyme, slower feel, more sincere

Question 10

Similes and Metaphors

Answer 10

Strengthens feelings

Question 11

Enjambment

Answer 11

Full and fast moving
Fullness of modern life
Allows greater appreciation that she has more time to spend with Fred

Question 12

Structure

Answer 12

Consistent shape (visually)
3, 10-line stanzas
Initially couplet rhymes and iambic pentameter
But meter and rhyme collapse - showing how the hurricane will remove order and disrupt life
No repeated metrical pattern
Keeps tone optimistic