Poems - Cozy Apologia

?
who wrote cozy apologia?
Rita Dove
1 of 28
what does this poem justify? (purpose)
justifies ordinary contentment of a normal but stable/secure relationship
2 of 28
rita is an African-A___ poet
African-American
3 of 28
what's the poem about? (what's happening poem?)
as hurricane Floyd approaches, speaker takes refuge in her study and daydreams about partner
4 of 28
what does she talk/daydream about?
compares partner to everyday objects & knight in shining armor, then reflecting on modern life, hurricane, old boyfriends and back to current relationship. says love is ordinary but genuine
5 of 28
poem is written in three verse (no fixed rhyme scheme). what tone does this set?
conversational tone
6 of 28
number of syllables in each line varies, reflecting that the poem represents...
speakers train of thought
7 of 28
the first stanza has a regular rhyme scheme (every two lines rhyme with one another) but it's disturbed in the second stanza. why might the poet have done this?
reflects disorder hurricane is bringing
8 of 28
poet uses h___ to prevent poem being too sentimental
humour
9 of 28
what is an example of this?
poking fun at exaggerated and cliched images of love
10 of 28
c____ langauge make poem seem more personal
colloquial
11 of 28
how could the rhyme scheme represent speakers relationship with partner?
it becomes jumbled - representation of relationship being discussed (not without flaw, but it is useful enough to remain in)
12 of 28
this first stanza therefore sets the scene for something reliable and perfect. what does this say about how we see the relationships at first?
makes reader assume the relationship is a solid and stable one
13 of 28
what does “could pick anything and think of” suggest about how the narrator's love for her partner?
nothing romantic about things listed - anything makes narrator think of partner - obsessed, not in love
14 of 28
some things mentioned that remind narrator of partner are sad, not happy things, such as gloomy weather or a sad colour. give quotes that exemplify this
'wind-still rain' (gloomy weather) and 'glossy blue [...] pen' (blue = sad colour)
15 of 28
what could this suggest about the relationship?
relationship is not as solid as the rhyme scheme + clues that it's unhappy & unhealthy
16 of 28
narrator imagines partner comes to 'set [her] free' on a horse like a 'knight in shining armor', but says the certainty of that are 'sure as shooting arrows to the heart'. how can this be interpreted?
could reference cupids arrow, suggesting how in love she is - but an arrow shot kills, not saves, contradicting claimed (could reflect pain relation can have)
17 of 28
By the second stanza, the rhyme scheme falls apart and the last line of the stanza leaves us with an e___ (line runs on)
enjambment
18 of 28
What's the effect of this fallen apart structure/rhemes/lines?
lack of organization - storm is coming closer and causing more chaos + sense of abandonment since rhyme schemes/structure/sentences are left - could reflect how writer is abandoning any responsibilities as storms given her stolen time
19 of 28
what topic does the second stanza cover?
examination of the world in general + hint of criticism for what's labeled 'immature love'
20 of 28
why is “awkward reminiscences/Of teenage crushes on worthless boys/Whose only talent was to kiss you senseless.” ironic when considering the first stanza?
narrator labeling these relationships as worthless but she's previously linked her current relationship with sad colours and gloomy weather - criticizing something as potentially poor as what she has
21 of 28
feels like the narrator goes off topic when she references things like “compact disks,”, but it could be that she's trying to give readers strong grasps on details she sees as dull. what can be interpreted about her current relationship from this?
could suggest she needs more meaning and intrigue from her current relationship as she's describing dull things, along with her partner
22 of 28
speaker then stops talking about 'boys' with 'sissy names', still returning to the idea that they're useless. evaluate “thin as licorice and as chewy,/Sweet with a dark and hollow center”
too “thin” could be seen as frail + “chewy” could suggests she's chewed all the sweetness they had (their useful aspect) and spit them out once she was done, getting to their useless 'hollow center' - 'usefulness' was only reason for relationship
23 of 28
rhyme scheme is reestablished in last stanza, but still isn't perfect ('news' and 'do' aren't perfect rhyme) - abandonment in that strategy since the established rhyme scheme of stanza one is but a memory at this point. how can this be interpreted?
narrator realizes in second stanza her logic is faulty in regard to criticizing earlier relationships as immature when her current one is not exactly upstanding (another interpretation on next card)
24 of 28
second interpretation:
narrator unveiled her own tendency to only want to be in relationships with men who are useful to her, and the reflection was uncomfortable enough to shake her from her thoughts and process—thus jumbling the rhyme scheme.
25 of 28
give quotes that further suggest this interpretation:
she refers to the situation as “embarrassing” and “ordinary.” “[they’re] content, but fall short of the Divine.”- relationship is acceptable, but she understands it's not overly admirable/one-of-a-kind. 'divine' could reflect the love that's lacking
26 of 28
give evidence to this interpretation: Even with knowing that the relationship is lacking—maybe even that it is loveless—she will still hold to it though because it is useful to her.
'nothing else will do/To keep [her] from melancholy/[She’ll] fill this stolen time with [him]' - Although she's stated relationship is flawed & she finds shame in being in it, she's still interested enough in what she can gain to stay in it
27 of 28
In the end, we find the narrator is drawn to things that are useful in a relationship, and when that usefulness has run out, she loses interest. how is this shown through structure of poem?
poem loses structure in rhyme and sentences
28 of 28

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

what does this poem justify? (purpose)

Back

justifies ordinary contentment of a normal but stable/secure relationship

Card 3

Front

rita is an African-A___ poet

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

what's the poem about? (what's happening poem?)

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

what does she talk/daydream about?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar English resources:

See all English resources »See all Poems from other cultures resources »