Analysing 'Cozy Apologia' by Rita Dove
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can analyse how Dove presents her love in ‘Cozy Apologia’.
Key learning points
- Arguably, Dove tells a series of stories in the poem that all illustrate her love for her husband.
- Dove uses humour to avoid this becoming a cliched poem about love.
- Dove portrays her relationship as mundane, but secure and safe.
- A person’s interpretation of a poem is unique to them; as long as it can be supported with evidence, it is valid.
- It can be useful to consider multiple interpretations of a poem to enhance your understanding of it.
Keywords
Mundane - ordinary/usual.
Inseparable - never apart - always together.
Interpretation - your personal response to a text.
Proximity - the nearness or closeness of something.
Common misconception
Students may fail to recognise that arguably, this poem is a series of stories instead of one 'big' story.
Dove arguably tells several small stories which all contribute to our understanding of the depth of love between her and her husband - Fred.
Teacher tip
As an extension of the lesson, you could ask students to come up with as many explanations for Dove's comparison of her teenage relationships to 'licorice' as possible - what is she trying to say about them?
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of the Eduqas poetry anthology for this lesson.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Who is the 'you' in 'Cozy Apologia'?
Q2.What does Dove compare her teenage relationships to in 'Cozy Apologia'?
Q3.What does Dove compare her and her husband's desks to in 'Cozy Apologia'?
Q4.What method does Dove use to compare the desks to birds' nests 'Cozy Apologia'?
Q5.What image of her husband does Dove evoke in the first stanza of the poem 'Cozy Apologia'?
Q6.How does Dove portray her relationship with her husband in 'Cozy Apologia'?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is the last word in the poem 'Cozy Apologia'?
Q2.Which word does Dove use to describe her and her husband's desks in 'Cozy Apologia'?
Q3.Which of the following are connotations of the word "astride" in 'Cozy Apologia'?
Q4.Which of the following words means 'the nearness or the closeness of something'?
Q5.Starting with the first, put the stories Dove tells in 'Cozy Apologia' in order of when they appear in the poem.
Q6.What might be the significance of Dove opening 'Cozy Apologia' by describing the objects around the desk she is sitting at?
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Analysing 'Cozy Apologia' by Rita Dove, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Analysing 'Cozy Apologia' by Rita Dove, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 English lessons from the Poetry anthology (Assessment until summer 2026) unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.