Literary Considerations: The Element of Coziness

 What is the Essence of "Coziness"?

In the winter of 2024, I decided to pick up a collection of stories under the title of A Year in Brambly Hedge. I had heard of these children's books at some point over the years, and decided to check it out on a whim. The result is that, while my life hasn't changed in any appreciable way just to look at it, this book led me to the conviction that, if I ever am to actually write a work of fiction, it must include some element of coziness in it.

And what is "coziness"? I plan to explore the topic here, looking not at books that I crave when I'm stressed, but at the elements that I've distilled from reading books that have a recognizable ambience of coziness.

Space and Physical Features

Warm, Firelit Location

One of the first elements that comes to mind when I think "cozy" is that the setting has to be warm. One simply cannot have a cozy gathering in a drafty, damp area. Warmth of a cozy sort is almost, of a necessity, created by a fire, and best of all if there is coolness or wetness without. A good, warm autumn day celebrating a homecoming at the end of a Redwall story isn't really a cozy setting, even though it may be a festive one. Rather, coziness may be found at Redwall in Cavern Hole, which, especially during winter months, is typically described as containing a large fire.

Light and Color

Speaking of fire, the light associated with cozy spaces is also important. A yellow or orange glow - literal "warm" light - is a must. The early books of the "Mitford" series feature Fr. Timothy looking longingly across the yard to see the windows of his neighbor's house, which is lit from within by a warm light - I imagine the windows aglow with panes of a honey-hued yellow. Other objects included in the scene should also incorporate warm colors. Cozy spaces in literature typically are described at night, in keeping with the need for a good fire. Here, the darkness of the night brings into relief the strength of the warm colors inside.

Small Area

A cozy area is a small area. The sense of being shoulder to shoulder with neighbors, or even being tucked into a smaller space, such as a comfortable armchair, adds to the sense of comfort. The space need not be packed, but there needs to be some definition to the space. A vast hall fading into dark, unseen recesses does NOT create a homey atmosphere. The "Brambly Hedge" books have some illustrations that demonstrate good, small, firelit spaces.

Vittles

Food: A Sense of Abundance

One cannot be properly cozy without being properly fed. Coziness would never happen on a stomach that isn't full and content. Most descriptions of cozy places are accompanied by descriptions of the food available to the characters in the scene. While a sense of abundance is important, I would argue that "abundance" is not a completely physical reality. A poor family could still provide a cozy feast so long as there is enough food for everyone to eat without feeling concerned about stinting on portions or going to bed slightly hungry. They may not have enough for eating like this every day, but they can provide a fine meal for their guest at least tonight.

Food: Simple but Filling Fare

And, on the topic of food: it's not unusual for the board to be of simple yet hearty options. Basic breads, plain fruits and cheeses, and soups and stews come to mind. There may be tea treats, but one would not expect the fanciful flights of fine cooking. Brian Jacques' Redwall descriptions of the food in Cavern Hole typically lean in this direction.

Hot Drinks

Is it possible to have a cozy scene without a nice warm beverage? Yes, but it is rare. Mulled cider, warmed punch, tea, coffee, or even hot chocolate would be appropriate in such a setting.

Other Considerations

Time of Year

I suppose cozy spaces can exist anywhere and at any time, but "coziness" is the property especially of the fall and winter seasons. Again, the presence of a fire makes coziness less of a thing in the heat of summer - after all, many people are trying to find the cool places in their homes at that time of year. A very cozy scene early in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe features Lucy joining the faun Tumnus for some tea during the winter that has lasted for a hundred years.

Textiles and Textures

A cozy place is replete with comfortable, nonsynthetic fabrics and natural materials such as wood, wax, clay, or stone. The character would not be drinking their coffee from a disposable cup while sitting on a molded chair at a formica countertop; rather, they would likely lounge in a goose-feather overstuffed wingchair of a homely, worn design, an earthenware pipe in mouth, china teacup on the wooden end table, and a fire roaring in the stone or brick hearth.

Hospitality and Solitude

The welcome extended to a friend or stranger is a necessary part of the charm of a cozy place. Brian Jacques does a great job of inviting readers to "visit" Redwall again at the end of almost every book, and this sort of "so grateful you've come, please return someday!" sentiment makes coziness what it is. Now, there is a certain element of solitude that also seems necessary at times; for the quiet reader, solitude indeed makes sense. However, I would posit that coziness is an atmosphere in which others, if they should join, would be made welcome.

Domestic Activities

The practice of domestic activities can also contribute to a cozy atmosphere, specifically if they are related to old-timey food preparations and animal husbandry. Consider the "Little House on the Prairie" series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. The Ingalls family works hard on the farm, but daily chores like baking pies, preserving jams, milking cows, feeding chickens, and darning socks somehow focus the reader into a comforting rhythm of work and rest that feels cozy. Sitting by the fire at the end of the day is all the more restful because it has been preceded by hard labor that warrants rest.

Peace and Quiet

These last elements may be the most important of all. If there is no peace in the hearts of those in the household, coziness will not be present. Additionally, the volume of activities taking place cannot be so great as to disturb the sense of peace. Conversation may carry on, and children may place, or the dog worry at its bone, but raucous laughter, screaming, and barking would violate the peace of the cozy environment.

In a Word: Comfort

In his book Bilbo's Journey, Joseph Pearce shows that Bilbo and Smaug are similar in that they are both greedy for comfort - the dragon through the comfort of riches, but Bilbo through the comforts of home. He is reluctant to give up the comforts of his hobbit hole, whether to share food with guests or to leave it for a time for an adventure. He spend much of his journey longing for the coziness of his home.

When we linger in the coziness of a story, we too are enjoying comfort. When a book calls us to read it on a rainy day from the covers of blankets, we are seeking a physical and emotional warmth. While we, too, are in danger of becoming overly attached to these comforts, it is still important that at least some stories include cozy elements. Theology of Home, by Carrie Gress and Noelle Mering, has a great takeaway that I've carried with me since I first read it: every time we long for a house that is beautiful and lovely and everything we want it to be, we must remember that we are longing for Heaven. We have to keep our final home in mind and not be obsessed with our earthly home. The same can be said for coziness. Coziness isn't everything we should seek in this life, but its appearance in the books we read can be a device that is constantly pointing us toward our ultimate end.