I, Being Born a Woman and Distressed Quizzes

I, Being Born a Woman and Distressed Quiz

1 Which of the following is true of the poem's theme of rationality?

The speaker thinks of herself as rational, but is clearly irrational

The speaker describes her sexual desires as contradictory to her rationality

The speaker admires her lover's ability to behave rationally

The speaker believes objectivity and rationality to be nonexistent and impossible
2 What does the phrase "fume of life" refer to?

The holy spirit

Sexual desire

Cigar smoke

Food and water
3 Which assumption does the speaker attempt to dismantle?

That her physical attraction is a sign that she is impure or sexually experienced

That her lack of interest in conversation means she is not attracted to her listener

That her love means she consents to sex

That her physical attraction is a sign of love
4 What function does the poem's opening word serve?

It lets us know that the speaker has never met her listener

It hints at the speaker's self-assurance

It tells us that the speaker is taking on a false identity

It tells us that the speaker is writing a letter
5 Which of the following is used as a metonymic representation of rationality?

The brain

The book

The fume

The blood
6 What is the rhyme scheme of the poem's first half?

AABB AABB

ABAB ABAB

ABBA ABBA

ABA ABA ABA
7 How does the poem present the relationship between love and lust?

Love and lust are portrayed as being distinct and independent

Lust is portrayed as a force tarnishing the purity of love

Love is portrayed as inevitably resulting from lust and attraction

Love is portrayed as the domain of women and lust as the domain of men
8 What does "zest" mean in the poem's context?

Revulsion

Desire

Citrus rind

Pain
9 Where is the poem's volta?

After line 4

After line 12

After line 8

After line 7
10 Which social norms does the poem interrogate?

The norms of politeness and veiled language predominant in Victorian society

The sexual and gender norms of the early twentieth century

The labor structures and inequalities of the gilded age

The norms surrounding division of labor in the Edwardian household
11 Which of the following is true of the addressee?

They are an older man

They are a young man

They are a young woman

We know nothing of the addressee except that the speaker dislikes them
12 Which of the following does "blood" symbolize?

Revolution

Familial relationship

Violence

Sexual desire
13 What is this poem's form?

Sestina

Italian sonnet

Ghazal

English sonnet
14 Which of the following is an example of personification?

distressed / By all the needs and notions of my kind

the poor treason / Of my stout blood

feel a certain zest / To bear your body’s weight

season / My scorn with pity
15 Which line contains alliterative N sounds?

Your person fair, and feel a certain zest

And leave me once again undone, possessed.

By all the needs and notions of my kind,

My scorn with pity,—let me make it plain:
16 What does "stout" mean in the context of this poem?

Small

Loud

Sturdy

Fat
17 Which phrase contains alliterative I sounds?

weight upon my breast

undone, possessed

life designed

my stout blood
18 In which poetry collection did this work first appear?

The Harp-Weaver and Other Poems

Aria da Capo

Renascence and Other Poems

A Few Figs and Thistles
19 What is the poem's primary meter?

Iambic trimeter

Trochaic trimeter

Trochaic pentameter

Iambic pentameter
20 Which line contains alliterative B sounds?

To bear your body’s weight upon my breast:

Am urged by your propinquity to find

I find this frenzy insufficient reason

I shall remember you with love, or season
21 Which verb is metaphorically used to describe the mixing of emotions?

Blend

Season

Flavor

Breed
22 Which best describes the poem's tone?

Passionate

Ironic

Apathetic

Gentle
23 What does the word "propinquity" mean?

Proximity

Boldness

Cleverness

Sarcasm
24 Which best describes the speaker?

Frightened young girl

Mysterious, disembodied spirit

Wise mother

Self-possessed woman
25 What is the rhyme scheme of the poem's second half?

CD CE CD CE

CDECDE

CDCDCD

CDED CDED

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