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 believes objectivity and rationality to be nonexistent and impossible

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
2 What does the phrase "fume of life" refer to?

Sexual desire

Cigar smoke

Food and water

The holy spirit
3 Which assumption does the speaker attempt to dismantle?

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

That her physical attraction is a sign that she is impure or sexually experienced
4 What function does the poem's opening word serve?

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

It hints at the speaker's self-assurance

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

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 fume

The book

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

ABAB ABAB

ABBA ABBA

ABA ABA ABA

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

Love is portrayed as inevitably resulting from lust and attraction

Lust is portrayed as a force tarnishing the purity of love

Love is portrayed as the domain of women and lust as the domain of men

Love and lust are portrayed as being distinct and independent
8 What does "zest" mean in the poem's context?

Revulsion

Citrus rind

Pain

Desire
9 Where is the poem's volta?

After line 4

After line 7

After line 8

After line 12
10 Which social norms does the poem interrogate?

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

The norms of politeness and veiled language predominant in Victorian society
11 Which of the following is true of the addressee?

They are an older man

They are a young woman

They are a young man

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

Revolution

Violence

Sexual desire

Familial relationship
13 What is this poem's form?

Ghazal

Sestina

English sonnet

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

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

distressed / By all the needs and notions of my kind

the poor treason / Of my stout blood

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

By all the needs and notions of my kind,

And leave me once again undone, possessed.

My scorn with pity,—let me make it plain:

Your person fair, and feel a certain zest
16 What does "stout" mean in the context of this poem?

Sturdy

Fat

Loud

Small
17 Which phrase contains alliterative I sounds?

undone, possessed

weight upon my breast

my stout blood

life designed
18 In which poetry collection did this work first appear?

A Few Figs and Thistles

The Harp-Weaver and Other Poems

Aria da Capo

Renascence and Other Poems
19 What is the poem's primary meter?

Iambic pentameter

Iambic trimeter

Trochaic trimeter

Trochaic pentameter
20 Which line contains alliterative B sounds?

I find this frenzy insufficient reason

Am urged by your propinquity to find

To bear your body’s weight upon my breast:

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

Season

Blend

Flavor

Breed
22 Which best describes the poem's tone?

Apathetic

Passionate

Gentle

Ironic
23 What does the word "propinquity" mean?

Sarcasm

Proximity

Boldness

Cleverness
24 Which best describes the speaker?

Wise mother

Self-possessed woman

Frightened young girl

Mysterious, disembodied spirit
25 What is the rhyme scheme of the poem's second half?

CDCDCD

CDED CDED

CDECDE

CD CE CD CE

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