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 admires her lover's ability to behave rationally

The speaker believes objectivity and rationality to be nonexistent and impossible

The speaker describes her sexual desires as contradictory to her rationality
2 What does the phrase "fume of life" refer to?
Sexual desire

The holy spirit

Cigar smoke

Food and water
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 physical attraction is a sign that she is impure or sexually experienced

That her physical attraction is a sign of love

That her love means she consents to sex
4 What function does the poem's opening word serve?
It lets us know that the speaker has never met her listener

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

It hints at the speaker's self-assurance

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 blood

The book

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

ABBA ABBA

ABAB ABAB

ABA ABA ABA
7 How does the poem present the relationship between love and lust?
Love is portrayed as inevitably resulting from lust and attraction

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

Pain

Citrus rind

Desire
9 Where is the poem's volta?
After line 12

After line 4

After line 7

After line 8
10 Which social norms does the poem interrogate?
The norms of politeness and veiled language predominant in Victorian society

The norms surrounding division of labor in the Edwardian household

The labor structures and inequalities of the gilded age

The sexual and gender norms of the early twentieth century
11 Which of the following is true of the addressee?
They are a young woman

They are an older man

We know nothing of the addressee except that the speaker dislikes them

They are a young man
12 Which of the following does "blood" symbolize?
Sexual desire

Familial relationship

Violence

Revolution
13 What is this poem's form?
Sestina

Ghazal

English sonnet

Italian sonnet
14 Which of the following is an example of personification?
the poor treason / Of my stout blood

distressed / By all the needs and notions of my kind

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

season / My scorn with pity
15 Which line contains alliterative N sounds?
By all the needs and notions of my kind,

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

And leave me once again undone, possessed.

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

Fat

Loud

Sturdy
17 Which phrase contains alliterative I sounds?
my stout blood

undone, possessed

weight upon my breast

life designed
18 In which poetry collection did this work first appear?
The Harp-Weaver and Other Poems

A Few Figs and Thistles

Renascence and Other Poems

Aria da Capo
19 What is the poem's primary meter?
Trochaic pentameter

Iambic pentameter

Iambic trimeter

Trochaic trimeter
20 Which line contains alliterative B sounds?
I shall remember you with love, or season

To bear your body’s weight upon my breast:

Am urged by your propinquity to find

I find this frenzy insufficient reason
21 Which verb is metaphorically used to describe the mixing of emotions?
Breed

Blend

Flavor

Season
22 Which best describes the poem's tone?
Passionate

Gentle

Apathetic

Ironic
23 What does the word "propinquity" mean?
Proximity

Cleverness

Sarcasm

Boldness
24 Which best describes the speaker?
Mysterious, disembodied spirit

Self-possessed woman

Frightened young girl

Wise mother
25 What is the rhyme scheme of the poem's second half?
CDED CDED

CDECDE

CDCDCD

CD CE CD CE

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