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

Cigar smoke

Food and water

The holy spirit
3 Which assumption does the speaker attempt to dismantle?
That her physical attraction is a sign of love

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 love means she consents to sex
4 What function does the poem's opening word serve?
It tells us that the speaker is taking on a false identity

It tells us that the speaker is writing a letter

It hints at the speaker's self-assurance

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

AABB AABB

ABA ABA ABA

ABAB ABAB
7 How does the poem present the relationship between love and lust?
Love and lust are portrayed as being distinct and independent

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

Lust is portrayed as a force tarnishing the purity of love

Love is portrayed as inevitably resulting from lust and attraction
8 What does "zest" mean in the poem's context?
Citrus rind

Desire

Pain

Revulsion
9 Where is the poem's volta?
After line 8

After line 4

After line 12

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 norms surrounding division of labor in the Edwardian household

The labor structures and inequalities of the gilded age
11 Which of the following is true of the addressee?
They are a young man

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

They are a young woman

They are an older man
12 Which of the following does "blood" symbolize?
Violence

Familial relationship

Revolution

Sexual desire
13 What is this poem's form?
Sestina

English sonnet

Ghazal

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

the poor treason / Of my stout blood
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?
Fat

Small

Loud

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

undone, possessed

life designed

weight upon my breast
18 In which poetry collection did this work first appear?
Renascence and Other Poems

A Few Figs and Thistles

Aria da Capo

The Harp-Weaver and Other Poems
19 What is the poem's primary meter?
Iambic trimeter

Trochaic pentameter

Trochaic trimeter

Iambic pentameter
20 Which line contains alliterative B sounds?
I find this frenzy insufficient reason

To bear your body’s weight upon my breast:

I shall remember you with love, or season

Am urged by your propinquity to find
21 Which verb is metaphorically used to describe the mixing of emotions?
Season

Breed

Flavor

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

Ironic

Gentle

Apathetic
23 What does the word "propinquity" mean?
Sarcasm

Cleverness

Proximity

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

Frightened young girl

Self-possessed woman

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

CD CE CD CE

CDED CDED

CDECDE

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