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 describes her sexual desires as contradictory to her rationality

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

The speaker admires her lover's ability to behave rationally
2 What does the phrase "fume of life" refer to?
Sexual desire

Cigar smoke

The holy spirit

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 love means she consents to sex

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

That her physical attraction is a sign of love
4 What function does the poem's opening word serve?
It tells us that the speaker is taking on a false identity

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 writing a letter
5 Which of the following is used as a metonymic representation of rationality?
The brain

The fume

The blood

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

ABA ABA ABA

ABBA ABBA

ABAB ABAB
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?
Citrus rind

Revulsion

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 norms of politeness and veiled language predominant in Victorian society

The labor structures and inequalities of the gilded age

The norms surrounding division of labor in the Edwardian household

The sexual and gender norms of the early twentieth century
11 Which of the following is true of the addressee?
We know nothing of the addressee except that the speaker dislikes them

They are a young man

They are an older man

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

Violence

Familial relationship

Revolution
13 What is this poem's form?
Sestina

Ghazal

Italian sonnet

English sonnet
14 Which of the following is an example of personification?
feel a certain zest / To bear your body’s weight

season / My scorn with pity

distressed / By all the needs and notions of my kind

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?
Small

Loud

Sturdy

Fat
17 Which phrase contains alliterative I sounds?
weight upon my breast

life designed

my stout blood

undone, possessed
18 In which poetry collection did this work first appear?
A Few Figs and Thistles

The Harp-Weaver and Other Poems

Renascence and Other Poems

Aria da Capo
19 What is the poem's primary meter?
Iambic trimeter

Iambic pentameter

Trochaic pentameter

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

Am urged by your propinquity to find

To bear your body’s weight upon my breast:

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

Blend

Season

Flavor
22 Which best describes the poem's tone?
Ironic

Passionate

Gentle

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

Sarcasm

Boldness

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

Wise mother

Self-possessed woman

Frightened young girl
25 What is the rhyme scheme of the poem's second half?
CDCDCD

CD CE CD CE

CDECDE

CDED CDED

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