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 describes her sexual desires as contradictory to her rationality

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

Cigar smoke

Food and water

Sexual desire

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 writing a letter

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 taking on a false identity
5 Which of the following is used as a metonymic representation of rationality?

The book

The fume

The blood

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

ABA ABA ABA

ABAB ABAB

AABB AABB

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

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

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

Desire

Citrus rind

Pain

Revulsion
9 Where is the poem's volta?

After line 12

After line 8

After line 7

After line 4
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 sexual and gender norms of the early twentieth century

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 an older man

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

Violence

Sexual desire

Familial relationship

Revolution
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

the poor treason / Of my stout blood

season / My scorn with pity

distressed / By all the needs and notions of my kind
15 Which line contains alliterative N sounds?

By all the needs and notions of my kind,

And leave me once again undone, possessed.

Your person fair, and feel a certain zest

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

Fat

Loud

Sturdy

Small
17 Which phrase contains alliterative I sounds?

life designed

undone, possessed

weight upon my breast

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

A Few Figs and Thistles

Aria da Capo

The Harp-Weaver and Other Poems

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

Trochaic trimeter

Trochaic pentameter

Iambic trimeter

Iambic pentameter
20 Which line contains alliterative B sounds?

To bear your body’s weight upon my breast:

I shall remember you with love, or season

I find this frenzy insufficient reason

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

Blend

Flavor

Season

Breed
22 Which best describes the poem's tone?

Apathetic

Ironic

Passionate

Gentle
23 What does the word "propinquity" mean?

Cleverness

Sarcasm

Boldness

Proximity
24 Which best describes the speaker?

Mysterious, disembodied spirit

Wise mother

Frightened young girl

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

CD CE CD CE

CDECDE

CDCDCD

CDED CDED

I, Being Born a Woman and Distressed Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for I, Being Born a Woman and Distressed is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Ask Your Own Question

Study Guide for I, Being Born a Woman and Distressed

I, Being Born a Woman and Distressed study guide contains a biography of Edna St. Vincent Millay, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

Read the Study Guide for I, Being Born a Woman and Distressed…