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 describes her sexual desires as contradictory to her rationality

The speaker believes objectivity and rationality to be nonexistent and impossible

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

The holy spirit

Cigar smoke

Sexual desire
3 Which assumption does the speaker attempt to dismantle?
That her physical attraction is a sign that she is impure or sexually experienced

That her love means she consents to sex

That her lack of interest in conversation means she is not attracted to her listener

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 blood

The fume

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

ABA ABA ABA

ABAB ABAB

ABBA ABBA
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?
Revulsion

Pain

Desire

Citrus rind
9 Where is the poem's volta?
After line 7

After line 12

After line 8

After line 4
10 Which social norms does the poem interrogate?
The labor structures and inequalities of the gilded age

The sexual and gender norms of the early twentieth century

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?
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?
Familial relationship

Sexual desire

Revolution

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

Your person fair, and feel a certain zest

By all the needs and notions of my kind,

And leave me once again undone, possessed.
16 What does "stout" mean in the context of this poem?
Small

Fat

Loud

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

my stout blood

undone, possessed

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

Aria da Capo

A Few Figs and Thistles

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?
To bear your body’s weight upon my breast:

I find this frenzy insufficient reason

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?
Blend

Season

Flavor

Breed
22 Which best describes the poem's tone?
Apathetic

Passionate

Gentle

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

Sarcasm

Cleverness

Proximity
24 Which best describes the speaker?
Self-possessed woman

Mysterious, disembodied spirit

Wise mother

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

CDCDCD

CDED CDED

CDECDE

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