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 admires her lover's ability to behave rationally

The speaker describes her sexual desires as contradictory to her rationality

The speaker thinks of herself as rational, but is clearly irrational
2 What does the phrase "fume of life" refer to?

Food and water

The holy spirit

Sexual desire

Cigar smoke
3 Which assumption does the speaker attempt to dismantle?

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 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 lets us know that the speaker has never met her listener

It tells us that the speaker is writing a letter

It hints at the speaker's self-assurance

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 fume

The blood

The book

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

ABBA ABBA

AABB AABB

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

Lust is portrayed as a force tarnishing the purity of love

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
8 What does "zest" mean in the poem's context?

Revulsion

Pain

Desire

Citrus rind
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 sexual and gender norms of the early twentieth century

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
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 a young woman

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

Revolution

Familial relationship

Violence

Sexual desire
13 What is this poem's form?

English sonnet

Sestina

Ghazal

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

season / My scorn with pity

distressed / By all the needs and notions of my kind

the poor treason / Of my stout blood

feel a certain zest / To bear your body’s weight
15 Which line contains alliterative N sounds?

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

And leave me once again undone, possessed.

Your person fair, and feel a certain zest

By all the needs and notions of my kind,
16 What does "stout" mean in the context of this poem?

Fat

Loud

Sturdy

Small
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?

A Few Figs and Thistles

Aria da Capo

Renascence and Other Poems

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

Trochaic trimeter

Trochaic pentameter

Iambic pentameter

Iambic trimeter
20 Which line contains alliterative B sounds?

I shall remember you with love, or season

I find this frenzy insufficient reason

To bear your body’s weight upon my breast:

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

Breed

Blend

Season

Flavor
22 Which best describes the poem's tone?

Gentle

Passionate

Ironic

Apathetic
23 What does the word "propinquity" mean?

Sarcasm

Proximity

Cleverness

Boldness
24 Which best describes the speaker?

Frightened young girl

Mysterious, disembodied spirit

Wise mother

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

CDCDCD

CD CE CD CE

CDECDE

CDED CDED

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