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 describes her sexual desires as contradictory to her rationality

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

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?

Cigar smoke

Sexual desire

Food and water

The holy spirit
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 physical attraction is a sign of love

That her love means she consents to sex

That her lack of interest in conversation means she is not attracted to her listener
4 What function does the poem's opening word serve?

It hints at the speaker's self-assurance

It tells us that the speaker is writing a letter

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 brain

The book

The blood

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

ABBA ABBA

ABA ABA ABA

AABB AABB

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 the domain of women and lust as the domain of men

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 4

After line 8

After line 12

After line 7
10 Which social norms does the poem interrogate?

The norms surrounding division of labor in the Edwardian household

The labor structures and inequalities of the gilded age

The sexual and gender norms of the early twentieth century

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 an older man

They are a young woman

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

Familial relationship

Violence

Revolution

Sexual desire
13 What is this poem's form?

Italian sonnet

English sonnet

Sestina

Ghazal
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

the poor treason / Of my stout blood

season / My scorn with pity
15 Which line contains alliterative N sounds?

Your person fair, and feel a certain zest

And leave me once again undone, possessed.

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

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

Fat

Small

Sturdy

Loud
17 Which phrase contains alliterative I sounds?

weight upon my breast

life designed

undone, possessed

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

A Few Figs and Thistles

The Harp-Weaver and Other Poems

Aria da Capo

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

Iambic pentameter

Trochaic pentameter

Trochaic trimeter

Iambic trimeter
20 Which line contains alliterative B sounds?

Am urged by your propinquity to find

I shall remember you with love, or season

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?

Season

Flavor

Blend

Breed
22 Which best describes the poem's tone?

Ironic

Passionate

Apathetic

Gentle
23 What does the word "propinquity" mean?

Cleverness

Proximity

Boldness

Sarcasm
24 Which best describes the speaker?

Frightened young girl

Mysterious, disembodied spirit

Self-possessed woman

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

CDED CDED

CDCDCD

CDECDE

CD CE CD CE

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