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 thinks of herself as rational, but is clearly irrational

The speaker describes her sexual desires as contradictory to her rationality
2 What does the phrase "fume of life" refer to?
Food and water

Cigar smoke

Sexual desire

The holy spirit
3 Which assumption does the speaker attempt to dismantle?
That her love means she consents to sex

That her physical attraction is a sign of love

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

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 lets us know that the speaker has never met her listener

It tells us that the speaker is taking on a false identity

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 book

The fume

The brain

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

AABB AABB

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

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

Lust is portrayed as a force tarnishing the purity of love
8 What does "zest" mean in the poem's context?
Pain

Revulsion

Citrus rind

Desire
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 labor structures and inequalities of the gilded age

The norms surrounding division of labor in the Edwardian household

The norms of politeness and veiled language predominant in Victorian society

The sexual and gender norms of the early twentieth century
11 Which of the following is true of the addressee?
They are an older man

They are a young woman

We know nothing of the addressee except that the speaker dislikes them

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

Violence

Revolution

Familial relationship
13 What is this poem's form?
Ghazal

Italian sonnet

English sonnet

Sestina
14 Which of the following is an example of personification?
distressed / By all the needs and notions of my kind

the poor treason / Of my stout blood

season / My scorn with pity

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

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

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?
Loud

Fat

Small

Sturdy
17 Which phrase contains alliterative I sounds?
my stout blood

weight upon my breast

life designed

undone, possessed
18 In which poetry collection did this work first appear?
Aria da Capo

The Harp-Weaver and Other Poems

Renascence and Other Poems

A Few Figs and Thistles
19 What is the poem's primary meter?
Iambic pentameter

Trochaic trimeter

Trochaic pentameter

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

I find this frenzy insufficient reason

Am urged by your propinquity to find

To bear your body’s weight upon my breast:
21 Which verb is metaphorically used to describe the mixing of emotions?
Season

Flavor

Blend

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

Ironic

Gentle

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

Sarcasm

Cleverness

Proximity
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?
CDED CDED

CDCDCD

CD CE CD CE

CDECDE

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