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 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

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

Sexual desire

The holy spirit

Cigar smoke

Food and water
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 of love

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

The blood

The brain

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

ABAB ABAB

AABB AABB

ABBA ABBA

ABA ABA ABA
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?

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 surrounding division of labor in the Edwardian household

The norms of politeness and veiled language predominant in Victorian society

The labor structures and inequalities of the gilded age
11 Which of the following is true of the addressee?

They are an older man

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

They are a young woman

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

Sexual desire

Revolution

Violence

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?

feel a certain zest / To bear your body’s weight

season / My scorn with pity

distressed / By all the needs and notions of my kind

the poor treason / Of my stout blood
15 Which line contains alliterative N sounds?

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

And leave me once again undone, possessed.

By all the needs and notions of my kind,

Your person fair, and feel a certain zest
16 What does "stout" mean in the context of this poem?

Loud

Sturdy

Fat

Small
17 Which phrase contains alliterative I sounds?

weight upon my breast

undone, possessed

life designed

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

The Harp-Weaver and Other Poems

Aria da Capo

Renascence and Other Poems

A Few Figs and Thistles
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:

Am urged by your propinquity to find

I shall remember you with love, or season

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?

Apathetic

Gentle

Ironic

Passionate
23 What does the word "propinquity" mean?

Sarcasm

Proximity

Boldness

Cleverness
24 Which best describes the speaker?

Frightened young girl

Self-possessed woman

Wise mother

Mysterious, disembodied spirit
25 What is the rhyme scheme of the poem's second half?

CD CE CD CE

CDED CDED

CDCDCD

CDECDE

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