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 thinks of herself as rational, but is clearly irrational

The speaker describes her sexual desires as contradictory to her rationality

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

Cigar smoke

Sexual desire

The holy spirit

Food and water
3 Which assumption does the speaker attempt to dismantle?

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

That her love means she consents to sex

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 tells us that the speaker is taking on a false identity

It tells us that the speaker is writing a letter

It lets us know that the speaker has never met her listener

It hints at the speaker's self-assurance
5 Which of the following is used as a metonymic representation of rationality?

The book

The fume

The blood

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

ABBA ABBA

ABA ABA ABA

ABAB ABAB

AABB AABB
7 How does the poem present the relationship between love and lust?

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

Love and lust are portrayed as being distinct and independent
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 4

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

The sexual and gender norms of the early twentieth century

The labor structures and inequalities of the gilded age

The norms of politeness and veiled language predominant in Victorian society

The norms surrounding division of labor in the Edwardian household
11 Which of the following is true of the addressee?

They are an older man

They are a young woman

They are a young man

We know nothing of the addressee except that the speaker dislikes them
12 Which of the following does "blood" symbolize?

Revolution

Familial relationship

Violence

Sexual desire
13 What is this poem's form?

English sonnet

Ghazal

Italian 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

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

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

Your person fair, and feel a certain zest

By all the needs and notions of my kind,

And leave me once again undone, possessed.

My scorn with pity,—let me make it plain:
16 What does "stout" mean in the context of this poem?

Loud

Sturdy

Small

Fat
17 Which phrase contains alliterative I sounds?

weight upon my breast

undone, possessed

my stout blood

life designed
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?

Trochaic pentameter

Trochaic trimeter

Iambic pentameter

Iambic trimeter
20 Which line contains alliterative B sounds?

I shall remember you with love, or season

Am urged by your propinquity to find

I find this frenzy insufficient reason

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

Blend

Breed

Season

Flavor
22 Which best describes the poem's tone?

Gentle

Passionate

Apathetic

Ironic
23 What does the word "propinquity" mean?

Boldness

Cleverness

Sarcasm

Proximity
24 Which best describes the speaker?

Self-possessed woman

Frightened young girl

Mysterious, disembodied spirit

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

CDECDE

CDCDCD

CDED CDED

CD CE CD CE

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