In the Park Quizzes

In the Park Quiz

1 Which of the following literary devices is NOT used in the poem?
Metaphor

Allusion

Simile

Quotation marks to signal dialogue or thought
2 What is the form of the poem?
Sonnet

Elegy

Free verse

Villanelle
3 Which of the following best captures the meaning of "rehearsing" as used in Line 9?
mentally preparing or reciting words one intends to say

practicing a play, piece of music, or other work for later public performance

recounting in order (enumerating)

supervising a performer or group that is practicing
4 The reader can infer that the woman has how many children?
One

Two

Three

Four
5 Which of the following best describes the tone of the poem?
Melancholy and regretful

Wistful but hopeful

Foreboding and dark

Cheerful and content
6 Which of the following is the rhyme scheme used in the poem?
AABB ABAB ABCABC

AAAB ABBB ABBABB

AABB ABAB ABABAB

ABBA ABBA ABCABC
7 What is the "small balloon" in Line 8?
A thought bubble that the woman imagines rising out of her head

A hot-air balloon passing over the park

A helium balloon that the woman's child holds

An imagined thought bubble rising out of the former lover's head
8 Which of the following is the meaning of "neat" as used in Line 7?
done with or demonstrating skill or efficiency

interesting and fascinating

well-groomed and elegant

habitually tidy, well groomed, or well organized
9 What tense is used in the poem?
Present perfect tense

Present tense

A combination of present and past tense

Past tense
10 From which perspective is the poem narrated?
A mixture of first- and third-person

Omniscient third-person

Limited or close third-person

First-person
11 The final line of the poem concludes with "They have eaten me alive." To whom is the woman speaking?
Her former lover

Her husband

The wind

Her children
12 How many stanzas and lines are in the poem?
The first two stanzas are four lines each and the third stanza is seven lines.

Three stanzas of four lines each.

Three stanzas of six lines each.

The first two stanzas are four lines each and the third stanza is six lines.
13 Which of the following best characterizes the children in the poem?
Sweet and calm

Quiet and withdrawn

Rambunctious and creative

Demanding and irritating
14 Which of the following poetry devices are used in Line 1?
Caesura

End-stopping

Parataxis

All of the above
15 The poem implies that the woman's clothes are ____.
bold, but in ill taste

dirty and torn

clean and well-fitting

old and unfashionable
16 In what year was this poem published?
1980

1955

1961

1975
17 What is the poem's attitude towards traditional, patriarchal society?
Critical and questioning

Skeptical but ultimately accepting

Unquestioning and traditional

Supportive and celebratory
18 Which of the following is NOT a theme in the poem?
Identity

Motherhood

Gender roles

Friendship
19 Which of the following INCORRECTLY describes the argument this poem makes about gender?
The poem suggests that, contrary to the prevailing view in the 1960s, not all women are happy with the duties of motherhood.

The poem highlights the challenges and emotional burden associated with motherhood.

The poem demonstrates how women feel confined by social stereotypes to act as if motherhood is always enjoyable and rewarding, even when they do not truly feel this way.

The poem advocates for rigid gender roles and suggests that women inherently find joy in motherhood.
20 Which of the following best describes the setting of the poem?
The woman's home

A bench next to some dirt

A park

Australia
21 "she says to his departing smile" is an example of which of the following?
Alliteration

Metonymy

Caesura

Simile
22 What is enjambment?
A break between words within a metrical foot.

The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.

A pause near the middle of a line.

The continuation of a sentence across a line break in a poem.
23 What is the meaning of "nursing" as used in Line 12?
The profession or practice of providing care for the sick.

Slowly drinking.

Trying to cure or alleviate an injury.

Breastfeeding a baby.
24 Which of the following details about Gwen Harwood is most relevant to the themes of the poem?
She studied music and is a talented pianist.

She published many of her poems under a male pseudonym.

She was awarded the Robert Frost Medal for her poetry in 1977.

She is from Australia.
25 Which of the following is an example of spoken dialogue in the poem?
“Time holds great surprises.”

"she says to his departing smile."

"but for the grace of God…”

"Two children whine and bicker,"

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Study Guide for In the Park

In the Park study guide contains a biography of Gwen Harwood, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

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