In the Park Quizzes

In the Park Quiz

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

Simile

Quotation marks to signal dialogue or thought

Allusion
2 What is the form of the poem?
Free verse

Elegy

Sonnet

Villanelle
3 Which of the following best captures the meaning of "rehearsing" as used in Line 9?
supervising a performer or group that is practicing

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

recounting in order (enumerating)

mentally preparing or reciting words one intends to say
4 The reader can infer that the woman has how many children?
Three

Two

One

Four
5 Which of the following best describes the tone of the poem?
Foreboding and dark

Wistful but hopeful

Melancholy and regretful

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

AABB ABAB ABABAB

ABBA ABBA ABCABC

AAAB ABBB ABBABB
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

An imagined thought bubble rising out of the former lover's head

A helium balloon that the woman's child holds
8 Which of the following is the meaning of "neat" as used in Line 7?
done with or demonstrating skill or efficiency

habitually tidy, well groomed, or well organized

well-groomed and elegant

interesting and fascinating
9 What tense is used in the poem?
Present perfect tense

A combination of present and past tense

Past tense

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

First-person

Omniscient third-person

Limited or close third-person
11 The final line of the poem concludes with "They have eaten me alive." To whom is the woman speaking?
Her husband

Her former lover

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.

The first two stanzas are four lines each and the third stanza is six lines.

Three stanzas of six lines each.
13 Which of the following best characterizes the children in the poem?
Quiet and withdrawn

Demanding and irritating

Sweet and calm

Rambunctious and creative
14 Which of the following poetry devices are used in Line 1?
Parataxis

Caesura

End-stopping

All of the above
15 The poem implies that the woman's clothes are ____.
old and unfashionable

bold, but in ill taste

clean and well-fitting

dirty and torn
16 In what year was this poem published?
1961

1980

1975

1955
17 What is the poem's attitude towards traditional, patriarchal society?
Supportive and celebratory

Unquestioning and traditional

Skeptical but ultimately accepting

Critical and questioning
18 Which of the following is NOT a theme in the poem?
Friendship

Gender roles

Motherhood

Identity
19 Which of the following INCORRECTLY describes the argument this poem makes about gender?
The poem highlights the challenges and emotional burden associated with motherhood.

The poem advocates for rigid gender roles and suggests that women inherently find joy in 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 suggests that, contrary to the prevailing view in the 1960s, not all women are happy with the duties of motherhood.
20 Which of the following best describes the setting of the poem?
The woman's home

Australia

A bench next to some dirt

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

Caesura

Simile

Metonymy
22 What is enjambment?
The continuation of a sentence across a line break in a poem.

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.

A break between words within a metrical foot.
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 published many of her poems under a male pseudonym.

She studied music and is a talented pianist.

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?
"but for the grace of God…”

"she says to his departing smile."

“Time holds great surprises.”

"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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