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 believes objectivity and rationality to be nonexistent and impossible

The speaker thinks of herself as rational, but is clearly irrational
2 What does the phrase "fume of life" refer to?

Cigar smoke

The holy spirit

Sexual desire

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

That her love means she consents to sex

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 writing a letter

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
5 Which of the following is used as a metonymic representation of rationality?

The fume

The brain

The blood

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

ABBA ABBA

AABB AABB

ABAB ABAB

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

Lust is portrayed as a force tarnishing the purity of love

Love is portrayed as inevitably resulting from lust and attraction

Love is portrayed as the domain of women and lust as the domain of men

Love and lust are portrayed as being distinct and independent
8 What does "zest" mean in the poem's context?

Revulsion

Citrus rind

Pain

Desire
9 Where is the poem's volta?

After line 4

After line 12

After line 7

After line 8
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

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

They are a young man

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

Revolution

Sexual desire

Familial relationship

Violence
13 What is this poem's form?

Ghazal

Italian sonnet

English sonnet

Sestina
14 Which of the following is an example of personification?

the poor treason / Of my stout blood

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
15 Which line contains alliterative N sounds?

Your person fair, and feel a certain zest

By all the needs and notions of my kind,

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

And leave me once again undone, possessed.
16 What does "stout" mean in the context of this poem?

Fat

Sturdy

Loud

Small
17 Which phrase contains alliterative I sounds?

my stout blood

life designed

weight upon my breast

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

The Harp-Weaver and Other Poems

Aria da Capo

A Few Figs and Thistles

Renascence and Other Poems
19 What is the poem's primary meter?

Trochaic trimeter

Iambic trimeter

Trochaic pentameter

Iambic 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 find this frenzy insufficient reason

I shall remember you with love, or season
21 Which verb is metaphorically used to describe the mixing of emotions?

Blend

Season

Flavor

Breed
22 Which best describes the poem's tone?

Ironic

Passionate

Gentle

Apathetic
23 What does the word "propinquity" mean?

Sarcasm

Proximity

Boldness

Cleverness
24 Which best describes the speaker?

Wise mother

Mysterious, disembodied spirit

Frightened young girl

Self-possessed woman
25 What is the rhyme scheme of the poem's second half?

CDECDE

CDCDCD

CD CE CD CE

CDED CDED

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