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 thinks of herself as rational, but is clearly irrational

The speaker describes her sexual desires as contradictory to her rationality

The speaker believes objectivity and rationality to be nonexistent and impossible

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

Sexual desire

Food and water

The holy spirit
3 Which assumption does the speaker attempt to dismantle?
That her physical attraction is a sign that she is impure or sexually experienced

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 love means she consents to sex
4 What function does the poem's opening word serve?
It tells us that the speaker is writing a letter

It hints at the speaker's self-assurance

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

It tells us that the speaker is taking on a false identity
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?
ABA ABA ABA

AABB AABB

ABBA ABBA

ABAB ABAB
7 How does the poem present the relationship between love and lust?
Love is portrayed as inevitably resulting from lust and attraction

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 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 7

After line 12

After line 8

After line 4
10 Which social norms does the poem interrogate?
The norms of politeness and veiled language predominant in Victorian society

The labor structures and inequalities of the gilded age

The sexual and gender norms of the early twentieth century

The norms surrounding division of labor in the Edwardian household
11 Which of the following is true of the addressee?
They are a young man

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

They are a young woman

They are an older man
12 Which of the following does "blood" symbolize?
Familial relationship

Revolution

Sexual desire

Violence
13 What is this poem's form?
Ghazal

Sestina

English sonnet

Italian sonnet
14 Which of the following is an example of personification?
season / My scorn with pity

distressed / By all the needs and notions of my kind

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

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

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

Loud

Sturdy

Fat
17 Which phrase contains alliterative I sounds?
weight upon my breast

my stout blood

undone, possessed

life designed
18 In which poetry collection did this work first appear?
Aria da Capo

A Few Figs and Thistles

Renascence and Other Poems

The Harp-Weaver and Other Poems
19 What is the poem's primary meter?
Trochaic trimeter

Iambic pentameter

Iambic trimeter

Trochaic pentameter
20 Which line contains alliterative B sounds?
Am urged by your propinquity to find

I find this frenzy insufficient reason

I shall remember you with love, or season

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

Blend

Breed

Season
22 Which best describes the poem's tone?
Ironic

Passionate

Gentle

Apathetic
23 What does the word "propinquity" mean?
Cleverness

Proximity

Sarcasm

Boldness
24 Which best describes the speaker?
Mysterious, disembodied spirit

Wise mother

Frightened young girl

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

CDECDE

CDED CDED

CDCDCD

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