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 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

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 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

That her lack of interest in conversation means she is not attracted to her listener
4 What function does the poem's opening word serve?
It hints at the speaker's self-assurance

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

The brain

The book

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

AABB AABB

ABA ABA ABA

ABBA ABBA
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?
Pain

Desire

Revulsion

Citrus rind
9 Where is the poem's volta?
After line 8

After line 7

After line 12

After line 4
10 Which social norms does the poem interrogate?
The sexual and gender norms of the early twentieth century

The norms surrounding division of labor in the Edwardian household

The labor structures and inequalities of the gilded age

The norms of politeness and veiled language predominant in Victorian society
11 Which of the following is true of the addressee?
They are a young man

They are a young woman

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

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

Familial relationship

Violence

Sexual desire
13 What is this poem's form?
English sonnet

Italian sonnet

Ghazal

Sestina
14 Which of the following is an example of personification?
the poor treason / Of my stout blood

season / My scorn with pity

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

distressed / By all the needs and notions of my kind
15 Which line contains alliterative N sounds?
By all the needs and notions of my kind,

Your person fair, and feel a certain zest

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?
Sturdy

Loud

Small

Fat
17 Which phrase contains alliterative I sounds?
undone, possessed

life designed

my stout blood

weight upon my breast
18 In which poetry collection did this work first appear?
A Few Figs and Thistles

Aria da Capo

Renascence and Other Poems

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

Trochaic pentameter

Iambic pentameter

Iambic trimeter
20 Which line contains alliterative B sounds?
Am urged by your propinquity to find

I shall remember you with love, or season

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?
Breed

Blend

Season

Flavor
22 Which best describes the poem's tone?
Gentle

Passionate

Ironic

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

Proximity

Boldness

Cleverness
24 Which best describes the speaker?
Self-possessed woman

Frightened young girl

Wise mother

Mysterious, disembodied spirit
25 What is the rhyme scheme of the poem's second half?
CDCDCD

CDED CDED

CD CE CD CE

CDECDE

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