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 believes objectivity and rationality to be nonexistent and impossible

The speaker describes her sexual desires as contradictory to her rationality

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

Food and water

Sexual desire

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 physical attraction is a sign of love

That her love means she consents to sex

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 writing a letter

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

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 blood

The book

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

AABB AABB

ABBA ABBA

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

Love and lust are portrayed as being distinct and independent

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
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 4

After line 12
10 Which social norms does the poem interrogate?
The labor structures and inequalities of the gilded age

The sexual and gender norms of the early twentieth century

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

They are an older man

They are a young woman

They are a young man
12 Which of the following does "blood" symbolize?
Familial relationship

Revolution

Sexual desire

Violence
13 What is this poem's form?
English sonnet

Ghazal

Sestina

Italian sonnet
14 Which of the following is an example of personification?
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

the poor treason / Of my stout blood
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?
Small

Loud

Fat

Sturdy
17 Which phrase contains alliterative I sounds?
life designed

undone, possessed

my stout blood

weight upon my breast
18 In which poetry collection did this work first appear?
The Harp-Weaver and Other Poems

A Few Figs and Thistles

Aria da Capo

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

Iambic trimeter

Iambic pentameter

Trochaic pentameter
20 Which line contains alliterative B sounds?
To bear your body’s weight upon my breast:

I shall remember you with love, or season

I find this frenzy insufficient reason

Am urged by your propinquity to find
21 Which verb is metaphorically used to describe the mixing of emotions?
Breed

Season

Blend

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

Passionate

Ironic

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

Cleverness

Proximity

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

Wise mother

Frightened young girl

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

CDECDE

CD CE CD CE

CDED CDED

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