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 believes objectivity and rationality to be nonexistent and impossible

The speaker admires her lover's ability to behave rationally

The speaker thinks of herself as rational, but is clearly irrational

The speaker describes her sexual desires as contradictory to her rationality
2 What does the phrase "fume of life" refer to?
Food and water

Sexual desire

Cigar smoke

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 lets us know that the speaker has never met her listener

It tells us that the speaker is writing a letter

It hints at the speaker's self-assurance

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 blood

The book

The brain

The fume
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

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

Pain

Revulsion

Desire
9 Where is the poem's volta?
After line 4

After line 8

After line 12

After line 7
10 Which social norms does the poem interrogate?
The norms surrounding division of labor in the Edwardian household

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
11 Which of the following is true of the addressee?
They are an older man

They are a young woman

They are a young man

We know nothing of the addressee except that the speaker dislikes them
12 Which of the following does "blood" symbolize?
Sexual desire

Revolution

Violence

Familial relationship
13 What is this poem's form?
Ghazal

Italian sonnet

Sestina

English sonnet
14 Which of the following is an example of personification?
distressed / By all the needs and notions of my kind

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

season / My scorn with pity

the poor treason / Of my stout blood
15 Which line contains alliterative N sounds?
My scorn with pity,—let me make it plain:

By all the needs and notions of my kind,

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

Fat

Sturdy
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?
Renascence and Other Poems

Aria da Capo

A Few Figs and Thistles

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

Trochaic pentameter

Iambic pentameter

Trochaic trimeter
20 Which line contains alliterative B sounds?
I shall remember you with love, or season

I find this frenzy insufficient reason

To bear your body’s weight upon my breast:

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

Season

Flavor

Breed
22 Which best describes the poem's tone?
Passionate

Apathetic

Gentle

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

Cleverness

Boldness

Proximity
24 Which best describes the speaker?
Wise mother

Mysterious, disembodied spirit

Self-possessed woman

Frightened young girl
25 What is the rhyme scheme of the poem's second half?
CDECDE

CDED CDED

CDCDCD

CD CE CD CE

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