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?
The holy spirit

Cigar smoke

Food and water

Sexual desire
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 lack of interest in conversation means she is not attracted to her listener

That her physical attraction is a sign of love
4 What function does the poem's opening word serve?
It lets us know that the speaker has never met her listener

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

The fume

The brain

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

ABA ABA ABA

AABB AABB

ABBA ABBA
7 How does the poem present the relationship between love and lust?
Love and lust are portrayed as being distinct and independent

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
8 What does "zest" mean in the poem's context?
Pain

Citrus rind

Desire

Revulsion
9 Where is the poem's volta?
After line 12

After line 4

After line 8

After line 7
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

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

They are an older man

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

Violence

Familial relationship

Sexual desire
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

the poor treason / Of my stout blood

season / My scorn with pity

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,

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?
Fat

Loud

Small

Sturdy
17 Which phrase contains alliterative I sounds?
life designed

weight upon my breast

my stout blood

undone, possessed
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?
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?
Season

Blend

Flavor

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

Gentle

Ironic

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

Sarcasm

Cleverness

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

Mysterious, disembodied spirit

Frightened young girl

Wise mother
25 What is the rhyme scheme of the poem's second half?
CDED CDED

CD CE CD CE

CDECDE

CDCDCD

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