In the Park Quizzes

In the Park Quiz

1 Which of the following literary devices is NOT used in the poem?
Metaphor

Simile

Allusion

Quotation marks to signal dialogue or thought
2 What is the form of the poem?
Elegy

Villanelle

Sonnet

Free verse
3 Which of the following best captures the meaning of "rehearsing" as used in Line 9?
supervising a performer or group that is practicing

mentally preparing or reciting words one intends to say

recounting in order (enumerating)

practicing a play, piece of music, or other work for later public performance
4 The reader can infer that the woman has how many children?
Two

One

Four

Three
5 Which of the following best describes the tone of the poem?
Wistful but hopeful

Foreboding and dark

Cheerful and content

Melancholy and regretful
6 Which of the following is the rhyme scheme used in the poem?
AABB ABAB ABABAB

AABB ABAB ABCABC

AAAB ABBB ABBABB

ABBA ABBA ABCABC
7 What is the "small balloon" in Line 8?
A thought bubble that the woman imagines rising out of her head

A hot-air balloon passing over the park

A helium balloon that the woman's child holds

An imagined thought bubble rising out of the former lover's head
8 Which of the following is the meaning of "neat" as used in Line 7?
well-groomed and elegant

habitually tidy, well groomed, or well organized

interesting and fascinating

done with or demonstrating skill or efficiency
9 What tense is used in the poem?
Past tense

A combination of present and past tense

Present tense

Present perfect tense
10 From which perspective is the poem narrated?
Omniscient third-person

Limited or close third-person

First-person

A mixture of first- and third-person
11 The final line of the poem concludes with "They have eaten me alive." To whom is the woman speaking?
Her children

The wind

Her former lover

Her husband
12 How many stanzas and lines are in the poem?
Three stanzas of four lines each.

The first two stanzas are four lines each and the third stanza is seven lines.

The first two stanzas are four lines each and the third stanza is six lines.

Three stanzas of six lines each.
13 Which of the following best characterizes the children in the poem?
Demanding and irritating

Quiet and withdrawn

Sweet and calm

Rambunctious and creative
14 Which of the following poetry devices are used in Line 1?
Parataxis

Caesura

End-stopping

All of the above
15 The poem implies that the woman's clothes are ____.
old and unfashionable

clean and well-fitting

dirty and torn

bold, but in ill taste
16 In what year was this poem published?
1961

1980

1975

1955
17 What is the poem's attitude towards traditional, patriarchal society?
Supportive and celebratory

Critical and questioning

Unquestioning and traditional

Skeptical but ultimately accepting
18 Which of the following is NOT a theme in the poem?
Motherhood

Friendship

Gender roles

Identity
19 Which of the following INCORRECTLY describes the argument this poem makes about gender?
The poem advocates for rigid gender roles and suggests that women inherently find joy in motherhood.

The poem demonstrates how women feel confined by social stereotypes to act as if motherhood is always enjoyable and rewarding, even when they do not truly feel this way.

The poem highlights the challenges and emotional burden associated with motherhood.

The poem suggests that, contrary to the prevailing view in the 1960s, not all women are happy with the duties of motherhood.
20 Which of the following best describes the setting of the poem?
The woman's home

A park

A bench next to some dirt

Australia
21 "she says to his departing smile" is an example of which of the following?
Metonymy

Caesura

Simile

Alliteration
22 What is enjambment?
A break between words within a metrical foot.

A pause near the middle of a line.

The continuation of a sentence across a line break in a poem.

The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.
23 What is the meaning of "nursing" as used in Line 12?
Breastfeeding a baby.

The profession or practice of providing care for the sick.

Trying to cure or alleviate an injury.

Slowly drinking.
24 Which of the following details about Gwen Harwood is most relevant to the themes of the poem?
She is from Australia.

She was awarded the Robert Frost Medal for her poetry in 1977.

She studied music and is a talented pianist.

She published many of her poems under a male pseudonym.
25 Which of the following is an example of spoken dialogue in the poem?
"she says to his departing smile."

“Time holds great surprises.”

"but for the grace of God…”

"Two children whine and bicker,"

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Study Guide for In the Park

In the Park study guide contains a biography of Gwen Harwood, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

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