In the Park Quizzes

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

Quotation marks to signal dialogue or thought

Metaphor

Allusion

Simile
2 What is the form of the poem?

Sonnet

Elegy

Free verse

Villanelle
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

practicing a play, piece of music, or other work for later public performance

recounting in order (enumerating)
4 The reader can infer that the woman has how many children?

Two

Three

Four

One
5 Which of the following best describes the tone of the poem?

Cheerful and content

Wistful but hopeful

Foreboding and dark

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

ABBA ABBA ABCABC

AABB ABAB ABABAB

AABB ABAB ABCABC

AAAB ABBB ABBABB
7 What is the "small balloon" in Line 8?

A hot-air balloon passing over the park

A thought bubble that the woman imagines rising out of her head

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

interesting and fascinating

habitually tidy, well groomed, or well organized

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 perfect tense

Present tense
10 From which perspective is the poem narrated?

First-person

Limited or close third-person

Omniscient third-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 husband

Her children

The wind

Her former lover
12 How many stanzas and lines are in the poem?

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

Three stanzas of four lines each.

Three stanzas of six lines each.

The first two stanzas are four lines each and the third stanza is seven lines.
13 Which of the following best characterizes the children in the poem?

Rambunctious and creative

Quiet and withdrawn

Sweet and calm

Demanding and irritating
14 Which of the following poetry devices are used in Line 1?

Parataxis

End-stopping

Caesura

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

old and unfashionable

bold, but in ill taste

clean and well-fitting

dirty and torn
16 In what year was this poem published?

1975

1961

1955

1980
17 What is the poem's attitude towards traditional, patriarchal society?

Supportive and celebratory

Unquestioning and traditional

Critical and questioning

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

Motherhood

Friendship

Identity

Gender roles
19 Which of the following INCORRECTLY describes the argument this poem makes about gender?

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.

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 advocates for rigid gender roles and suggests that women inherently find joy in motherhood.
20 Which of the following best describes the setting of the poem?

Australia

The woman's home

A park

A bench next to some dirt
21 "she says to his departing smile" is an example of which of the following?

Alliteration

Metonymy

Caesura

Simile
22 What is enjambment?

A pause near the middle of a line.

A break between words within a metrical foot.

The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.

The continuation of a sentence across a line break in a poem.
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 studied music and is a talented pianist.

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

She published many of her poems under a male pseudonym.
25 Which of the following is an example of spoken dialogue in the poem?

“Time holds great surprises.”

"but for the grace of God…”

"Two children whine and bicker,"

"she says to his departing smile."

In the Park

by Gwen Harwood

In the Park Quiz

In the Park Questions and Answers

Study Guide for In the Park