In the Park Quizzes

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

Quotation marks to signal dialogue or thought

Allusion

Metaphor

Simile
2 What is the form of the poem?

Elegy

Sonnet

Villanelle

Free verse
3 Which of the following best captures the meaning of "rehearsing" as used in Line 9?

recounting in order (enumerating)

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

supervising a performer or group that is practicing

mentally preparing or reciting words one intends to say
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

Melancholy and regretful

Cheerful and content

Foreboding and dark
6 Which of the following is the rhyme scheme used in the poem?

AABB ABAB ABABAB

AABB ABAB ABCABC

ABBA ABBA ABCABC

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

A hot-air balloon passing over the park

An imagined thought bubble rising out of the former lover's head

A helium balloon that the woman's child holds

A thought bubble that the woman imagines rising out of her head
8 Which of the following is the meaning of "neat" as used in Line 7?

habitually tidy, well groomed, or well organized

done with or demonstrating skill or efficiency

well-groomed and elegant

interesting and fascinating
9 What tense is used in the poem?

Present perfect tense

Present tense

A combination of present and past tense

Past tense
10 From which perspective is the poem narrated?

A mixture of first- and third-person

Limited or close third-person

Omniscient third-person

First-person
11 The final line of the poem concludes with "They have eaten me alive." To whom is the woman speaking?

The wind

Her husband

Her children

Her former lover
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 six lines.

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

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

Sweet and calm

Demanding and irritating

Rambunctious and creative

Quiet and withdrawn
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 ____.

clean and well-fitting

dirty and torn

bold, but in ill taste

old and unfashionable
16 In what year was this poem published?

1955

1961

1975

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

Critical and questioning

Unquestioning and traditional

Supportive and celebratory

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

Friendship

Motherhood

Gender roles

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

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.

The poem highlights the challenges and emotional burden associated with motherhood.
20 Which of the following best describes the setting of the poem?

Australia

A bench next to some dirt

A park

The woman's home
21 "she says to his departing smile" is an example of which of the following?

Caesura

Simile

Alliteration

Metonymy
22 What is enjambment?

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

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.

A pause near the middle of a line.
23 What is the meaning of "nursing" as used in Line 12?

Breastfeeding a baby.

Trying to cure or alleviate an injury.

Slowly drinking.

The profession or practice of providing care for the sick.
24 Which of the following details about Gwen Harwood is most relevant to the themes of the poem?

She studied music and is a talented pianist.

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

She is from Australia.

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

"Two children whine and bicker,"

"she says to his departing smile."

"but for the grace of God…”

“Time holds great surprises.”

In the Park

by Gwen Harwood

In the Park Quiz

In the Park Questions and Answers

Study Guide for In the Park