In the Park Quizzes

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

Allusion

Simile

Metaphor

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

Free verse

Villanelle

Elegy

Sonnet
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

Four

One

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

Melancholy and regretful

Foreboding and dark

Wistful but hopeful

Cheerful and content
6 Which of the following is the rhyme scheme used in the poem?

AABB ABAB ABCABC

AABB ABAB ABABAB

ABBA ABBA 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

done with or demonstrating skill or efficiency

habitually tidy, well groomed, or well organized
9 What tense is used in the poem?

Present perfect tense

Past tense

Present tense

A combination of present and past tense
10 From which perspective is the poem narrated?

A mixture of first- and third-person

Omniscient third-person

Limited or close third-person

First-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?

Sweet and calm

Rambunctious and creative

Quiet and withdrawn

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

Caesura

Parataxis

End-stopping

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

bold, but in ill taste

old and unfashionable

clean and well-fitting

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

1980

1961

1975

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

Skeptical but ultimately accepting

Critical and questioning

Supportive and celebratory

Unquestioning and traditional
18 Which of the following is NOT a theme in the poem?

Identity

Friendship

Gender roles

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

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.

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?

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?

Metonymy

Alliteration

Simile

Caesura
22 What is enjambment?

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.

The continuation of a sentence across a line break in a poem.
23 What is the meaning of "nursing" as used in Line 12?

Trying to cure or alleviate an injury.

The profession or practice of providing care for the sick.

Breastfeeding a baby.

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

She published many of her poems under a male pseudonym.

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

She studied music and is a talented pianist.

She is from Australia.
25 Which of the following is an example of spoken dialogue in the poem?

“Time holds great surprises.”

"she says to his departing smile."

"Two children whine and bicker,"

"but for the grace of God…”

In the Park

by Gwen Harwood

In the Park Quiz

In the Park Questions and Answers

Study Guide for In the Park