In the Park Quizzes

In the Park Quiz

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

Quotation marks to signal dialogue or thought

Simile

Metaphor
2 What is the form of the poem?
Sonnet

Villanelle

Elegy

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

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

Three

One

Two
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 ABCABC

AAAB ABBB ABBABB

AABB ABAB ABABAB

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

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

A hot-air balloon passing over the park

A helium balloon that the woman's child holds
8 Which of the following is the meaning of "neat" as used in Line 7?
done with or demonstrating skill or efficiency

habitually tidy, well groomed, or well organized

well-groomed and elegant

interesting and fascinating
9 What tense is used in the poem?
A combination of present and past tense

Present perfect tense

Present tense

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

A mixture of first- and 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?
The first two stanzas are four lines each and the third stanza is six lines.

Three stanzas of six lines each.

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

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

Rambunctious and creative

Quiet and withdrawn

Sweet and calm
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

dirty and torn

old and unfashionable

clean and well-fitting
16 In what year was this poem published?
1955

1975

1961

1980
17 What is the poem's attitude towards traditional, patriarchal society?
Skeptical but ultimately accepting

Unquestioning and traditional

Critical and questioning

Supportive and celebratory
18 Which of the following is NOT a theme in the poem?
Identity

Gender roles

Motherhood

Friendship
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 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.
20 Which of the following best describes the setting of the poem?
The woman's home

A bench next to some dirt

Australia

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

Caesura

Simile

Alliteration
22 What is enjambment?
The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.

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.
23 What is the meaning of "nursing" as used in Line 12?
Slowly drinking.

The profession or practice of providing care for the sick.

Breastfeeding a baby.

Trying to cure or alleviate an injury.
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 is from Australia.

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?
"Two children whine and bicker,"

"but for the grace of God…”

"she says to his departing smile."

“Time holds great surprises.”

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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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