I, Being Born a Woman and Distressed by Edna St. Vincent Millay (AQA A-Level English Literature A): Flashcards
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Form of 'I, Being Born a Woman and Distressed'
Form of 'I, Being Born a Woman and Distressed'
Petrarchan (Italian) sonnet
Rhyme scheme of Millay's sonnet
Rhyme scheme of Millay's sonnet
ABBAABBA CDCDCD
Location of volta in poem
Location of volta in poem
Line 9, shifting from desire to autonomy
Central conflict in poem
Central conflict in poem
Biological desire vs. rational decision-making
'Fume of life' metaphor meaning
'Fume of life' metaphor meaning
Desire as intoxicating vapour that clouds judgement
'Stout blood' vs 'staggering brain' meaning
'Stout blood' vs 'staggering brain' meaning
Physical desires vs rational thought (brain prevails)
Speaker's message about physical attraction
Speaker's message about physical attraction
Insufficient reason to continue relationship
Millay's historic achievement in 1923
Millay's historic achievement in 1923
First woman to win Pulitzer Prize for Poetry
Role of octave and sestet in structure
Role of octave and sestet in structure
Octave presents problem, sestet presents solution
Historical significance of poem's content
Historical significance of poem's content
Revolutionary for openly discussing female sexuality