Analysis of "I, being born a woman and distressed"

which of Millay’s contemporaries was also a master of meter and verse like herself?

Robert Frost

What form is “I, being born a woman and distressed?”

Petarchan sonnet

How many lines does a sonnet consist of?

14 lines

What is Petarchan form composed of?

an opening eight-line stanza (octet) with the rhyme scheme ABBAABBA and a concluding six-line stanza (setset) with the rhyme scheme CDCDCD (sometimes CDECDE)

What separates the 2 stanzas?

a volta or “turn” which represents a shift in the thought or argument of the poem

What word marks the volta of the poem?

“however” in the middle of the 9th line

Many sonnets address what?

The contemplation of a serious problem or question

What  is addressed in “I, being born a woman and distressed?”

The speaker reflects on how her identity as a woman and all the “needs and notions" that go along with it creates nonnegotiable expectations

How does the speaker find the male addressee? What is she excited for regarding him?

fair; she’s excited to have physical contact with him and be generally overwhelmed by her desire for him

How is the octet organized ?

In iambic pentameter

what is iambic pentameter?

Consists of 5 metrical feet containing an unstressed and then stressed syllables which helps make the passage flow without complications or hiccups.

What effect does the “flowy passage” effect from iambic pentameter have on the portrayal of the speaker’s intentions?

it’s as if the speaker is giving credence to the idea that is it natural and easy to be consumed by her desire for a man.

After the turn of the poem what notion does the speaker resist? What idea does she challenge in doing so?

The supposedly inevitable infatuation that she must feel toward her addressee, tempering her passions with reason; she challenges the idea that women cannot dictate the terms of their intimate relationships

Does the speaker believe the overwhelming “frenzy” is enough to carry on a meaningful romance?

no, feeling passion isn’t enough for her

What type of language is used in the octet? What about the sestet?

ironically elevated language; direct language “let me make it plain”

How does the last line of the poem function?

It refers to a passing affair rather than a sustained connection between the speaker and the addressee since rather than staying together permanently they have a chance to “meet again”

Why is there tension between the octet and sestet?

There’s tension between the social expectation and personal value as well as between the mind and body

Which 2 themes are significant motifs in Millay’s work?

The tension between social expectation and personal as well as between mind and body.

What does the ironic language in the octet suggest about the speaker?

that she views that which is “urged” upon her with suspicion.

The speaker sees a disconnect between what? How does this appear in the poem?

personal choice and biological impulse; feeling desire is natural but being defined by desire is something the speaker rejects after the volta

Ultimately the wild “frenzy” she feels for the addressee is _______ but not _______

powerful but not binding; she has the power and strength to name resist and control the frenzy

The poem as a whole is an examination and ultimately a reclamation of what?

women’s desire and an illustration of Millay’s ability to use older poetic forms to explore contemporary issues.