The White House (Claude McKay poem) Quizzes

The White House (Claude McKay poem) Quiz

1 When was "The White House" published?
1915

1940

1922

1921
2 Claude McKay was a central figure in which literary movement?
The Harlem Renaissance

The Romantics

American Gothic

The Beat Movement
3 What did McKay's later editor Alain Locke change the title of "The White House" to?
Courage and Grace

Sharp as Steel

White Houses

Spring Sonnets
4 Which poetic form does the "The White House" use?
Blank verse

Villanelle

Sonnet

Ode
5 Which of the following is an example of simile used in the poem?
the potent poison of your hate. (Line 14)

And I am sharp as steel with discontent (Line 2)

as I pass, / A chafing savage, down the decent street (Lines 6-7)

Oh, I must search for wisdom every hour, (Line 9)
6 Which of the following is NOT a theme in the poem?
Racism

Resilience

Religion

Hatred and oppression
7 Which of the following is an example of metaphor in the poem?
To hold me to the letter of your law! (Line 12)

Deep in my wrathful bosom sore and raw, (Line 10)

the potent poison of your hate. (Line 14)

And I am sharp as steel with discontent (Line 2)
8 How does the speaker describe the sensation of the street on their feet?
Painful and sharp.

Burning hot.

Smooth and carpet-like.

Freezing cold.
9 Which of the following best describes the tone of the speaker?
Confused and anxious.

Exhausted and resigned.

Angry and proud.

Optimistic and joyful.
10 Which of the following is an example of irony?
Oh, I must search for wisdom every hour (Line 9)

But I possess the courage and the grace / To bear my anger proudly and unbent. (Lines 3-4)

A chafing savage, down the decent street; Where boldly shines your shuttered door of glass. (Lines 7-8)

Your door is shut against my tightened face (Line 1)
11 Which of the following is NOT a word the speaker uses to describe themselves in the poem?
Wrathful

Sore

Exhausted

Chafing
12 What meter is the poem written in?
No set meter

Iambic pentameter

Iambic tetrameter

Dactylic hexameter
13 Which of the following is an example of alliteration?
Deep in my wrathful bosom

I possess the courage and the grace

I must keep my heart inviolate

shines your shuttered door
14 Which of the following is the rhyme scheme used in the poem?
ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

AABB CCCDD EEFF GG

ABBA CDDDC EFFE GG

AABA CDCDC EFFE GG
15 What perspective is the poem narrated from?
Third person omniscient

First person plural

Third person limited

First person
16 As used in Line 13, what does the word "inviolate" mean?
strong and barely controllable emotion

free or safe from injury or violation

powerful retaliation

unblemished and clear
17 What does the speaker need in order to hold to the letter of law?
Anger

Superhuman power

Discontent

Racism
18 How does "The White House" differ from a traditional sonnet?
It uses simile and metaphor.

It does not follow a set meter.

It uses a free form rhyme scheme.

It expresses political resistance instead of romantic love or celebration.
19 Where was McKay born?
Cuba

Jamaica

United States

Harlem, New York
20 "And I am sharp as ___ with discontent."
metal

glass

steel

poison
21 Which of the following is true of Claude McKay?
He first moved to Harlem in 1946.

The FBI prepared a file about his activities.

He was not politically engaged.

He rejected all traditional forms and structures in his poetry.
22 How often must the speaker search for wisdom?
Never

Every hour

Whenever they are wronged

Occassionally
23 The hatred of white supremacists is described as ___.
Steel

A wrathful bosom

A mountain

A potent poison
24 How many times is the phrase "Oh, I must" repeated in the poem?
Three times

Four times

Once

Twice
25 As used in Line 7, the word "decent" means ___.
an action of moving downward, dropping, or falling

kind, obliging, and generous

appropriate; fitting

conforming with generally accepted standards of respectable or moral behavior

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