The White House (Claude McKay poem) Quizzes

The White House (Claude McKay poem) Quiz

1 When was "The White House" published?

1922

1921

1940

1915
2 Claude McKay was a central figure in which literary movement?

The Beat Movement

The Harlem Renaissance

American Gothic

The Romantics
3 What did McKay's later editor Alain Locke change the title of "The White House" to?

Courage and Grace

White Houses

Spring Sonnets

Sharp as Steel
4 Which poetic form does the "The White House" use?

Sonnet

Ode

Blank verse

Villanelle
5 Which of the following is an example of simile used in the poem?

Oh, I must search for wisdom every hour, (Line 9)

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

the potent poison of your hate. (Line 14)

as I pass, / A chafing savage, down the decent street (Lines 6-7)
6 Which of the following is NOT a theme in the poem?

Resilience

Religion

Racism

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)

the potent poison of your hate. (Line 14)

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

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

Freezing cold.

Painful and sharp.

Smooth and carpet-like.

Burning hot.
9 Which of the following best describes the tone of the speaker?

Optimistic and joyful.

Confused and anxious.

Exhausted and resigned.

Angry and proud.
10 Which of the following is an example of irony?

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)

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

Oh, I must search for wisdom every hour (Line 9)
11 Which of the following is NOT a word the speaker uses to describe themselves in the poem?

Wrathful

Exhausted

Sore

Chafing
12 What meter is the poem written in?

No set meter

Iambic tetrameter

Iambic pentameter

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?

ABBA CDDDC EFFE GG

ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

AABB CCCDD EEFF GG

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

Third person limited

First person plural

First person

Third person omniscient
16 As used in Line 13, what does the word "inviolate" mean?

free or safe from injury or violation

powerful retaliation

unblemished and clear

strong and barely controllable emotion
17 What does the speaker need in order to hold to the letter of law?

Racism

Discontent

Superhuman power

Anger
18 How does "The White House" differ from a traditional sonnet?

It does not follow a set meter.

It uses simile and metaphor.

It expresses political resistance instead of romantic love or celebration.

It uses a free form rhyme scheme.
19 Where was McKay born?

United States

Jamaica

Cuba

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

metal

glass

poison

steel
21 Which of the following is true of Claude McKay?

He rejected all traditional forms and structures in his poetry.

The FBI prepared a file about his activities.

He was not politically engaged.

He first moved to Harlem in 1946.
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 potent poison

A mountain
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 ___.

kind, obliging, and generous

an action of moving downward, dropping, or falling

appropriate; fitting

conforming with generally accepted standards of respectable or moral behavior

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