The White House (Claude McKay poem) Quizzes

The White House (Claude McKay poem) Quiz

1 When was "The White House" published?
1940

1921

1922

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

The Harlem Renaissance

American Gothic

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

Courage and Grace

Sharp as Steel

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

Ode

Sonnet

Villanelle
5 Which of the following is an example of simile used in the poem?
And I am sharp as steel with discontent (Line 2)

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

the potent poison of your hate. (Line 14)

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

Hatred and oppression

Resilience

Religion
7 Which of the following is an example of metaphor in the poem?
Deep in my wrathful bosom sore and raw, (Line 10)

To hold me to the letter of your law! (Line 12)

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

the potent poison of your hate. (Line 14)
8 How does the speaker describe the sensation of the street on their feet?
Smooth and carpet-like.

Painful and sharp.

Burning hot.

Freezing cold.
9 Which of the following best describes the tone of the speaker?
Angry and proud.

Exhausted and resigned.

Optimistic and joyful.

Confused and anxious.
10 Which of the following is an example of irony?
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)

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

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?
Sore

Chafing

Wrathful

Exhausted
12 What meter is the poem written in?
Dactylic hexameter

Iambic pentameter

No set meter

Iambic tetrameter
13 Which of the following is an example of alliteration?
Deep in my wrathful bosom

shines your shuttered door

I must keep my heart inviolate

I possess the courage and the grace
14 Which of the following is the rhyme scheme used in the poem?
AABA CDCDC EFFE GG

ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

AABB CCCDD EEFF GG

ABBA CDDDC 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?
unblemished and clear

powerful retaliation

strong and barely controllable emotion

free or safe from injury or violation
17 What does the speaker need in order to hold to the letter of law?
Discontent

Superhuman power

Anger

Racism
18 How does "The White House" differ from a traditional sonnet?
It expresses political resistance instead of romantic love or celebration.

It uses a free form rhyme scheme.

It does not follow a set meter.

It uses simile and metaphor.
19 Where was McKay born?
Jamaica

United States

Cuba

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

glass

metal

poison
21 Which of the following is true of Claude McKay?
He was not politically engaged.

He first moved to Harlem in 1946.

He rejected all traditional forms and structures in his poetry.

The FBI prepared a file about his activities.
22 How often must the speaker search for wisdom?
Whenever they are wronged

Occassionally

Never

Every hour
23 The hatred of white supremacists is described as ___.
A wrathful bosom

A potent poison

A mountain

Steel
24 How many times is the phrase "Oh, I must" repeated in the poem?
Four times

Once

Three times

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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