The White House (Claude McKay poem) Quizzes

The White House (Claude McKay poem) Quiz

1 When was "The White House" published?
1915

1921

1922

1940
2 Claude McKay was a central figure in which literary movement?
American Gothic

The Beat Movement

The Romantics

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

Sharp as Steel

Spring Sonnets

Courage and Grace
4 Which poetic form does the "The White House" use?
Sonnet

Blank verse

Ode

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

And I am sharp as steel with discontent (Line 2)
6 Which of the following is NOT a theme in the poem?
Religion

Resilience

Hatred and oppression

Racism
7 Which of the following is an example of metaphor in the poem?
the potent poison of your hate. (Line 14)

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

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

Deep in my wrathful bosom sore and raw, (Line 10)
8 How does the speaker describe the sensation of the street on their feet?
Painful and sharp.

Burning hot.

Freezing cold.

Smooth and carpet-like.
9 Which of the following best describes the tone of the speaker?
Optimistic and joyful.

Confused and anxious.

Angry and proud.

Exhausted and resigned.
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)

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

Your door is shut against my tightened face (Line 1)

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?
Exhausted

Sore

Chafing

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

No set meter

Iambic tetrameter

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

shines your shuttered door

I possess the courage and the grace

I must keep my heart inviolate
14 Which of the following is the rhyme scheme used in the poem?
ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

ABBA CDDDC EFFE GG

AABB CCCDD EEFF GG

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

Third person omniscient

First person plural

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?
Superhuman power

Anger

Racism

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

It does not follow a set meter.

It uses simile and metaphor.

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

Harlem, New York

United States

Cuba
20 "And I am sharp as ___ with discontent."
glass

metal

steel

poison
21 Which of the following is true of Claude McKay?
He rejected all traditional forms and structures in his poetry.

He was not politically engaged.

He first moved to Harlem in 1946.

The FBI prepared a file about his activities.
22 How often must the speaker search for wisdom?
Never

Occassionally

Whenever they are wronged

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

A wrathful bosom

Steel

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

Twice

Four times

Three times
25 As used in Line 7, the word "decent" means ___.
kind, obliging, and generous

conforming with generally accepted standards of respectable or moral behavior

appropriate; fitting

an action of moving downward, dropping, or falling

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