The White House (Claude McKay poem) Quizzes

The White House (Claude McKay poem) Quiz

1 When was "The White House" published?

1921

1940

1922

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

The Romantics

American Gothic

The Beat Movement

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

Spring Sonnets

Courage and Grace

White Houses

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

Villanelle

Blank verse

Sonnet

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

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

the potent poison of your hate. (Line 14)

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

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

Religion

Hatred and oppression

Resilience

Racism
7 Which of the following is an example of metaphor in the poem?

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)

To hold me to the letter of your law! (Line 12)
8 How does the speaker describe the sensation of the street on their feet?

Smooth and carpet-like.

Freezing cold.

Burning hot.

Painful and sharp.
9 Which of the following best describes the tone of the speaker?

Exhausted and resigned.

Confused and anxious.

Angry and proud.

Optimistic and joyful.
10 Which of the following is an example of irony?

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

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)

But I possess the courage and the grace / To bear my anger proudly and unbent. (Lines 3-4)
11 Which of the following is NOT a word the speaker uses to describe themselves in the poem?

Chafing

Sore

Exhausted

Wrathful
12 What meter is the poem written in?

Iambic tetrameter

Dactylic hexameter

Iambic pentameter

No set meter
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?

AABB CCCDD EEFF GG

ABBA CDDDC EFFE GG

ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

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

First person plural

First person

Third person omniscient

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

free or safe from injury or violation

unblemished and clear

strong and barely controllable emotion

powerful retaliation
17 What does the speaker need in order to hold to the letter of law?

Discontent

Racism

Superhuman power

Anger
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

United States

Cuba

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

glass

poison

metal

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

He was not politically engaged.

The FBI prepared a file about his activities.

He rejected all traditional forms and structures in his poetry.

He first moved to Harlem in 1946.
22 How often must the speaker search for wisdom?

Every hour

Occassionally

Never

Whenever they are wronged
23 The hatred of white supremacists is described as ___.

Steel

A potent poison

A mountain

A wrathful bosom
24 How many times is the phrase "Oh, I must" repeated in the poem?

Twice

Once

Three times

Four times
25 As used in Line 7, the word "decent" means ___.

kind, obliging, and generous

appropriate; fitting

an action of moving downward, dropping, or falling

conforming with generally accepted standards of respectable or moral behavior

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