Countee Cullen's Poetry
Take this short quiz to test your understanding of Cullen's poetry. Take a screenshot of your score report to submit on the next page!
- 1.
In "From the Dark Tower," what does Cullen imply about the job situation during the 1920s for blacks as compared with whites?
- A.
a. It is equal after a long, hard fight.
- B.
b. It is the closest to equal it is ever going to be.
- C.
c. It is unequal, but the situation is much improved from a few years earlier.
- D.
d. It is unequal, but some day this will change.
Correct Answer
D. d. It is unequal, but some day this will change.Explanation
Cullen implies that the job situation during the 1920s for blacks is unequal compared to whites, but he believes that this inequality will eventually change in the future. He suggests that although there may have been some improvements from previous years, there is still a long way to go before achieving equality in job opportunities for blacks.Rate this question:
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- 2.
In "From the Black Tower," which line is evidence of black pride at the time of the Harlem Renaissance writers?
- A.
a. "Not always countenance, . . . / That lesser men should hold their brothers cheap"
- B.
b. "Not everlastingly . . . Shall we beguile their limbs with mellow flute"
- C.
c. "The night whose sable breast . . . is no less lovely being dark"
- D.
d. "So in the dark we hide the heart that bleeds"
Correct Answer
C. c. "The night whose sable breast . . . is no less lovely being dark"Explanation
The line "The night whose sable breast . . . is no less lovely being dark" is evidence of black pride during the Harlem Renaissance because it celebrates the beauty and value of darkness. It suggests that being black is not something to be ashamed of, but rather something to be embraced and celebrated. This line challenges the societal norms and biases that equate darkness with negativity and inferiority, and instead asserts that blackness is just as beautiful and worthy as any other skin color.Rate this question:
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- 3.
Why is the poem titled "Saturday's Child"?
- A.
a. Cullen's favorite day of the week was Saturday.
- B.
b. Cullen was born on a Saturday.
- C.
c. Cullen went to work on Saturdays.
- D.
d. Saturday was the only day his father would play with him.
Correct Answer
B. b. Cullen was born on a Saturday.Explanation
The poem is titled "Saturday's Child" because Cullen was born on a Saturday.Rate this question:
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- 4.
What makes "The Loss of Love" such a different poem from that of other writers during the Harlem Renaissance?
- A.
a. Cullen's poems are more romantic and do not focus as much on race and social issues.
- B.
b. Every other line rhymes, while most Harlem Renaissance poetry is written in free verse.
- C.
c. "The Loss of Love" is much longer than most Harlem Renaissance poetry.
- D.
d. It isn't different at all. This is a perfect example of the type of poetry that was written during this time period.
Correct Answer
A. a. Cullen's poems are more romantic and do not focus as much on race and social issues.Explanation
The correct answer is a. Cullen's poems are more romantic and do not focus as much on race and social issues. This explanation suggests that "The Loss of Love" stands out from other poems of the Harlem Renaissance because it deviates from the prevalent themes of race and social issues. Instead, Cullen's poem is characterized by a more romantic tone, which sets it apart from the works of other writers during that period.Rate this question:
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- 5.
Who or what did Cullen say fathered him in his poem "Saturday's Child"?
- A.
a. His biological father
- B.
b. Fairies
- C.
c. Pain
- D.
d. His adoptive father
Correct Answer
D. d. His adoptive fatherExplanation
In his poem "Saturday's Child," Cullen said that his adoptive father fathered him. This suggests that Cullen was not biologically related to his father, but rather was raised and cared for by his adoptive father.Rate this question:
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Current Version
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Mar 21, 2023Quiz Edited by
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Feb 23, 2012Quiz Created by
Ccnehrenberg