Social and Historical Context of Poems

Question 1

Where did the Harlem Renaissance take place?

Answer 1

Mostly in Harlem, Manhattan, New York

Question 2

How were First Nation slaves called?

Answer 2

Panis

Question 3

Was “Strange Fruit” written by one of the major writers of the Harlem Renaissance?

Answer 3

No, it was written by Abel Meeropol.

Question 4

If the statue of Liberty is the new Colossus, what would be the old Colossus?

Answer 4

The Colossus of Rhodes

Question 5

Why would Abel Meeropol use a pen name (Lewis Allen)?

Answer 5

To protect his identity since his name reveals that he is Jewish and Jews were marginalized at that time.

Question 6

Who was the first recorded slave in North America?

Answer 6

Olivier Le Jeune (He died May 10, 1654)

Question 7

True or false? Slavery appeared with the British in the 18th century.

Answer 7

False, slavery appeared with the first civilization in 3500 BCE.

Question 8

True or false? Slave trade developed because of the shortage of labor in the colonies.

Answer 8

True

Question 9

During which century did the haiku originate?

Answer 9

16th century

Question 10

What was the geographical pattern of the slave trade?

Answer 10

Trans-Atlantic, between Europe, the New World, and Africa

Question 11

Is Gerald Locklin still alive?

Answer 11

Yes

Question 12

When and where was the Sonnet created?

Answer 12

In Italy, 13th Century.

Question 13

Place these poets in chronological order: Maya Angelou, William Shakespeare, Robert Herrick, and Gerald Locklin.

Answer 13

Shakespeare (+/-1580), Herrick (+/-1630), Angelou (+/-1940), Locklin (+/-1970).

Question 14

What historical event does Angelou describe in “Africa”?

Answer 14

The colonization of Africa.

Question 15

Langston Hughes and Claude Mckay took part in which artistic movement?

Answer 15

Harlem Renaissance

Question 17

What is lynching?

Answer 17

A premeditated killing of an individual by a group of people.

Question 18

What was the nationality of Viola Desmond and what did she fight for?

Answer 18

Canadian and she was a civil rights activist.

Question 18

When was slavery abolished in the United-States?

Answer 18

1865

Question 19

What happened to the victims of lynching?

Answer 19

They would be hanged from a tree (Strange fruit) and then set on fire.

Question 20

What is the chronological order of the abolishment of slavery in: the United-States, Quebec, British empire?

Answer 20

1. Quebec
2. British Empire
3. United-States

Question 21

Who is not a contemporary poet between: Hannah Drake, Gerald Locklin, Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Webster?

Answer 21

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Question 22

Who is the oldest poet we’ve seen?

Answer 22

William Shakespeare

Question 23

When was the phrase “Carpe Diem” first used?

Answer 23

In 23 BC by Horace.

Question 24

Besides being the first slave, what else was Olivier Le Jeune first at?

Answer 24

He was the first student.

Question 25

What does “Carpe Diem” stands for?

Answer 25

To “seize the day,” to enjoy life while one may.

Question 26

Were the slaves in Canada used for the same needs as in United States?

Answer 26

No. In United States, slaves were used for manual labour like cotton fields. However, in Canada, they were used as domestics.

Question 27

What was Webster studying while he wrote his poems?

Answer 27

The history of slavery in Quebec.