Phillis Wheatley Poetry Quiz

A traditional building technique in the early 18th century using posts and interwoven wooden strips to create frame walls. It was prevalent in the Louisiana Territory, especially in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri.

A historical structure in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri built using the poteaux-en-terre technique. It's one of only five remaining examples of this technique in the United States.

A distinguishing feature of the Bequette-Ribault House. It refers to the slanted roof that extends beyond the walls, like a pyramid shape.

A historical home built around 1800 in Louisiana, showcasing the poteaux-en-terre construction method similar to the Bequette-Ribault House. This home was owned by Marie Métoyer, a freedwoman of African descent.

A Louisiana woman of African descent born in 1742, who was emancipated from slavery and later acquired land. Notably, she was the owner of the Africa House.

A concept in historical studies that emphasizes the ongoing sexual relations between enslaved people and their owners, often resulting in mixed-race offspring.

The act of granting freedom from slavery, often done by an owner to an enslaved person.

A legal instrument used to transfer ownership of property from one person to another, often after death (in the case of a will).

Coincoin was originally a slave who ultimately gained freedom and purchased land to become a successful planter. She later purchased slaves after her freedom.

The property owned by Coincoin grew significantly over time, eventually encompassing over 100,000 acres.

During the 1830s, a significant number of Black individuals in the U.S. owned slaves. This demonstrates how slave ownership was intertwined with both racial and economic factors.

A structure built by slaves on Coincoin’s property, Africa House combined architectural elements of both African grassland region architecture and French farmhouse construction, reflecting the cultural fusion of colonial Louisiana.

Coincoin’s legacy extended beyond her own life. She was instrumental in the development of the Cane River community, a historically significant Creole community.

It was common for freed people in the South who could afford it to own slaves, highlighting the complex relationship between race and societal power structures.

Even though they were freed, Coincoin’s three older children were initially still enslaved. She purchased their freedom once she had amassed sufficient resources.

Coincoin’s home, Africa House, served both residential and storage purposes, reflecting the practicality of its design.

A Louisiana woman of African descent born in 1742, who was emancipated from slavery and later acquired land. Notably, she was the owner of the Africa House.

A rare slave cabin from the Sea Islands area of South Carolina, now in Washington, D.C. It represents centuries of slave cabin construction.

A historical structure built using a mixture of animal hair, mud, and moss to fill in the spaces between bricks and timbers. It is known for its unique design and use of local materials.

A type of dwelling frequently built by enslaved people in colonial America, These small structures often showcased unique architectural features and materials.

Wheatley's poem about the power of art to capture emotions and transcend ordinary themes.

The poem's main theme: art's power to elevate and express profound ideas.

To express profound truths and complex emotions, art needs to transcend the ordinary and elevate to new heights.

A portrait that captures Wheatley's unique status as an enslaved intellectual.

A formal art school, traditionally government-sponsored, where acknowledged master artists set curricula and serve as faculty.

A three-stringed instrument constructed from a hollowed gourd and stretched animal skin, with a wood neck.

A genre of popular 19th-century entertainers who wore black stage makeup and performed in the guise of a black person; performances were characterized by stereotypical exaggerations and comedic caricature.

To hand or tool polish an object to create a lustrous surface.

Substances used to fill cracks, holes, or spaces between logs in log cabins; substances range from plaster or clay to plant fibers or wood chips.

Wheatley's poetry caught the attention of Lady Selina Shirley Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon, who was a wealthy philanthropist and an influential figure in the evangelical movement.

Lady Huntingdon commissioned Archibald Bell, a London bookseller, to publish a collection of Wheatley's poems.

The collection of Wheatley's poems included her portrait, a "fine likeness" created by Scipio Moorhead, her neighbor in Boston.

Wheatley's poems were published under the title "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral." This collection included poetry dedicated to Moorhead.

One poem in the collection was dedicated to Moorhead and titled "To S.M. a Young African Painter, on Seeing His Works." This poem praised Moorhead's artistry.

Moorhead created a portrait of Wheatley for her published collection of poems.

The Wheatley volume included a poem dedicated to Moorhead, recognizing his talent and mentioning his paintings.

The poem praises Moorhead's skill, and references his lost but significant paintings, "Aurora and Damon [and Pythias]."