Phyllis Wheatley and George Washington

Phyllis Wheatley, a renowned poet, was well-known during her lifetime. The speaker discusses their familiarity with her work and a lesser-known connection to George Washington. Wheatley wrote an ode to Washington in 1775, which he considered publishing but hesitated due to concerns about vanity. Eventually, it was published widely. The transcript highlights the irony of Wheatley, a slave, supporting Washington, who owned slaves, and the British offering freedom to slaves who fought for them. Wheatley's unique position allowed her to develop her literary talents, unlike most slaves, which is crucial to understanding her life and work.

Who was Phyllis Wheatley recognized by during her lifetime?

• Both American colonists and people in England

• Only people in England

• Only American colonists

• Neither American colonists nor people in England

What was the title of Phyllis Wheatley's first book?

• Verses of Freedom and Morality

• The Life of George Washington

• Odes to the American Revolution

• Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral

What was the speaker's personal experience with Wheatley's work?

• They only heard about it from others

• They studied it in high school, college, and grad school

• They read it only in high school

• They had never read it

In what year did Phyllis Wheatley pen an ode to George Washington?

• 1774

• 1775

• 1776

• 1781

What role did George Washington take on that Wheatley wrote about?

• Governor of Virginia

• Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army

• President of the United States

• Ambassador to France

What was the nature of the Continental Army when Washington took command?

• Highly trained and well-equipped

• A ragtag group of untrained men

• Composed of British soldiers

• An army of mercenaries

Why did George Washington hesitate to publish Wheatley's ode?

• He thought it might seem vain

• He lost the original copy

• He disliked the ode

• He wanted to keep it private

What did Washington ultimately want for Wheatley's ode?

• To keep it a secret

• To send it back to Wheatley

• To have it published widely

• To rewrite it himself

What did Washington's friend do with Wheatley's ode?

• Sent it back to Wheatley

• Ignored it

• Kept it a secret

• Published it widely

What do historians often analyze in Washington's thank-you letter to Wheatley?

• The length of the letter

• The delay in his response

• The poetic style of the letter

• The paper it was written on