Phyllis Wheatley: Life and Legacy

Phyllis Wheatley was the first notable African-American woman poet, born around 1753 in West Africa. Kidnapped and brought to Boston, she was purchased by the Wheatley family, who educated her. She mastered English, Greek, and Latin, and began writing poetry. Her first poem was published in 1767, and she gained fame with an elegy to George Whitefield. Despite her talent, American publishers refused to print her work due to her status as an enslaved person. Her first book was published in London in 1773. Wheatley's contributions highlighted the importance of education for African Americans and supported the abolition movement.

Where was Phyllis Wheatley born?

• North America

• West Africa

• East Africa

• South America

Who purchased Phyllis Wheatley when she arrived in Boston?

• The Jefferson family

• The Adams family

• The Franklin family

• The Wheatley family

What languages did Phyllis Wheatley learn after mastering English?

• Portuguese and Dutch

• Greek and Latin

• French and Spanish

• German and Italian

What was the title of Phyllis Wheatley's first published poem?

• Elegy to George Whitefield

• Poems on Various Subjects

• The Slave's Lament

• On Messers. Hussey and Coffin

At what age did Phyllis Wheatley gain fame for her poetry?

• 15

• 18

• 20

• 25

What themes were prevalent in Wheatley's collection of 28 poems?

• Love and friendship

• War and peace

• Morality, piety, and freedom

• Nature and beauty

Who was George Whitefield, whom Wheatley wrote an elegy for?

• A military general

• A political leader

• A popular preacher

• A famous poet

Why were American publishers initially unwilling to print Wheatley's work?

• She wrote in a foreign language

• Her style was not popular

• She was an enslaved person

• Her poems were too controversial

Where was Phyllis Wheatley's first book published?

• Boston

• London

• Paris

• New York

What was the significance of Wheatley's book published in 1773?

• First poetry book in America

• First book by an enslaved African-American

• First book by an African-American woman

• First book on abolition