Language in 'If We Must Die'

In our third lesson on the poem 'If We Must Die', we will return to the poem again to explore the powerful images created by McKay. We will look closely at the words and sounds of the poem to consider how McKay paints a vivid scene and inspires a call to action.

This quiz includes images that don't have any alt text - please contact your teacher who should be able to help you with an audio description.

Unit quizzes are being retired in August 2023

Why we're removing unit quizzes from the website >

Quiz:

Intro quiz - Recap from previous lesson

Before we start this lesson, let’s see what you can remember from this topic. Here’s a quick quiz!

Q1.When and where was the Harlem Renaissance?

Europe, 1900sUK, 2020sAmerica, 1920s and 1930sItaly, 15th and 16th Century

1/8

Q2.What was the Harlem Renaissance?

Claude McKay's time of birthA cultural and intellectual movement led by African-American artistsA time of oppression and fearA rebirth of classical culture

2/8

Q3.What does oppression mean?

The treatment of a group of people in a cruel and unfair wayThe person or people who are doing the cruel and unfair thingsThe person or people who are suffering from being treated cruelly or unfairlyTreating people in a dignified and noble way

3/8

Q4.Who was Claude McKay?

A musician and writerA poet, writer and activistA politicianA protestor

4/8

Q5.What is racial oppression?

The treatment of a group of people fairly because of the colour of their skinThe treatment of a group of people unfairly because of the colour of their skinThe treatment of a group of people cruelly because of their religionThe treatment of a group of people unfairly because of their gender

5/8

Q6.What was the Red Summer?

A very hot summer in the 1920sA time of mass violence, racist riots and murders in America, 1919The Harlem RenaissanceAfrican-American servicemen returning from war

6/8

Q7.What did Claude McKay say about how his crew reacted to the poem?

They were agitatedThey were excitedThey were nervousThey were aggressive

7/8

Q8.What did Frank Harris say about the poem 'If We Must Die'?

It was a 'superb poem'It was 'agitating'It was 'authentic fire and blood'It was about 'oppression'

8/8

This quiz includes images that don't have any alt text - please contact your teacher who should be able to help you with an audio description.

Unit quizzes are being retired in August 2023

Why we're removing unit quizzes from the website >

Quiz:

Intro quiz - Recap from previous lesson

Before we start this lesson, let’s see what you can remember from this topic. Here’s a quick quiz!

Q1.When and where was the Harlem Renaissance?

Europe, 1900sUK, 2020sAmerica, 1920s and 1930sItaly, 15th and 16th Century

1/8

Q2.What was the Harlem Renaissance?

Claude McKay's time of birthA cultural and intellectual movement led by African-American artistsA time of oppression and fearA rebirth of classical culture

2/8

Q3.What does oppression mean?

3/8

Q4.Who was Claude McKay?

A musician and writerA poet, writer and activistA politicianA protestor

4/8

Q5.What is racial oppression?

5/8

Q6.What was the Red Summer?

A very hot summer in the 1920sA time of mass violence, racist riots and murders in America, 1919The Harlem RenaissanceAfrican-American servicemen returning from war

6/8

Q7.What did Claude McKay say about how his crew reacted to the poem?

They were agitatedThey were excitedThey were nervousThey were aggressive

7/8

Q8.What did Frank Harris say about the poem 'If We Must Die'?

It was a 'superb poem'It was 'agitating'It was 'authentic fire and blood'It was about 'oppression'

8/8

Video

Play video

Click on the play button to start the video. If your teacher asks you to pause the video and look at the worksheet you should:

Click "Close Video"
Click "Next" to view the activity

Your video will re-appear on the next page, and will stay paused in the right place.

This quiz includes images that don't have any alt text - please contact your teacher who should be able to help you with an audio description.

Unit quizzes are being retired in August 2023

Why we're removing unit quizzes from the website >

Quiz:

Language in 'If We Must Die' - Quiz

Use these questions to text your knowledge of Lesson 3: Language in 'If We Must Die' Good luck!

Q1.What is imagery?

A picture which you see next to the poemThe five senses: sight, sound, taste, smell and touchLanguage which draws on the five senses to build pictures in your mindIt is your imagination

1/8

Q2.What is a metaphor?

A word or phrase used to describe something by comparing it to something else using ‘like’ or ‘as’.A word or a phrase used to describe something as if it were something elseA word or phrase which sounds like the sound that it makesA word or phrase which draws on the five senses to build pictures

2/8

Q3.Which of these is a simile to describe the treatment of the oppressed in the poem?

Like monstersLike dogsLike precious bloodLike hogs

3/8

Q4.Which quotation includes brutal bestial imagery?

'thousand blows''like hogs''mad and hungry dogs''If We Must Die'

4/8

Q5.What does it mean to be dignified?

Acting like animalsNoble, honourable and calmNervous and scaredOppressed

5/8

Q6.What can we call these letters: t, k, p d, g, and b?

PlosivesSpittersExplosivesPlurals

6/8

Q7.Which of these words from the poem contains plosives?

BarkVainLiesMen

7/8

Q8.Why does McKay use plosives in 'If We Must Die'?

To create a beautiful imageTo make the poem explodeTo create harsh, violent but also inspiring soundsTo use figurative language

8/8

This quiz includes images that don't have any alt text - please contact your teacher who should be able to help you with an audio description.

Unit quizzes are being retired in August 2023

Why we're removing unit quizzes from the website >

Quiz:

Language in 'If We Must Die' - Quiz

Use these questions to text your knowledge of Lesson 3: Language in 'If We Must Die' Good luck!

Q1.What is imagery?

A picture which you see next to the poemThe five senses: sight, sound, taste, smell and touchLanguage which draws on the five senses to build pictures in your mindIt is your imagination

1/8

Q2.What is a metaphor?

2/8

Q3.Which of these is a simile to describe the treatment of the oppressed in the poem?

Like monstersLike dogsLike precious bloodLike hogs

3/8

Q4.Which quotation includes brutal bestial imagery?

'thousand blows''like hogs''mad and hungry dogs''If We Must Die'

4/8

Q5.What does it mean to be dignified?

Acting like animalsNoble, honourable and calmNervous and scaredOppressed

5/8

Q6.What can we call these letters: t, k, p d, g, and b?

PlosivesSpittersExplosivesPlurals

6/8

Q7.Which of these words from the poem contains plosives?

BarkVainLiesMen

7/8

Q8.Why does McKay use plosives in 'If We Must Die'?

To create a beautiful imageTo make the poem explodeTo create harsh, violent but also inspiring soundsTo use figurative language

8/8

Lesson summary: Language in 'If We Must Die'

It looks like you have not completed one of the quizzes.

To share your results with your teacher please complete one of the quizzes.

Time to move!

Did you know that exercise helps your concentration and ability to learn?

For 5 mins...

Move around:
Walk

On the spot:
Chair yoga

The next lesson in:
The sonnet through time: 'If we must die', Claude McKay
is:
Form and Structure in 'If We Must Die'

Browse Oak's lessons:

Subjects Schedule

Language in 'If We Must Die'

Unit quizzes are being retired in August 2023

Intro quiz - Recap from previous lesson

Unit quizzes are being retired in August 2023

Intro quiz - Recap from previous lesson

Video

Unit quizzes are being retired in August 2023

Language in 'If We Must Die' - Quiz

Unit quizzes are being retired in August 2023

Language in 'If We Must Die' - Quiz

Lesson summary: Language in 'If We Must Die'

It looks like you have not completed one of the quizzes.

Time to move!

The next lesson in: The sonnet through time: 'If we must die', Claude McKay is: Form and Structure in 'If We Must Die'

Browse Oak's lessons:

The next lesson in:
The sonnet through time: 'If we must die', Claude McKay
is:
Form and Structure in 'If We Must Die'