Question

Why did the “most respectable characters in Boston” ask to meet with Phillis Wheatley in October 1772? They questioned the veracity of her claim to have written poetry. They were impressed by her poetry and wanted to meet the author. They were considering the broader issue of slavery and wanted Wheatley’s opinions. They wanted her to write heroic poems about them like the one she’d written about Washington.

Answer 1

The reason why most respectable characters in Boston asked to meet with Phillis Wheatley in October 1772 is to question the veracity of her claim to have written poetry. They were not convinced by the statement of the author claiming that she was able to write poetry. They wanted to confirm if she was really able to write one.

Answer 2

The “most respectable characters in Boston” ask to meet with Phillis Wheatley in October 1772 because they questioned the veracity of her claim to have written poetry.

Answer: Option A

Explanation:

Phillis Wheatley was supposed to meet Boston in 1772 because they not only wanted to question the veracity of her claim to have written poetry, but also find an answer to the same too.

However they couldn’t be convinced by the claims from her stating that even she can write poetry but they rather wanted to verify it by themselves if she can do the same. However she was brought to Boston as a slave in 1761 who later went on to become a personal help for John Wheatley’s wife.