A Raisin in the Sun
by Lorraine Hansberry
Name: ______________________________________________
Period: ___________
The Harlem Renaissance
“Take the A Train”
What is the Great Migration?
List the three founding fathers of the Harlem Renaissance:
Who were some famous artists, authors, and musicians from the Harlem Renaissance?
List two things you learned about Harlem Renaissance today:
1.
2.
Lorraine Hansberry
When and where was Lorraine Hansberry born?
Who were some of her literary influences?
How did Hansberry’s life influence her writing?
List three of her accomplishments:
Based on Hansberry’s life and what you know about the Harlem Renaissance, make a prediction on what you
think the play will be about.
A Raisin in the Sun -- Anticipation Guide
We are going to the read the play, A Raisin in the Sun. The following statements will give you some insight
into many of the themes present in the play. Rate each statement on a scale of 1-5 (1 = disagree and 5 = agree).
1. You should hold onto your dreams; if you work hard enough for them they will come true. ________
Reasoning:
2. Once children are grown, their parents are no longer responsible to provide them with money and
housing. ___________
Reasoning:
3. If a man is unable to provide monetarily for his family, he is less of a man. ____________
Reasoning:
4.
Neighbors have the right to decide what kind of community they want to have—including who lives in
that neighborhood. _______
Reasoning:
5.
When someone insults you, it is best to “turn the other cheek.” ________
Reasoning:
6. The United States is a “melting pot,” in which people from many cultures leave their differences behind
and only follow “American” customs and traditions. ________
Reasoning:
Directions: Read through and annotate the poem for any examples of figurative language. Keep in mind this
poem is NOT written by the author of the play.
Harlem: A Dream Deferred
by Langston Hughes, 1951
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore—
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over—
Like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
Like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
1. Choose one examples of figurative language from the poem and explain both its literal meaning and its
figurative meaning.
2. What is Hughes saying about dreams in this poem?
3.
How do you think this poem may relate to A Raisin in the Sun? Explain.
Act I, Scene I
The Younger Apartment
Time: Sometime between 1945 and 1958
Place: Southside Chicago
A Raisin in the Sun takes place entirely in the Younger home. Although people come and go, the audience only
sees what goes on inside their apartment.
Directions:
● Read the introduction, and draw a layout of the Younger apartment.
● You must include: Living Room, Kitchen area (include the one small window), bedroom on left,
bedroom on right, and the shared bathroom.
● Additional details (such the furnishings and who is in what room, etc.) should also be included.
ACT I, Scene 1
1. In Scene One, what does the setting of the Younger's apartment convey about them and their situation?
2. Walter and Ruth react differently when Travis asks for money for school. What are Walter and Ruth’s
attitude about money?
3.
How are Walter and Beneatha alike in their ambitions? How are they different?
4. What does Mama retrieve when she opens the window? What is unique about this object?
ACT I, Scene 2
1.
What is revealed about Ruth and where she has been? What is she thinking about and why might she
be considering such a thing?
2.
Who is Joseph Asagai? How does Beneatha meet him?
3. How much is the insurance check worth?
4. How does Mama try to influence Walter at the end of the scene? What does she reveal to him?
Character Chart
Directions: After reading Act I, complete the provided characterization chart as an individual activity. Find
actions, dialogue in the play, and thoughts, which show characteristics of the following characters.
Character
Ruth
Beneatha
Mama
Walter
Characteristics
(List at least 4 adjectives)
Dialogue, actions, thoughts which reveal
these characteristics
(List 3 - 4)
Act II, Scene 1
1. How does the arrival of George Murchison change the mood of the scene?
2. What is Walter’s attitude toward George?
3. What news does Mama break to the family in this scene?
4. How do Ruth and Walter react to Mama’s news?
Act II, Scene 2
1. What sort woman does George say he wants Beneatha to be? Why doesn’t George want to listen to
Beneatha’s ideas?
2. How does Ruth find out that Walter has not been to work for three days? What has he been doing
Instead of going to work?
3. When Walter tells Travis that he wants to hand him the world, what sort of life is Walter envisioning for
his family?
Act II, Scene 3
1. Why does Mr. Lindner come to the Younger’s apartment?
2. Why don’t the residents and Clybourne Park want the Youngers to move there?
3. How does Walter react to Lindner’s offer?
4. What gifts does the family give Mama? Why are the gifts appropriate?
5. What news is brought about the liquor license and how does Walter react to the news?
Bio Poem Activity
Act II
Directions: Hansberry’s dynamic characterization is one of the most striking elements in her play.
Choose a character (Walter Lee, Ruth, Mama, or Beneatha), and write a 10-line Bio Poem that aptly
captures his or her role in the play. Go beyond the obvious—what does your character dream about?
Does he or she work for personal benefit or the good of the family? In 10 lines, try to describe clearly
your character to someone who has not read the play.
Bio Poem Outline:
Line 1: First Name
Line 2: Four descriptive traits (adjectives)
Line 3: Sibling, Husband, Wife, Mother, etc. of...
Line 4: Lover of … 3 things
Line 5: Who feels… 3 things
Line 6: Who needs... 3 things
Line 7: Who fears... 3 things
Line 8: Who would like to ... 3 things
Line 9: Resident of... City, State
Line 10: Last Name
Example:
Jay
bold, searching, striving, obsessive
Son of Henry Gatz
Lover of Daisy, wealth, and dreams
Who feels insecure, hopeful, and passion
Who needs privacy, the green light, and a place in society
Who fears his true identity, losing Daisy, and being poor
Who would someday like to marry Daisy, experience true happiness, and make a name for
himself
Residence of West Egg
Gatsby
Your Bio Poem:
Mama’s Plant
Despite
the hunger
we cannot
possess
more
than
this:
Peace
in
a
garden
of
our own
Alice Walker
1. Read pages: 39, 52-3, 121, 139, and 151. What do these scenes have in common? What words are used
to describe Mama?
2. Do you think Mama’s plant serves as a symbol for something else? Why or why not?
3. How does Mama’s plant relate to the idea of an American Dream?
4. Read Alice Walker’s short poem above. What does she mean by “hunger”? How might this poem
explain Mama’s love for her plant?
Act 3
1. End of play prediction: What do you think is going to happen?
2. Why does Mama put her plant back on the windowsill?
3. When Walter arrives back home, what does he say he has done? What does Walter plan to do?
4. What does Mama mean when she tells Walter that if he takes Lindner’s money he will have nothing left
inside?
5. What does Walter tell Lindner? Why does Lindner appeal to Mama? What is her response?
1. What is the importance of having Mama return to the empty apartment to grab her plant?