English II
A Raisin in
the Sun Act I, Scene one
20 points
Respond
fully.
a)
What is the significance of the window?
b)
What is the significance of the eggs, from the time Ruth prepares
them to the time Walter curses them?
c)
Compare Ruth’s attitude concerning money to Walter’s attitude in
giving Travis a dollar.
d)
Walter smokes a cigarette before breakfast. From where does he get the cigarette? Why is that significant?
e)
What impression of Walter should we have? Beneatha uses an
allusion in reference to Walter.
(“prophets. . . wilderness. . . swamps”)
What is
this an allusion to? What is Beneatha
suggesting by it?
f)
As soon as we see her, Mama is associated with an object. What is that object and why is it, and Mama’s
association with it, significant?
g)
The check now has different meaning for different characters. What does each want to do with it?
h)
Why do we get the backstory concerning Mr. Younger? What does it help us understand about other
characters and the plot?
i)
Why do Ruth and Mama treat Beneatha as they do? Is Beneatha truly as childish as they seem to
think she is? What other Biblical references does Beneatha make? Why do they
offend Mama?
j)
George Murchison and serve as a foil for Walter. So far, what contrasts can we draw between
Walter and the other men?
Scene ii
a) Ruth is
pregnant. How can we infer that she is
considering terminating her pregnancy? Why do you think the playwright feels
that this part of the plot is necessary?
b) Asagai
speaks of assimilationism. What is
assimilationism? What are some modern
examples of it?
What is the irony of Mama saying, “I
don’t think I never met no African before.”
c) In this
scene, Walter says, “Money is life.”
What do you think he means by this? How would Asagai react to this statement? What about George Murchison?
d) How does
the conflict between Walter and Ruth escalate?
e) Describe
Mama’s reaction to receiving her husband’s life insurance policy. Why is this a sad moment for her? What do you predict she will do with the
money?
f) How are
Walter’s definition of being a man and Mama’s definition of being a man
different? How does Mama’s sense of
self-worth compare to Walter’s.
g) Reconsider
the poem “Harlem,” found in the first few pages of the text. Consider the varying descriptions of a dream
deferred, or a dream put on hold. Which
of those descriptions seems to be particularly fitted to what has happened in
the play so far?
ACT II
a) How does this scene provide comic relief?
ACT II
Act II,
scene i, page 76
a) How does this scene provide comic relief?
b) What is the
significance of Beneatha dancing to Nigerian music, and calling the blues music
assimilationist music?
c) Walter and
George finally interact, and we see contrasts.
Contrast their attitudes concerning money, manhood, and achievement/privilege.
Use a T-chart to do this.
d) There are a
few allusions used. Research the
reference to Uncle Tom. What does it have to do with assimilation? (pg 81)
e) Research
George’s reference to Prometheus, as he describes Walter. What was George trying to suggest about
Walter? (pg 86)
f) Why can’t Walter be happy about Mama
purchasing the house? What does the
represent to him?
g) We see Ruth’s
role as the peacekeeper. How does she do
this, and what does it say about her as a human being?
Vocabulary:
eccentric (80), oppressive (81), shrewd (84) what do these terms mean? Identify
synonyms for them.
Scene ii:
a) On pages
97-90 Mama’s attitude toward Beneatha is much different. How has her attitude changed? What has caused this? What is the author
trying to suggest?
b) Mama makes
a decision to trust Walter (106-108) with his investment. In his joy, Walter promises Travis the
world. What is Walter’s description of their
future? How realistic is his
prediction? What does this suggest about
what Walter truly wants? Does it reveal
his understanding of how to run a business?
