Name:______Date:______
A Raisin in the Sun
Act II Scene One
1. How is Beneatha beginning to change? What accounts for this change?
2. What are "assimilationist Negroes"? Is George Murchison an “assimilationist”?
3. How does George respond to Beneatha when she is dressed in Nigerian clothing? Why would a serious relationship fail to work between the two of them?
4. Why does Walter make fun of George?
5. George says to Walter, “You’re all whacked up with bitterness, man.” Do you agree with George? Why/why not?
6. What is Walter’s problem with George? Why does he act so aggressively towards him?
7. Walter says, “I’m a giant surrounded by ants…ants can’t even understand what the giant is talking about.” What does he mean by this?
8. What did Mama do with her money?
9. What was Walter's reaction to Mama's purchase? Ruth's reaction? What type of neighborhood is Clybourne Park? Why didn’t Mama buy in a different neighborhood?
10. Is Walter acting selfishly when he says to Mama: “So you butchered up a dream of mine- you- who always talking ‘bout your children’s dreams.” Why or why not?
Act II Scene Two
1. What has Walter been doing to escape from his problems? How did Ruth find about this?
2. What did Mama do for Walter, and why? Do you think she should have done this? Why or why not?
3. Does George Murchison buy into the traditional American Dream?
4. Who is Karl Lindner, and why does he visit the Younger family?
5. What was Walter's reaction to Lindner? Do you think Walter did the right thing?
6. What news did Bobo bring to Walter?
7. After hearing the news from Bobo, Walter has to tell his family. Mama responds by saying, “I_ _seen him night after night come in and look at that rug and then look at me, the red showing in his eyes. I seen him grow thin and old before he was forty working and working and working like somebody’s old horse, killing himself, and you-you give it all away in a day…” Aside from the loss of the money, what seems to really bother Mama? Did Walter act selfishly, or did he truly have his family’s best interests at heart? Explain.
8. Make a prediction as to what will happen next. Will the Younger family take the offer from Lindner to help gain back the money Walter lost, or will they still move into the new house?