A Raisin in the Sun Winter Break Assignment

You will complete the following activities as you read A Raisin in the Sun.

Your assignment must be typed and submitted via Google Docs or as an email attachment. You MAY NOT handwrite your responses.

Each assignment will count as a separate grade.

You will find access to the assignment on Mrs. Miller’s teacher web page.

Go to the Ewing Public Schools home page. Click “Choose Schools”. Select “Ewing High School”.

Click “Staff Information” and scroll down to “Teacher Pages”

On the left side of the screen you will see a list of Teacher Web Pages.

Click “Danielle Miller”

Scroll down and click on the Raisin in the Sun assignment.

Activity 1: All of the following rhetorical devices can be found in A Raisin in the Sun. [60 point minor assignment]

Alliteration
Allusion
Analogy
Anecdote
Aphorism / Asyndeton
Ellipsis
Ethos
Exclamation
Imagery / Logos
Metaphor
Paradox
Parallelism
Pathos / Personification Polysyndeton
Pun
Repetition
Rhetorical Question

Copy and paste this table on your computer, then denote AT LEAST ONE EXAMPLE of each device above. Following is the format you will follow for EACH entry

Quotation / Citation
(Act, sc, page) / Rhetorical Device / Effect of Device

Activity 2: A Raisin in the SunEvidence Retrieval Chart—Act I - AMBITION [50 point major assignment]

Instructions:

  1. Copy the chart below.
  1. For each of the characters listed, find at least one passage from the play in which this character’s aspirations or ambitions are stated, referred to or shown. The speaker does not necessarily have to be the same as the character. For instance, Walter might make a statement about his sister, Beneatha, and her ambitions.
  1. Make sure to note the speaker and the page number on which the passage appears.
  1. After copying the passage, write your own thoughts about the passage. Aim to address the following issues in your response:
  2. What do you think of the character and his/her ambitions?
  3. Given the historical/social context, is the aspiration or ambition realistic? Why/why not?
  • What might be some obstacles for this character?
  • What might be some strengths that this character has that would help him/her overcome any obstacles?

Walter
Speaker:______Page:______ / Your Response:
Mama
Speaker:______Page:______ / Your Response:
Beneatha
Speaker:______Page:______ / Your Response:
Travis
Speaker:______Page:______ / Your Response:
Ruth
Speaker:______Page:______ / Your Response:

Act I—Scene I

  1. What is the setting of the play?
  2. Who, in your opinion, makes all the major decisions in the family?
  3. What kind of person is Walter and what are his ambitions in life?
  4. What important event is the whole Younger family looking forward to?
  5. What plans for the $10,000 does each member of the family have in mind?

Act I—Scene II

  1. In this scene Ruth has discovered that she is pregnant. She is considering an abortion. In your opinion, why does she want to do this? Do you feel that this is a solution to her problems?
  2. What is revealed about the character of Beneatha in this scene?
  3. How does her African friend view American Blacks?
  4. The $10,000 check finally arrives in the mail. What impact does this event have on each member of the family?

Act II—Scene I

  1. Compare the personalities of Walter and George Murchison. How are they different?
  2. Do you think Lena was right in spending the money the way she wanted to? Should she have considered the wishes of Walter?
  3. As a Black person or member of some other ethnic group, how would you feel about moving into a neighborhood where you are not welcome?
  4. What are some of the causes of racial prejudice?

Act II—Scene II

  1. Ruth finds out that Walter has not been reporting to his job as a chauffeur. What caused this rebellious attitude in Walter?
  2. Lena has a change of heart and turns over to Walter the $6,500 she has left after making a deposit on a house. What causes her to make this decision?
  3. Describe the change in Walter after he gets his hands on the money.
  4. What would you do if you suddenly fell heir to $10,000?
  5. Do you think that money is all that you need to be happy?

Act II—Scene III

  1. Can you imagine some of the feelings the Younger family had when they found out why Mr. Lindner paid them a visit?
  2. What kind of person was Mr. Lindner?
  3. Can you picture the kind of neighborhood the Youngers are planning to move into?
  4. What are some of the problems they will face?
  5. How do you think Walter feels after hearing from Bobo that Willy has disappeared with the money?
  6. How do you think Lena feels after having trusted Walter with the money?

Act III

  1. With the loss of the money Beneatha will not be able to go to medical school. Describe her reaction to her brother and the change in her attitude toward life itself.
  2. How has Walter changed since he lost the money?
  3. What is his plan to rectify his mistake?
  4. Why does Lena disapprove of his plan?
  5. The play ends as the Younger family is leaving their old house. What kind of reception do you think is in store for them when they arrive at their new residence?

STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS - A Raisin in the Sun

Act I Scene One

1. Why did Walter ask Ruth what was wrong with her?

2. Why was Ruth upset when Walter gave Travis the money?

3. Who are Willy and Bobo?

4. Walter said, "Damn my eggs . . . damn all the eggs that ever was!" Why?

5. Who is Beneatha?

6. Why was Mama getting a check for $10,000?

7. Why did Beneatha say she wouldn't marry George?

8. What was Beneatha's attitude towards God?

9. What happened to Ruth at the end of Act I Scene One?

Act I Scene Two

1. Who is Joseph Asagai?

2. What did Ruth find out at the doctor's office?

3. Why is Asagai's present to Beneatha appropriate?

4. Why is Asagai's nickname appropriate?

5. What does Mama say is "dangerous"?

6. Where did Ruth actually go instead of the doctor's office?

7. Why did Mama call Walter a disgrace to his father's memory?

Act II Scene One

1. What was Beneatha's family doing when George came in?

2. What are "assimilationist Negroes"?

3. What did Mama do with her money?

4. What was Walter's reaction to Mama's purchase? Ruth's reaction?

Act II Scene Two

1. How did Ruth find out Walter hadn't been going to work?

2. Where had Walter been going instead of to work?

3. What did Mama do for Walter?

Act II Scene Three

1. Who was Karl Lindner, and why did he visit the Youngers' house?

2. What was Walter's reaction to Lindner?

3. What presents did Mama get?

4. What news did Bobo bring to Walter?

Act III

1. Why didn't Beneatha want to be a doctor anymore?

2. How did Asagai define "idealists" and "realists"?

3. What does Asagai ask Beneatha to do?

4. What fault does Mama find with herself?

5. What solution does Walter have?

6. Why didn't Walter take the money Lindner offered?

7. Did the Youngers stay or move?