A Raisin in the Sun - TEST Flashcards
Who is the neighbor of the Youngers, and tries to warn them about moving to the Clybourne neighborhood and the violence to “colored people” who have moved to all white neighborhoods?
Mrs. Johnson
Who is from Africa and wants Beneatha to come to Africa and become a doctor there?
Asagai
Who is the chairman of the “Welcoming Committee” for the Clybourne Park Improvement Association?
Karl Lindner
Who comes to the Younger home to tell them about the loss of their money?
Bobo
Who likes Beneatha, but wants her to stop thinking about being a doctor and be HIS wife?
George
Who is a very bright girl, and she is concerned with becoming a doctor?
Beneatha
Who wants people to understand his dream of being important in the world. He wants his son to have a better life and a good education?
Walter
Who tries to be the peacemaker in the family, concerned about whether or not the family can afford another child?
Ruth
Who steals all the money Walter gives to him to invest in a liquor store?
Willy Harris
Who is the son of Walter and Ruth, he does not always understand how tight money is for the family?
Travis
Who is the head of the household, decides what will be done with all the insurance money?
Mama - Lena
What is Mama’s real name?
Lena Younger
What is the name of the 10 year old Younger boy?
Travis Younger
Who ran off with Walter’s money?
Willy Harris
What is the genre of the play - “A Raisin in the Sun?”
realistic Drama
Who is a 30 year old wife and mother, who is contemplating having an abortion because of the family’s financial situation?
Ruth
Who is the author of the poem - “A Dream Deferred?”
Langston Hughes
Who is the author of the play - “A Raisin in the Sun?”
Lorraine Hornsberry
Who is the protagonist of the play?
Walter
What is the TIME setting of the play?
1940’s - 1950’s
What is the PLACE setting of the play?
Chicago
What is the theme in a work of literature?
the main idea or the underlying meaning of a work
What is the conflict in a work of literature?
The struggle that propels the action
Why doesn’t Beneatha fit in with her family?
She is independent and works for her dreams
What CONFLICTS are present in “A Raisin in the Sun?
Man vs. Society
Man vs. Self
Man vs. Man
What is Beneatha’s dream?
To become a doctor
Why does Beneatha like Asagai more than George Murchison?
Asagai teaches her about her African heritage
When the family calls Mama, Scarlet O’Hara - what is it?
An Allusion
What is assimilation?
Submerging yourself into a dominant, more oppressive culture and giving up your heritage
What is Beneatha’s “life as a circle” speech an example of?
Symbolism
What is the locations of the new house that Mama buys?
Clybourne Park
What are the three major themes of the play and how do they show up throughout the play?
1) Value and purpose of dreams - - without dreams the Youngers would never progress
2) Need to fight racism - - have to move to white neighborhood to pursue their dreams
3) Importance of family - - no matter what happens - families stick together
How does Asagai differ from George Murchison?
George is an assimilationist - he thinks Beneatha’s search for her African identity is silly. He is conservative and unquestioning
Asagai - - he is proud of his African heritage and applauds Beneatha for her interest. He questions everything and is constantly searching for meaning
What is assimilationism. How is this a conflict in Beaneatha’s life?
Giving up of one’s culture and heritage in order to submerge oneself in within the dominant culture.
Beneatha feels to assimilate is to become oppressed and held back, but she wishes to become a doctor which represent the dominant culture
Who is Mrs. Johnson - what news does she bring to the Youngers and what effect does this news have on them?
She is an annoying neighbor - - Blacks in a white neighborhood were bombed. They are scared about moving, but will move anyway
How does Mama distribute the insurance money? How does Walter disrespect her wishes?
Some for the down payment on the house ($3,500)
The rest is given to Walter to do the following:
* ($3,000) in a savings account for Beneatha’s medical school
* ($3,500) in a checking account with his name on it - for him to look over
He does not put the money in any accounts and gives it to Willy Harris for the liquor store
What is irony - how is Karl Lindner and how is his position ironic?
Irony - - is the use of words to express the OPPOSITE of of the literal meaning
He is from the welcoming committee - but really does not want them to move into his neighborhood
What is symbolism - give two examples of symbolism in the play?
Symbolism - - a person, place or thing that has 2 meanings
money - - cash and represents the Youngers dreams
Alaiyo - - Beneatha’s big dreams
Plant - - mama, family owning a garden
lighting - - hope, loss of hope
How does the author us lighting as a symbol in the final act?
When it is bright - - there is hope for their dreams and the possibility for them to come true
When it is dim/dark - - loss of hope for their dreams and the possibility for them to come true
Be able to describe Beneatha’s “life as a circle” speech
That chasing your dreams is a NEVER ENDING process. Dreams can’t be accomplish, women and blacks will never make any progress
How is Walter able to gain his respect at the end of the play?
He steps up and begins to act as the head of the family (acts like a man). He says that they are going to move
What is allusion? Give an example from the play?
Refers to ANYTHINNG outside of the work
Comparing Mama to Scarlet O’Hara
The reference to Booker T Washington
The reference to the KKK
At the end Mama says - “He finally come into his manhood today, didn’t he? Kind of like a rainbow after the rain?”
What literary technique is used in the quote - what is the author implying?
They are using a simile ((Like a rainbow after the rain)
Walter made a mess of everything when he gave Willy Harris the money - but he made things better when he stepped up to the role he’s was supposed to all along.
What is the dream of each character and how does money help them accomplish their dreams?
Walter - - wants to own a liquor store - - the money will help him invest and buy a liquor store
Beneatha - - wants to become a doctor - - the money will help to pay for medical school
Ruth - - more room for the family to live - - the money will help them buy a house
Mama - - a stable place for the family with a green space - - the money will help them buy a house with the space for a garden
What is conflict? What are 3 conflicts from the play?
The struggle in the play that propels the action
Man vs Man (Walter vs Lindner)
Man vs. self (Beneatha vs herself - is she going to assimilate to become a doctor or focus on her heritage)
Man vs. society (Youngers vs racist society - - the all white neighborhood
