Fredrick Douglass + A Rasin in the Sun Flashcards
Why does Frederick Douglass not know his true age or date of birth?
There are no records of his birth or that of the other slave children. He is not permitted to ask his master because to do so is considered impertinent.
Why do the slaves either say nothing at all about their masters or praise them?
The slaves do not say anything negative about their masters because they will be sold if they are caught saying anything unkind. The slaves do brag to each other about their respective masters. They think “the greatness of their masters was transferable to themselves.”
Why does Douglass credit both Mr. and Mrs. Auld with helping him learn to read?
Mrs. Auld teaches Douglass his letters and how to read three- and four-letter words. Mr. Auld teaches Douglass that learning to read is his avenue out of slavery.
How are the lives of the slaves in the city better than those of the slaves on the plantations?
The slaves in the city have better food and clothes. Also, most white people feel a sense of shame, making cruelty toward slaves less commonplace.
Why does Douglass acknowledge his grandmother as the source of all of his old master’s wealth?
She peopled the plantation with slaves, enabling the master to work his farms.
Why does Covey whip Douglass almost every week for the first six months he works for him?
Douglass is new at doing field-hand work and often makes mistakes. Covey uses a whip to punish him for his mistakes.
Why do the masters want their slaves to drink whiskey during the holidays?
The masters think a slave who chooses to work during his time off does not deserve the time off. The slave who does not save enough whiskey all year so he can get drunk during the holidays is considered lazy by the masters.
Why does Douglass believe that more slaves do not try to escape?
They find it difficult to leave their friends and loved ones behind.
● What is the plan Walter, Willy Harris, and Bobo have devised?
Walter and his friends would like to buy a liquor store for $75,000. Each would contribute $10,000 to the down payment of $30,000.
What does the reader discover about the check that Mama is waiting to receive? The check is the payment on a life-insurance policy for Beneatha and Walter’s father. What does Mama say has come between her and her children?
Walter is obsessed with the insurance money, and Beneatha has ideas that Mama finds strange and disturbing.
What is Beneatha’s definition of assimilationism?
“Assimilation” means giving up heritage to submerge oneself within the dominant culture.
Explain the difference in thinking between Mama and Mrs. Johnson about the “place” of African Americans.
Mrs. Johnson suggests that the Youngers think too much of themselves; she disapproves of Walter thinking he should be more than a chauffeur. She quotes the African American leader Booker T. Washington, who believed that black people would only succeed if they maintained “separate but equal” status. Mama feels strongly that her family members should pursue their dreams, even if that means challenging the white status quo.
Describe Mr. Lindner. What is the real purpose of his visit?
Mr. Lindner is “quiet-looking.” His mannerisms convey mildness and politeness, although the request he has for the Youngers is not a very nice one. He has come to “buy them out”—because the other residents of Clybourne Park do not want African Americans in the neighborhood, they have sent Mr. Lindner to make a deal with the Youngers.
What made Beneatha want to become a doctor?
When she was young, Beneatha saw a child horribly injured in a sledding accident. She thought he would die, but he came back from the hospital with only a small scar. It seemed like a miracle, and she wanted to be part of it.
● At the end of the play when Mr. Linder arrives, what does Walter tell him?
Walter says that they are a proud family and that his father earned the house “brick by brick.” Walter tells him that they will be moving into the house and that they want to be good neighbors. He refuses the money, and in so doing, regains his pride and his family’s respect.
