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L.A. final > Semester review A Raisin in the Sun Discussion Questions > Flashcards

Semester review A Raisin in the Sun Discussion Questions Flashcards

1
Q

Describe the Younger family apartment

A

Run down but proud

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2
Q

Why does the author go to such lengths to describe the furnishing of their apartment?
What did you conclude about the family from the description of the furnishing?

A

It shows that the apartment is a very tangible symbol of what the family is missing, and what their dreams are trying to move them out of. The apartment lacks space w/ the tight fitting. They want to move to larger place.

It shows the family’s pride w/keeping everything neat and new despite the conditions.

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3
Q

Explain the significance of the absence of light in the Younger’s apartment?

A

Signify a dreary future, (it’s dark). Show’s hope for succeeding the “American dream.” They need a window of opportunity.

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4
Q

Why does Ruth so desperately hope for light in the new house?

A

So, that they can grow together and go in a positive direction.

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5
Q

What is the setting of the play (time and place)?

A

Friday Morning; sometime between WWII and the present at the Younger’s apartment in Chicago’s Southside

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6
Q

List the names, ages, and relationship of all the people living in the apartment

A

Ruth- Early 30s/Mom
Walter-35/Father
Travis-about 10 or 11/Son of Ruth and Walter
Beneatha- about 20 yrs old/ Daughter of Mama, sister of Walter
Mama- in her 60s/ Beneatha’s and Walter’s mother

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7
Q

What is the sharing-arrangement w/the bathroom?

What does this show about where the Younger’s live?

A

Tight/Consuming; they share the bathroom w/ their neighbors- the Johnsons.

They’re quite poor and have no privacy.

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8
Q

What’s the mood in the apartment?

Why do you think it’s this way?

A

Tense

Worry over $$$$

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9
Q

Why is Travis upset?

What does he want?

A

Ruth won’t give him money

50 cents

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10
Q

Why is Walter such an angry person?

A

Frustrated over his current job; chauffeur
Life at home is hard
Feels as if no one in his family understand nor supports him

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11
Q

Why does Ruth talk to Mama

A

Mama listens to Ruth

Wants insurance $$ for his liquor store

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12
Q

Why is Walter hostile towards Ruth

A

They’re in a rough patch in their marriage; Ruth doesn’t support his dreams

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13
Q

Explain Walter’s Dream

A

Own a liquor Store w/some friends

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14
Q

Why does Walter pick on Beneatha as soon as she gets up?

A

He despises her dream; afraid she’ll use up some of the insurance $$$
That she’ll succeed him; sibling rivalry

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15
Q

Explain Beneatha’s dream

A

To become a doctor

to break society’s expectations for women

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16
Q

Discuss the stereotypes that are reflected in Walter’s reaction to Beneatha’s dream.

A

Marry a man or become a nurse

Become a housewife or a stereotypical job

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17
Q

Describe Walter’s perception of the role of women in the 1950s

A

They shouldn’t take on a man’s job

Just become a housewife or a mainstream job

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18
Q

Why do Lena (Mama) and Ruth argue?

A

Travis growing up; how they’re going to bring him up

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19
Q

How does Mama feel about Walter’s dream of owning a liquor store?

A

Unchristian

Doesn’t like it/Walter has no business experience

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20
Q

Explain Mama’s dream

A

To own a house

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21
Q

what does Mama mean when she asks Beneatha, “Why you got flit so from one thing to another baby?”

A

Why she pick one activity instead of hoping from one to another

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22
Q

What does Walter characterize Big Walter?

A

Could never reach his dreams

Hard-headed, mean, kind of wild w/women, BUT he sure loved his children

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23
Q

What are all the Younger’s waiting for

A

The check

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24
Q

How does Ruth feel about her pregnancy

A

Depressed

Abortion

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25
Q

Describe Beneatha’s relationship w/Asagai

A

College Mates
Flirting Stage
There’s looovee between them…BUT Beneatha isn’t ready to fully commit herself to him

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26
Q

Describe assimilation as used by Asagai and Beneatha

A

Giving up your Culture in order to fit into the mainstream culture

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27
Q

What sorts of hairstyles were normally worn by African American women in the 1950s?
Why does Asagai refer to such hairstyles as “mutilation”.

A

Straightening their hair; reversed perms

It’s because it’s not their hair’s real form; they’re trying to fit into the white stereotype, ruining their hair AND their heritage

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28
Q

Explain Asagai’s pet name for Beneatha; “Alaiyo…One for whome bread-food-is not enough”

A

She need to fulfill more than her basic needs, the basics aren’t enough for her
She strives more than to just live, she wants to make a difference

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29
Q

How does Walter view his future?

What does he believe might change his bleak future into a bright one?

A

He sees none, doomed

He thinks that by asking mama’s check and starting up a liquor store w/friends that his future will change

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30
Q

How does Walter disappoint Mama at the end of Act I.

A

Walter walks out to get a drink after he hears the possibility of Ruth getting an abortion.
Mama wished Walter to support and encourage Ruth about the pregnancy.

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31
Q

How much time has elapsed since the end of Act I?

A

Later, the same day

Saturday

32
Q

Why is Beneatha dressed in traditional African clothing?

What statement is she trying to make?

A

She wants to connect with her African heritage (pride in culture)
She is proud of being African-American

33
Q

Why does Walter return to the apartment drunk?

A

He drank too much

Feels like a failure and that no one support s him

34
Q

Why does George want Beneatha to change her clothing?

A

They’re going to the theater, not performing in it.

Hinting that he thinks her dress is a costume and wants a formal outfit on her.

35
Q

When Beneatha takes off her headdress, what does her hair look like?

A

Close cropped and unstraightened

36
Q

What’s George’s response to her new hairstyle?

A

Calls it “eccentric”

Is shown to be shocked and feeling discomfort.

37
Q

George uses the term “Uncle Tom.”

What does this reference mean?

A

Towards the bk, “Tom’s Cabin”
It was about a man who doesn’t stand up for himself; the definition of a perfect slave.
He’s saying that Beneatha isn’t being true to herself and doing what the white people want her to do.

38
Q

On page 81, Beneatha again defines an assimilation.

What’s her definition?

A

Someone who’s willing to give up on his own culture and submerge himself completely in the dominant, and in this case oppressive culture.

39
Q

Why does Walter resent George?

A

George is everything Walter wants to be

40
Q

Who is the Greek Titian Prometheus?

A

A titian who stole fire form the gods and gave it away to the people.
Victim of Zeus, he was eternally tortured.

41
Q

Why does George call Walter Prometheus?

A

Walter thinks he’s tortured everyday

42
Q

Why does Ruth apologize about the baby?

A

She thinks the baby is getting in the way of Walter’s dream, feels like it’s her fault that it’s causing stress on the fam.

43
Q

What does Mama spend the money on?

A

A house

44
Q

Where is the house located?

What type of people live there?

A

Four o six Clybourne Street, Clybourne Park

White people

45
Q

What does Ruth feel about Mama’s purchase?

How about Walter?

A

Overjoyed;

Fury; he hates it

46
Q

Why does Ruth if there’s a “whole light of sunlight?”

A

If there’s hope and happiness in the house
Wants her family to grow
Becomes hopeful of the future
Is it gonna be bright and happy

47
Q

BEGINNING OF ACT II:SCENE 2
Why is George angry?
What kind of women does he want?

A

Beneatha keeps ruining the mood, he doesn;t want her thoughts and just wants to kiss her

One who doesn’t think or talk, just one that looks good.
Doesn’t want a feminist

48
Q

Who is Mrs.Johnson?
What kind of women is she?
What news does she give Mama about the area she is moving to?

A

The Younger’s neighbor

Annoying, gossiping, generally insensitive and unable to speak in a civil manner.

There was a bombing ( a black family who was bombed out their house in a white neighborhood.)

49
Q

According to mama, what’s wrong w/being a chauffeur?

A

“Men were not created to wait on other men”

A man’s hand was suppose to do a change, not drive a man’s car

50
Q

Why does Walter employer call?

Where has Walter been for three days?

A

Walter skipped work for 3 days

He went to the countryside and been drinking all night

51
Q

What does Mama tell Walter to do w/the rest of the $$

A

Whatever he wants

52
Q

Walter shares his dream w/Travis @ the end of scene 2.

What’s his dream?

A

His dream is to be a rich man, for his son to have a better future; provide him with the best education money can buy.
Surface dream: to be CEO and rich
Deeper dream: the breadwinner/head of the family

53
Q

What is Ruth going to do as soon as she gets in the new house?

A

Take a long hot bath

54
Q

Why is Walter’s mood improved?

A

He now has $$ to complete his dreams

Feels like a man

55
Q

Why does Karl Linder visit the Youngers?

A

To tell them not to move in

That the Clybourne Park Improvement Association was willing to pay the Younger’s not to move in.

56
Q

What is Mr.Linder’s dream community?

A

An all white community

to keep segregation

57
Q

What does Ruth say White people r afraid of?

A

That they’ll stain them

58
Q

Why is Mama taking the old plant to her new house?

A

In hopes that it’ll thrive in the yard of the new house.
The plant represents her dream to get out of the poverty life.
Symbol for how her family survived with little nourishment.

59
Q

What gifts do the adults give Mama?

A

A Gardner set

60
Q

Who is Mrs.Miniver?

A

A famous person, t.v. person who was the perfect housewife

61
Q

What does Travis give to Mama?

A

A huge gardening hat?

62
Q

What news does Bobo bring.

A

that Willy Harris stole the money

63
Q

What were Walter’s mistakes?

A

HE trusted WIlly

HE didn’t put down the down payment for Beneatha’s medical school

64
Q

What is the mood at the opening of Act III?

Why?

A

Tense

Walter has lost all the $$$$

65
Q

What does Beneatha mean when she says “there isn’t any real progress”?

A

They kept trying, yet they weren’t moving closer to their goals in reality

66
Q

What is an idealist?

Is Asagai or Beneatha an idealist?

A

Those whose can see the changes-who dream- who will not give up.

Asagai

67
Q

Where does Asagai want Beneatha to go after she finishes school?

A

Nigeria

68
Q

Why does Lena say that she always “aims to high”?

A

Her goals are too high, she has too much expectations in life that’ll never happen

69
Q

Why does Ruth feel that they “got to MOVE….got to get out of here?

A

They need to start fresh as a family

too much negativity in their current house

70
Q

What does Walter mean when he says “you know it’s all divide up…Betweeen the takers and the “tooken”?

A

that some people will always have their money taken, and some people who’ll always take money

71
Q

Why does Mama want to cry?

A

Walter s letting go of the pride of his family

72
Q

What does Mama mean why she says “death has come into this here house?”

A

That their family pride is dead, and money has ruined the family

73
Q

Why did Walter call Mr.Linder and ask him to come over?

A

To sell the house

74
Q

What does Walter tell Linder?

A

That they’re not moving, because they’re a prideful family

75
Q

What does the little plant mean to Mama?

A

It represents her family

76
Q

Explain what Mama means when she says to Ruth, “he finally come into his manhood today, didn’t he?”

A

That he finally understands that being a man isn’t all about having money, it’s about bring there with family.

77
Q

Why did the Younger’s decide to move after they lost the money?

A

To prove that they can get through this.

Father worked for that house brick by brick

L.A. final (13 decks)

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