A Raisin in the Sun Act I Review

Can you guess what Mama's dream is?

• 1. Is it to have a house with a beautiful garden?

• Or, does she want Walter to make lots of money and live happily?

• Maybe, she wants Beneatha to tie the knot?

• Or, is her dream to have a new kitchen to cook delicious meals in?

Which of the following quotes best supports your answer to the previous question about Mama's dream?

• 1. RUTH. “You know what you should do, Miss Lena? You should take yourself a trip somewhere. To Europe or South America or someplace—” (Hansberry 43) 

• 1. MAMA. “(After him) Lord, that’s a pretty thing just went out here! (Insinuatingly, to her daughter) Yes, I guess I see why we done commence to get so interested in Africa ’round here. Missionaries my aunt Jenny!” (Hansberry 66) 

• 1. MAMA. “...Been thinking that we maybe could meet the notes on a little old two story somewhere, with a yard where Travis could play in the summertime…” (Hansberry 44) 

• 1.  MAMA. “I’m looking at you. You a good-looking boy. You got a job, a nice wife, a fine boy and—” (Hansberry 73)

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Which of the following lines uses a simile?

• 1. “The sole natural light the family may enjoy in the course of a day is only that which fights its way through this little window” (Hansberry 24)

• 1. MAMA. “Well, little boys’ hides ain’t as tough as Southside roaches. You better get over there behind the bureau. I seen one marching out of there like Napoleon yesterday” (Hansberry 55) 

• 1. RUTH. “So you would rather be Mr. Arnold than be his chauʃeur. So—I would rather be living in Buckingham Palace.” (Hansberry 34) 

• 1. MAMA. “(Quietly) Oh—(Very quietly) So now it’s life. Money is life.” (Hansberry 74)

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Based on your answer to the previous question, explain the meaning of the simile you identified. To help you, use the following sentence frame: When Mama compares ___________ to _______________, she means that _________________ because ____________.

Evaluate responses using AI:

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Imagine you're in a story! Mama just looked at a check and her face fell. Can you guess why she might be feeling so down?

• 1. Could it be because the check isn't as hefty as she hoped?

• 1. Or maybe the sight of the check brings back memories of Big Walter’s death?

• 1. Perhaps she's just realized that Beneatha’s school fees are out of her reach?

• 1. Or did she suddenly realize that she never really wanted the money in the first place?

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Let's dive into this passage! Can you figure out what it tells us about Travis' character?

• 1. Does it reveal that he feels disconnected from his family?

• 1. Does it highlight his innocence as the youngest member of the family?

• 1. Does it suggest that he gets easily confused?

• 1. Does it imply that he's not that important to the story?

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Let's dive into the world of literature! Can you tell what this quote discloses about Beneatha? And how do readers get this information?

• Does this quote suggest that Beneatha lacks education, and we get to know this through her dialogue?

• Or does this quote hint that Beneatha is highly educated, and the narration provides us with details about her personality?

• Maybe this quote indicates that Beneatha is rude, and her actions described in the narration reveal this?

• Or could this quote imply that Beneatha is not scholarly, and her looks described in the narration give us this clue?

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Let's dive into the world of literature! Can you tell what this quote discloses about Mama's character? And how do you think this insight is shared with the readers?

• Does it openly portray Mama as a weak individual?

• Does it hint that Mama lacks substance?

• Does it clearly depict Mama as a strong and influential woman?

• Does it suggest that Mama is uncertain about herself?

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1. Based on your background knowledge & what you can infer from this photo, what were gender roles/expectations like for this period?

• Men were expected to work and women were expected to take care of the household.

• Women were expected to work and men were expected to take care of the household.

• Both men and women were expected to work equally.

• Neither men nor women were expected to work.

Which of the following quotes from Act I of A Raisin in the Sun highlights the social issue of gender roles/expectations?

• "Child, when do you think is the time to love somebody the most? When they done good and made things easy for everybody?"
• WALTER (Not listening at all or even looking at her) This morning, I was lookin’ in the mirror and thinking about

  it ... I’m thirty-five years old; I been married eleven years

  and I got a boy who sleeps in the living room—(Very,

  very quietly)—and all I got to give him is stories about

  how rich white people live ...

• "Eat your eggs, they gonna be cold."
• WALTER (Straightening up from her and looking off) That’s it. There you are. Man say to his woman: I got me a

  dream. His woman say: Eat your eggs. (Sadly, but

  gaining in power) Man say: I got to take hold of this here

  world, baby! And a woman will say: Eat your eggs and go

  to work. (Passionately now) Man say: I got to change my

  life, I’m choking to death, baby! And his woman say—(In

  utter anguish as he brings his fists down on his thighs) —Your eggs is getting cold!

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