A Raisin in the Sun Reading Questions

8/2/2019 A Raisin in the Sun Reading Questions

1/8

A Raisin in the

SunReading Questions to pg. 46

1. What is the SETTING of the story (year and place)?

2. The following is stated about the Younger family: Not indolence, notindifference, and certainly not the lack of ambition imprisons them(pg. 5).

A. What do indolence and indifference mean?

B. What does this quote tell us about the family? Why do theylive in this tiny apartment; why dont they move out to a nicerplace?

3. It is here that Mama has chosen to hopefully grow a small andmiserable-looking plant, in which her imaginationhas invested aspirit of heroism (pg. 7). What might this plant SYMBOLIZE?

4. How many people are currently living in this apartment?

5. In what state is Walter and Ruths marriage? How do we know?

6. Is Walter Lee chauvinistic (look up this word in a dictionary if youdont know what it means)? How can you tell?

7. What does Walter Lee want to do with the money the family is talkingabout?

8. What is Beneatha, Lenas youngest child and Walters sister, going toschool for?

9. What type of woman does Lena Younger (Mama) seem to be? Includea QUOTE from the play that describes her character and physicalattributes (we meet Mama on pg. 29):


2/8

10. Mama is a central character in the play who has control over muchof the conflict (the money). Why do you think Hansberry waits tointroduce Mama until a few pages into the play?

11. How has Mama gotten the $10,000? How much is that roughlyworth now, with inflation?

12. What did Mama do her entire life? Why did she have this jobfinda QUOTE (see pg. 41)!

13. Why does Mama quit her job?

14. What does Walter Lee do for a living?


3/8

A Raisin in the

SunReading Questions pg. 46-80

1. Who is Asagai?

2. How is Mama treated when she goes to buy apples at the store?

3. What attitude do most men seem to have towards women in this play(as exhibited by Walter Lee and Asagai)?

4. What advice does Herman, the liquor store owner, give Walter Lee?

5. What illness does Lena claim always sounds so respectable to whitepeople?

6. What does Lena want to do with the money? There are TWO things:1.2.

7. What is Big Walters quote about black men and dreams (pg. 70)?

Write it below:

8. What seems to be George Mutchinsons main good qualitythereason why Ruth and Lena want Beneatha to marry him?

9. Beneatha says, the only people in the world who are moresnobbish than rich white people are (pg. 74) who?

10. Beneatha has some pretty strong opinions that Lena does not

agree with. Which opinion makes Lena slap Beneatha?

11. To whator whomdoes Lena compare her plant (pg. 78)?

12. Why is Ruth worried about Walter?

13. What happens to Ruth at the end of pg. 80?


4/8

A Raisin in theSun

Reading Questions pg. 80-110

1. What has Walter decided to do with his buddies Willy and Bobo?

2. What do we find out about Ruth? Is she happy about this news?

3. Why did Beneatha approach Asagai at school the very first time (pg.90)?

4. What does assimilation mean (use a dictionary to look up thedefinition if you dont know)? Why does this term greatly offendBeneatha?

5. How does Asagai feel about Beneatha? How does she feel aboutAsagai?

6. What is Agasais nickname for Beneatha? What does it literally mean?

How might it apply to Beneatha?

7. What does Lena say is dangerous (pg. 106)?

8. What does Walter say is life (pg. 107)?

9. What is Ruth considering regarding this pregnancy?

10. What does Lena say she is waiting for Walter to do (pg. 109)?

11. What is Lenas final quote to Walter on pg. 110 (not the part about

getting her hat)?


5/8

A Raisin in theSun


1. What kind of person does George seem to beis he nice, proper,

mean, etc?

2. The stage directions state that as Walter talks to George, he has achip on his shoulder (pg. 115). What does that phrase mean? Whymight Walter have a chip on his shoulder towards George?

3. George tells Walter, Youre all whacked up bitterness, man (pg.118). What does Walter have to be bitter about? Include a QUOTEbelow:

4. Who is Prometheus? Why does George use this to insult Walter?

5. What has Mama done with the money? How do Ruth and Walterreact?

6. Where is the house Mama bought located? Why is this is big deal?

7. Why did Lena decide to buy the house instead of giving Walter Leethe money? Why does she say she needed to do it (pg. 127)?

8. What does Walter do after finding out Mama bought a house?

9. Where does Lena find Walter after he disappears? What does she doupon finding him?

10. How much money does Lena finally give Walter?


6/8

11. What does Beneatha say is all I want (pg. 145)? Include aQUOTE:

12. How does George react to what Beneatha wants?

13. What does George say is the purpose of reading books and goingto school (pg. 146)?

14. What two gifts does the family give Lena when they go to see thenew house?

15. Who is watching the Younger family as they inspect their newhouse? What attitude do these people have toward the Youngerfamily?

16. What does Beneatha do when she sees people watching the

family?


7/8

A Raisin in theSun


1. Who is Mr. Karl Linder and why does he meet with the Youngerfamily?

2. What does Mr. Linder offer the Younger family?

3. Why does Ruth say the neighborhood is afraid of black peoplewhatdo the neighbors think black people are going to do (pg. 169)?

4. What does Lena carefully pack away to move to the new house? Whydoes she tell Beneatha she wants to bring it?

5. What news does Bobo bring Walterwhat has Willy done?

6. What does Walter state the money was made out of (pg. 177)?

7. What was Walter supposedto do with the money? What did he doinstead?

8. How does Lena react when she finds out what Walter did with themoney?

9. Why does Asagai love the look of packing crates (pg. 180)?


8/8

10. Beneatha isnt completely mad at Walterwho does she blame forthe recent turn of events and why (pg. 182)?

11. Why does Beneatha state that she wanted to be a doctor (pg.183)?

12. What does Beneatha see life as (pg.184)?

13. How does Asagai see life (pg. 185)?

14. What does Asagai say is wrong (pg. 186)?

15. Why does Asagai tell Beneatha that Lena is full of greatness(pg.187)?

16. Asagai plans on returning to Nigeria, and what does he want

Beneatha to do?

17. Lena has given up on the dream of their own home, and WHY hasshe given up (pg. 193)? Include a QUOTE:

18. Why does Walter state that most of the world is mixed up (pg.194)?

19. Why does Beneatha state that Walter is no brother of mine?

20. Lena says the right time to love somebody the most is when (pg.

198)?

21. What makes Walter change his mind about selling the house toMr. Lindner?

22. What has Beneatha decided to do with her life?

23. What simile does Lena use to talk about Walter becoming a man(pg. 205)?

24. What one last thing does Lena carry out of the apartment?

25. As they leave the apartment, what are Walter and Lena talkingabout?

26. Do you think they play ends on a hopeful note? Why or why not?

27. What do you think might happen in the future for the Youngerfamily?

A Raisin in the Sun Reading Questions

Documents

Transcript of A Raisin in the Sun Reading Questions