A+Raisin+in+the+Sun

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry

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Essential Questions = Life =
 * What is the American Dream?
 * To what degree is the American Dream accessible to all people? Explain.
 * Has the American Dream changed throughout history?
 * What happens to dreams that people cannot/do not achieve?
 * What factors shape a person's identity?
 * To what degree does family influence a person?

Literature/Writing
 * How do stage directions contribute to a reader's understanding of characters?
 * Why would an author leave an ambiguous ending to a text?
 * What influences an author to write?

Anticipatory Set Directions: Read each of the following statements carefully. Determine whether you strongly agree, somewhat agree, are neutral, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree with each statement. Explain your answer and be ready to discuss.


 * 1. Neighbors have the right to decide what kind of community they want to have, including who lives in that neighborhood. **
 * 2. Our country offers equal opportunities for success to everyone. **
 * 3. It is acceptable to lie to people you love if you have good intentions. **
 * 4. It is never OK to make judgments about people based on race or appearance. **
 * 5 When someone insults you, it is best to “turn the other cheek.” **
 * 6. The more education a person has, the more likely he/she is to be arrogant. **
 * 7. You should always hold onto your dreams; if you work hard enough, they will come true. **
 * 8. In an argument, most people do not try hard enough to see the other side’s perspective. **
 * 9. Once children are grown, their parents are no longer responsible for providing for them. **
 * 10. America should be a “melting pot” in which people from many cultures leave their differences behind and follow only “American” customs and traditions. **

Setting/Historical Context

What was life like in the 1950's/1960's?
General knowledge of the times

Science and Technology
 * What inventions were made in the 1950's/1960's?
 * How did these inventions affect the lifestyle of Americans in the 1950's/1960's?
 * How do these inventions continue to affect our lives today?
 * What medical advancements were made in the 1950's/1960's?

People and Events
 * What is the Cold War? How did it affect the way in which Americans lived?
 * What physical war did the United States participate in as part of the Cold War?
 * What factors contributed to the development of suburbs in the 1950's/1960's?
 * How has suburban living affected American life?
 * Who was president in the 1950's/1960's? What role did he play in the Civil Rights Movement?
 * What is desegregation? How did desegregation affect people in the 1950's/1960's?

Sports
 * How did the image of the sport change?
 * What was "the shot heard 'round the world"? Why were fewer people attending baseball games even though baseball was considered our "national pastime"?
 * Which major league baseball team was the first to integrate (racially)? Which major league player is credited with being the player who integrated baseball?
 * Who, from Massachusetts, was a famous boxer of the 1950's? Why was he a symbol of the American Dream?
 * What is stock car racing? Why did it gain popularity in the 1950's?

Lifestyle
 * What toy, manufactured by Wham-O became one of the most popular American toys of all time?
 * With more people watching television at home, movie makers had to compete for money. What advancements in film were made in the 1950's/1960's?
 * What clothing styles were popular in the 1950's/1960's? Why?
 * How were furniture styles influenced by technology in the 1950's/1960's?
 * What influenced the design of cars in the 1950's/1960's?

Arts and Entertainment
 * What were some popular movies of the 1950's/1960's?
 * What were people watching on television in the 1950's/1960's?
 * What children's author, a Massachusetts resident, became popular in the 1950's/1960's?
 * What is "abstract expressionism"?
 * What musical style came into vogue in the 1950's?

Sample card and notes
One-line Mini-summary

Twitter Post Template


1950's Tweets (from cards)

Journal
Imagine you are living in the 1950's. Write a journal about your day. Incorporate FIVE pieces of information that you have learned about the 1950's into your journal.

The Civil Rights Era Use the following link to read about significant moments in the journey towards equality:

Library of Congress, Memory Project, Civil Rights Era

Video Connection =//The Children's March//=
 * How did segregation affect children in the 1950's?
 * How did the Civil Rights Movement affect Americans?
 * What was the Children's March?

Author Study Who is Lorraine Hansberry? What influenced her writing? [|Biography of Hansberry]

=Vocabulary =

Vocabulary, Act 1, Scene 1 media type="custom" key="27687659"

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Study Questions/Reading Guide

from Teacher's Pet Publications (Get printed copy from embedded file below)


 * Act I, Scene One **

1. Why did Walter ask Ruth what was wrong with her?

2. Why was Ruth upset when Walter gave Travis the money?

3. Who are Willy and Bobo?

4. Walter said, "Damn my eggs . . . damn all the eggs that ever was!" Why?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">5. Who is Beneatha?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">6. Why was Mama getting a check for $10,000?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">7. Why did Beneatha say she wouldn't marry George?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">8. What was Beneatha's attitude towards God?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">9. What happened to Ruth at the end of Act I Scene One?


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">Act I, Scene Two **

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">1. Who is Joseph Asagai?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">2. What did Ruth find out at the doctor's office?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">3. Why is Asagai's present to Beneatha appropriate?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">4. Why is Asagai's nickname appropriate?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">5. What does Mama say is "dangerous"?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">6. Where did Ruth actually go instead of the doctor's office?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">7. Why did Mama call Walter a disgrace to his father's memory?


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; line-height: 1.5;">Act II, Scene One **

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">1. What was Beneatha's family doing when George came in?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">2. What are "assimilationist Negroes"?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">3. What did Mama do with her money?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">4. What was Walter's reaction to Mama's purchase? Ruth's reaction?


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; line-height: 1.5;">Act II, Scene Two **

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">1. How did Ruth find out Walter hadn't been going to work?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">2. Where had Walter been going instead of to work?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">3. What did Mama do for Walter?


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; line-height: 1.5;">Act II, Scene Three **

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">1. Who was Karl Lindner, and why did he visit the Youngers' house?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">2. What was Walter's reaction to Lindner?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">3. What presents did Mama get?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">4. What news did Bobo bring to Walter?


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">Act III **

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">1. Why didn't Beneatha want to be a doctor anymore?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">2. How did Asagai define "idealists" and "realists"?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">3. What does Asagai ask Beneatha to do?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">4. What fault does Mama find with herself?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">5. What solution does Walter have?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">6. Why didn't Walter take the money Lindner offered?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">7. Did the Youngers stay or move?

Click n the file below to get a printed copy of the questions: = =

End of Text Activities

Dramatic Reading Write-your-own-ending

Discussion

Writing

Character Analysis Literary Analysis

So What?/Community Connections

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