A RAISIN IN THE SUN A RAISIN IN THE SUN An Introduction An Introduction
A RAISIN IN THE SUNA RAISIN IN THE SUN
An IntroductionAn Introduction
Two Questions…Two Questions…
What would you do with 40 What would you do with 40 bajillion dollars?bajillion dollars?
What would you do with 70 What would you do with 70 thousand dollars?thousand dollars?
What happens to a dream deferred?Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore—
And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat Or crust and sugar over—
Like a syrupy sweet?Maybe it just sags like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
The Younger FamilyThe Younger Family
Poor African Poor African American familyAmerican family
Lives on Chicago’s Lives on Chicago’s South Side in the South Side in the 1950’s1950’s
Shares a small 1 Shares a small 1 bedroom bedroom apartmentapartment
1 bathroom for 1 bathroom for whole floorwhole floor
Lena Younger (Mama)Lena Younger (Mama)
Kind old gentle Kind old gentle womanwoman
Husband (big Husband (big Walter) recently diedWalter) recently died
$10,000 life $10,000 life insurance check on insurance check on the waythe way
Dreamt with her Dreamt with her husband about husband about owning a home one owning a home one dayday
Walter Lee YoungerWalter Lee Younger
Son of Lena and Son of Lena and Big WalterBig Walter
Chauffeur for a Chauffeur for a wealthy white manwealthy white man
Dreams of Dreams of providing a better providing a better life for his familylife for his family
Has big plans for Has big plans for $10,000 check$10,000 check
Ruth YoungerRuth Younger
Married to Walter Married to Walter LeeLee
Works as a Works as a housekeeper in the housekeeper in the home a white home a white familyfamily
Feeling tired and Feeling tired and sick as play openssick as play opens
Dreams of a better Dreams of a better life for her familylife for her family
Beneatha YoungerBeneatha Younger
Sister of Walter Lee Sister of Walter Lee and Daughter of and Daughter of LenaLena
College student, College student, does not have a jobdoes not have a job
Interested in Interested in learning about her learning about her African heritageAfrican heritage
Dreams of being a Dreams of being a doctordoctor
Travis YoungerTravis Younger
Son of Walter Lee Son of Walter Lee and Ruth Youngerand Ruth Younger
Sleeps on the Sleeps on the couchcouch
Willy and BoboWilly and Bobo
Friends of Walter Friends of Walter Lee’sLee’s
Potential business Potential business partners for Walterpartners for Walter
They want to invest They want to invest in a liquor store in a liquor store togethertogether
George and JosephGeorge and Joseph
Beneatha dates Beneatha dates both men during both men during playplay
George is rich, but George is rich, but shallowshallow
Joseph is from Joseph is from Africa and a fellow Africa and a fellow student of student of Beneatha’sBeneatha’s
What happens to a dream deferred?Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore—
And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat Or crust and sugar over—
Like a syrupy sweet?Maybe it just sags like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
YOUR TASKYOUR TASK
1.1. Write a well developed paragraph in Write a well developed paragraph in which you discuss what point the which you discuss what point the poem makes about dreams that are poem makes about dreams that are not accomplished.not accomplished.
-Your response should be at least 6 -Your response should be at least 6 sentencessentences