A Raisin in the Sun Writing Journal printablemsmertz.weebly.com/.../6/6/...in_the_sun_writing_journal_printable.pdf · Beneatha: Recognition in the ... prejudice within the very community

Act III Theme: Redefining Dreams and Fulfillment of Dreams: Walter: Money for Family – Family Pride Beneatha: Recognition in the Eyes of Others (medical school) Recognition of Self (finding identity) Mama: Fulfillment of Dreams: Is it Really Just a House? Comment on each of these character’s dreams. Write 3 sentences per character. Be thoughtful in your response and relate yourself in this theme.

A Raisin in the Sun

By Lorraine Hansberry

Student Reading Response Journal

Name: ________________________________________________

Student Reading Response Journal – Objectives • To identify meaningful and/or significant passages in the text

• To uncover the depth and interest of thoughts and ideas present

in the passages through short analysis

• To apply the thoughts and ideas on a larger scale and make

connections between themes and messages in the text and our

lives, both personally and globally.

• To log and analyze various literary elements in the text: setting,

characters, themes, and symbols.

___________________________________________________________ Requirements

• Use pen

• Write a significant quote from the scene and cite it correctly.

• Use complete sentences. Analyze, observe literary techniques,

purpose, motivation, theme, character development, etc…

• Pay close attention to the comprehension check and writing topics

for each scene.

___________________________________________________________ Points Possible

• 5 points per complete entry with a stamp

• 0 points for a complete entry without a stamp

Act III

Significant Quotation: Comprehension Check: Writing Topic (Journal/Quickwrite):

Total:

Act II, scene iii Theme: What if the realization of your dream means someone else’s won’t be realized? Clybourned Park Community Walter’s Store Write your comments about this in a series of questions/comments from the perspective of the person who’s dream is being sacrificed. In other words, what questions/comments would Beneatha have for

Walter if Mama had given him the full $10,000? Etc.

“Dream Deferred By Langston Hughes

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?

1. What is a deferred dream according to Langston Hughes? 2. How does this poem compare to the message of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech? Give two examples.

Setting in “A Raisin In The Sun” ___________________________________________________________ Place: ___________________________________________________________ Time: ___________________________________________________________ The Younger Home (apartment) ___________________________________________________________ The Younger Home (home that Mama purchases)

Act II, Scene iii Significant Quotation: Comprehension Check: Writing Topic (Journal/Quickwrite):

Act II, scene ii Theme: Prejudice Within a Community: Assimilation vs. Anti-assimilation Male vs. Female Educated vs. Uneducated Money vs. Poverty Choose between the four topics connecting the one you choose to prejudice within the very community the Younger’s live in. Write a paragraph that defines that prejudice in the play and connect it to prejudice today. This could be something you have experienced or something you have observed.

Theme Mapping Briefly explain how each theme is present in the play. Be detailed. ___________________________________________________________ Dream of a Better Life: ___________________________________________________________ Family/Home: ___________________________________________________________ Integrity:

Theme Mapping (continued) ___________________________________________________________ Prejudice and Social Change:

___________________________________________________________ Racial Discrimination/Prejudice:

Act II, Scene ii Significant Quotation: Comprehension Check: Writing Topic (Journal/Quickwrite):

Act II,, scene i Theme: Can Differences Unite Us? Are We More Alike Than We Are Different? Dichotomy of Identity: George vs. Asaigai Racial Tensions. Dichotomy means the division into two parts. Looking at these two characters in the play, determine how they identify themselves personally and how they fit into a society that is oppressed and the brunt of racial prejudice. Identify how they are different and similar. Write a short paragraph for each character.

Characters in “A Raisin in the Sun” Describe each character in detail.

___________________________________________________________ Ruth Younger:

___________________________________________________________ Travis Younger:

___________________________________________________________ Walter Lee Younger:

___________________________________________________________ Beneatha Younger:

___________________________________________________________ Lena Younger (Mama):

Characters in “A Raisin in the Sun” ___________________________________________________________ Joseph Asagai:

___________________________________________________________ George Murchison:

___________________________________________________________ Karl Lindner:

___________________________________________________________ BoBo:

Act II, Scene i Significant Quotation: Comprehension Check: Writing Topic (Journal/Quickwrite):

Act I, scene ii Theme: Definition of Freedom Self Prejudice: hating oneself and wishing one was “other”. Slaves wanted physical freedom: Beneatha and Walter want another kind of freedom. Idendify the kind of freedom each of these characters want and write a short paragraph about each explaining why they do not have that freedom.

Symbols in “A Raisin in the Sun” ___________________________________________________________ The $10,000.00: ___________________________________________________________ The money Walter gives to Travis on his way to school: ___________________________________________________________ The “little old plant” that Mama keeps: ___________________________________________________________ The authentic African clothing that Asagai gives to Beneatha:

___________________________________________________________ Beneatha’s hair:

Comprehension Check ___________________________________________________________ 1. In the opening scene of the play, why does Walter ask Ruth what was wrong with her?

___________________________________________________________ 2. Why is Ruth upset when Walter gives Travis money?

___________________________________________________________ 3. Who are Willy and BoBo?

___________________________________________________________ 4. Walter said, “Damm my eggs…damm all the eggs that ever was!” Why?

___________________________________________________________ 5. Who is Beneatha? Describe her.

Act I, Scene ii Significant Quotation: Comprehension Check: Writing Topic ( Journal/Quickwrite):

Act I, scene i

Theme: Personal Dreams Differences between generations: Instructions: Write a paragraph that explains and proves the theme of personal dreams focusing on differences between generations in scene of this play.

Comprehension Check (continued) ___________________________________________________________ 6. Why is Mama receiving a check for $10,000.00? ___________________________________________________________ 7. Why does Beneatha say that she will not marry George? ___________________________________________________________ 8. What is Beneatha’s attitude toward God? ___________________________________________________________ 9. What happens to Ruth at the end of Act I Scene One? ___________________________________________________________ 10. Who is Joseph Asagai?

Comprehension Check (continued) ___________________________________________________________ 11. What did Ruth find out at the doctor’s office? ___________________________________________________________ 12. Why is Asagai’s present to Beneatha appropriate? ___________________________________________________________ 13. Why is Asagai’s name appropriate? ___________________________________________________________ 14. What does Mama say is “dangerous”? Why? ___________________________________________________________ 15. Where does Ruth actually go instead of the doctor’s office?

Act I, Scene i Significant Quotation: Comprehension Check Writing Topic (Journal / Quickwrite):

Comprehension Check (continued) ___________________________________________________________ 30.. What fault does Mama find with herself? ___________________________________________________________ 31. What solution does Walter have? ___________________________________________________________ 32. Why doesn’t Walter take the money Lidner offers? ___________________________________________________________ 33. Do the Youngers stay in their apartment or move to the home?

Comprehension Check (continued) ___________________________________________________________ 16. Why does Mama call Walter a disgrace to his father’s memory? ___________________________________________________________ 17. What is Beneatha’s family doing when George comes in? ___________________________________________________________ 18. What are “assimilationist Negroes”?

___________________________________________________________ 19. What does Mama do with the money?

Comprehension Check (continued) ___________________________________________________________ 20. What is Walter’s reaction to Mama’s purchase? What is Ruth’s reaction? Why do you think both characters react the way they do? ___________________________________________________________ 21. How does Ruth find out Walter hasn’t bee going to work? ___________________________________________________________ 22. Where has Walter been going instead of wrok? ___________________________________________________________ 23. What does Mama do for Walter? Why? ___________________________________________________________ 24. Who is Karl Lindner? In your opinion, does he have prejudice feeling/beliefs toward the Younger family?

Comprehension Check (continued) ___________________________________________________________ 25. Why does Karl visit the Younger’s house? ___________________________________________________________ 26. What is Walter’s reaction to Lindner? Would you have reacted the same way? Explain. ___________________________________________________________ 27. Why doesn’t Beneatha want to be a doctor anymore? ___________________________________________________________ 28. How does Asagai define “idealist” and “realist” ? ___________________________________________________________ 29. What does Asagai ask Beneatha to do?