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A Raisin in the Sun

Last Updated January 2005 by Trisha Armstrong

Background:  Lorraine Hansberry, an African American author in the 1960's, wrote an emotional drama loosely based on her family's experience of moving to the suburbs.  The main characters deal with a variety of social issues which contribute to their frustrations as they try to achieve their dreams.  

Task:  

1.  Summarize and react to an event happening in Chicago during the 1960's at http://cpl.lib.uic.edu/004chicago/chihist.html  and the Democratic National Convention of 1968.

2.  You are a reporter on the Chicago Daily News assigned to report the integration of Clybourne Park by the Younger family.  Write a five paragraph news article detailing their arrival.  Be sure to answer all questions-- who, what, when, where, and how.  Follow the format of the USA Today at http://www.usatoday.com.  Choose an article in "news" and write your story accordingly.  Be sure to include such items as headline, date, place, and byline.  

3. Analyze two characters from the drama using the following poem format:

Line 1:  First name

Line 2:  Four traits that describe the character

Line 3:  Relative of ___________ (list two people)

Line 4:  Lover of ___________ (list three things)

Line 5:  Who feels __________ (three items)

Line 6:  Who needs _________ (three items)

Line 7:  Who fears __________ (three items)

Line 8:  Who gives __________ (three items)

Line 9:  Who would like to see __________ (three items)

Line 10:  Resident of ____________

Line 11:  Last name

4. Assume the persona of one character.  Write a diary entry after Mama receives the check.  Write a diary entry after Walter loses the money.

5.  Relationships:  Compare/contrast the contemporary relationships with those of the play.   Be sure site your Internet source.  

   

                                                                             Similarities                   Differences

Mother/daughter

Winona and Naomi Judd                          vs.

Mama/Beneatha Younger

                                                    

                                           

                                                       

husband/wife

Elvis/Priscilla Presley

                vs.

Walter/Ruth Younger

 

 

father/son

Tiger /Earl Woods

             vs.

Walter/Travis Younger 

 

 

Conclusion:  After completing these exercises, we hope you have a better understanding of the setting and the relationships of the characters from A Raisin in the Sun.