Study Guide Part II: Vocabulary

Write the words and definitions on a separate sheet of paper

Irony

Estrangement

Rhetoric

Insinuatingly

Allegory

Ominous

Forlornly

Vindicated

Symbol

Inferiority

Exasperated

Haphazardly

Allusion

Syllogism

Futile

Furtively

Foreshadowing

Antihero

Cognizant

Paradoxical

Scintillating

Foil

Anaphora

Hypophora

Tyrant

Motif

Asyndeton

Antithesis

affiliated

conflict

Latent

moratorium

Study Guide Part III: A Raisin in the Sun

MATCHING: Match each character with the proper description. One will be left over.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

_____Beneatha
BC
AB
_____Ruth
AC
_____Travis
AE
_____Walter
Lee
A
_____Walter
E
_____Joseph
Asagai
B
_____George
Murchison
AD
_____Karl
Lindner
C
_____Bobo
D
_____Willy
Harris

a. man whose death brings the Youngers $10,000

b. thinks women only need to be pretty & sophisticated
c. a messenger of bad news
d. runs off with $6500
e. represents pride in African heritage
ab. is becoming a settled woman
ac. wants to earn money carrying groceries
ad. makes the Youngers a humiliating offer
ae. a chauffeur who dreams of owning his own store
bc. dreams of becoming a doctor
bd. currently owns a liquor store

MULTIPLE CHOICE: Mark the letter of the best answer.

11. From where does A Raisin in the Sun get its name?
a. a poem by Countee Cullen

b. an elegy by John Donne

c. a poem by Langston Hughes

d. a song by Duke Ellington

12. What is the subject matter of the answer to number 11 above?

a. Mystic music

b. Dreams deferred

c. Living with love

d. Timely travel

13. Where does A Raisin in the Sun take place?

a. Detroit

b. Philadelphia

c. New York City

d. Chicago

14. Mama slaps Beneatha because Beneatha

a. denies that God exists

b. calls Walter a flip

c. doesnt listen to what Mama says

d. wants to marry George Murchison

15. How could you describe Ruth and Walters relationship at the beginning of the play?
a. lighthearted and full of love

b. tense; theyre easily frustrated by each other

c. full of pity for one another

d. easy going; they joke with each other

16. What does Travis receive from his father before leaving for school?
a. a sack lunch

b. a new book

c. money

d. scrambled eggs

17. How could you describe Walter and Beneathas relationship?

a. full of respect

b. loving and caring

c. combative; they often argue/bicker

d. full of compassion

18. According to Ruth, why should Beneatha want to be with George?

a. he is well-educated

b. he is understanding

c. he is caring

d. he has money

19. According to George Murchison, the heritage of black Americans

a.
b.
c.
d.

is not that different from white Americans heritage

is nothing more than a bunch of spirituals and some grass huts
really began with the civil rights movement
is deeply rooted in Africas rich cultural history

20. How does Mama act when the check comes?

a.
b.
c.
d.

She kisses the check and holds it to her heart.

She hands it to Travis and tells him about their new future.
She tells Ruth to put it away.
She goes to find Walter and gives it to him.

21. How does Ruth react when she realizes Mama may use some of the money for a house?
a. She is extremely excited.

b. She is disappointed.

c. She doesnt have an opinion.

d. She is angry.

22. What is Mamas motive for buying a house in the all-white community of Clybourne Park?
a.
b.
c.
d.

She wants to obtain the best home for the least amount of money.
She wants to integrate the neighborhood.
She wants to prove she is the head of the family.
She wants to prove that she is not an old-fashioned black woman.

23. How does Mama symbolically make Walter the head of the household?
a.
b.
c.
d.

She tells him to sign the deed to the house.

She gives him control over the money.
She asks him to hold her plant.
She lets him buy the liquor store.

24. How does Walter first respond to Mr. Lindners proposal about the house?
a.
b.
c.
d.

Walter says he will consider the offer.

Walter threatens to punch him in the mouth.
Walter accepts the offer.
Walter orders him out of the house.

25. What gifts do Walter, Ruth, and Travis present Mama with?
a. new pots and pans

b. new towels for their private bathroom

c. new pottery

d. gardening tools and a huge gardening hat

26. What does Mamas old plant symbolize?

a. hope for the future

b. frustration with ghetto life

c. despair

d. preoccupation with the past

27. What is Mamas immediate reaction to the news of the loss of the money?
a. She sobs hysterically.

b. She begins unpacking.

c. She goes into a trance-like state.

d. She hits Walter.

28. What is the climax of the play?

a.
b.
c.
d.

Mama puts a down payment on the house.

Walter turns down Lindners offer.
Ruth finds out shes pregnant.
Beneatha decides to move to Africa.

29. All of the following are conflicts in the play except:

a.
b.
c.
d.

Walter and Beneatha disagree on how the money should be spent.

Walter wants to leave when he gets frustrated and Mama tries to stop him.
Asagai and Murchison argue over Beneatha.
Ruth and Walter disagree on whether or not Travis can have money for school.

30. All of the following are themes in the play except:

a. the real meaning of money

b. the quest for the American dream

c. looking for love

d. the search for identity

QUOTE IDENTIFICATION: Mark the letter of the person who spoke the following quotes.
You may use a name more than once or not at all.
A. Walter

B. Mama

C. Ruth

D. Travis

E. Asagai

AB. Beneatha

AC. George

AD. Lindner

B
______I
aint never stop trusting you. Like I aint never stop loving you.
AC
______You
read books to learn facts. Its got nothing to do with thoughts.
A
______I
tell you, I am a manand I think my wife should wear some pearls!
AB
______I
dont flit! II experiment with different forms of expression.
AD
______What
do you think you are going to gain by moving into a neighborhood where you
just arent wanted.
C
36. ______[Walter]
needs somethingsomething I cant give him anymore.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.

TRUE OR FALSE:
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.

______Beneatha
wants Mama to use all of the insurance money to finance her education.
F
______Walter
believes a wife should support her husbands dream.
T
______George
Murchison respects Walters dream.
F
______Joseph
Asagai
believes that black Americans should assimilate into the dominant
F
American culture.
______Walter
is excited when he learns that Ruth is expecting a baby.
F
______Mr.
Lindner represents the Clybourne Park Welcoming Committee.
T
______Beneatha
thinks George Murchison is a fool.
T
______The
Youngers are honored that Mr. Lindner wanted to make them an offer.
F
T
______Mama
says theres always something left to love in a person.
F
______Mama
makes the finals decision that the family will move.
T
______Asagai
is from Nigeria.
F
______Walters
character is very static; that is, he does not change much throughout the
play.
F
______Walter
admits to Ruth that he doesnt know how to become close to her.
T
______Ruth
becomes frantic and upset when Mama talks about canceling the move.

Study Guide Part IV: Writing and Grammar

Indicate whether the following sentences are active or passive
1.I ate a piece of chocolate cake.

active / passive

2. The librarian read the book to the students.

active / passive

3. The money was stolen.

active / passive

4. They are paid on Fridays.

active / passive

5. The movie is being made in Hollywood.

active / passive

6. I washed my car three weeks ago.

active / passive

7. His hair was cut by a professional.

active / passive

8. I will introduce you to my boss this week.

active / passive

9. It would have been fixed at the weekend.

active / passive

10. The national anthem is being sung by Jason this time. active / passive

Connotation and Denotation:

Which connotation is more positive? Write the answer (the word) in the ________
1. Our trip to the amusement park was _____.
a) fine
b) wonderful
2. _______ people rode on the roller coaster.
a) Brave
b) Foolhardy
3. We saw _____ animals in the animal house.
a) fascinating
b) weird
4. Some of the monkeys made _____ faces.
a) hilarious
b) amusing

5. Everyone had a _____ on his or her face on the way home.

a) smile
b) smirk
Which connotation is more negative?
6. We bought _____ souvenirs at the amusement park.
a) cheap
b) inexpensive
7. I ate a _____ sandwich.
a) soggy
b) moist
8. Mike _____ us to go to the funny house.
a) nagged
b) reminded
9. I didn't like the _____ on the jester's face.
a) smirk
b) grin
10. It made me feel _____.
a) uneasy
b) frightened
Which is the best answer?
11. Which is worth more?
a) something old
b) something antique
12. Which is better?
a) to be skinny
b) to be slender
13. Which would you rather be called?
a) thrifty
b) cheap
14. Which would a vain person be more likely to do?
a) stroll
b) parade
15. Which is more serious?
a) problem
b) disaster

16. Which is more polite?

a) sip a drink
b) gulp it
17. Which would you be if you hadn't eaten for several days?
a) hungry
b) starving
18. Which would you be after a walk in the mud?
a) filthy
b) dirty

Other grammar: See packets