Summer Reading: American Lit.

(On-Level 11th Grade) 

 

Students are to read ​A Raisin in The Sun​ by Lorraine Hansberry. ​Reading will be assessed 
in the assessment over the first unit of the course. 
**Here is a link to a PDF of the full text (It is public domain, so easy to find with a Google search. ) 
http://khdzamlit.weebly.com/uploads/1/1/2/6/11261956/a_raisin_in_the_sun_-_lorraine_hansber
ry.pdf 
OPTIONAL (but recommended) PLOT QUESTIONS – ​check to see if you catch the details. 

Act 1, scene 1 // Friday:

1. ​Where is Travis sleeping? What does this reveal about the family’s situation, problems, etc.? 
2. ​What does Walter give Travis? Why does this upset Ruth? 
3. ​What does Walter want Ruth to talk to Mama about? Describe what is revealed about the relationship between Walter 
and his wife Ruth. 
4. ​What does Beneatha want to do with her life? Describe the relationship between Walter and his sister Beneatha. 

5. ​What two things does Mama want to do with the money? What does the money mean to her? 
6. ​Why does Mama slap Beneatha? What are some of the sources of conflict between Mama and her children? 
 
Act 1, scene 2 // Saturday morning
7. ​What do we find out about Ruth at the beginning of the scene? 
8. ​What does Beneatha fear Mama will do to embarrass her in front of Asagai? 
9. ​Who is Joseph Asagai? What gift does he bring Beneatha? What does it mean when Asagai says Beneatha is an 
“assimilationist”? 
10. Where did Ruth actually go instead of the doctor's office? 

11. How does Walter feel about his job and his life? 

12. Why does Lena say her son, Walter, is a disgrace to his father’s memory? 
 
Act 2, scene 1 // Saturday evening
13. Describe George Murchison. What do George and Walter disagree about. How does Walter insult George? 
14. Where has Mama been all day? What did she do with some of the insurance money? 

15. How does Walter react? How does Ruth react? Why is Walter angry with Mama? 
 
Act 2, scene 2 // Friday night a few weeks later
16. What has Walter been lying about? For how long? (note discrepancy in movie and play) 
17. What does Mama do to show Walter she trusts him? 

18. What does Walter tell Travis he is going to do? 

 
Act 2, scene 3 // Saturday, moving day, one week later
19. How has the relationship between Walter and Ruth changed? 
20. Who is Karl Lindner, and why does he visit Lena? What does Walter do to take charge of the situation? 

21. What bad news does Bobo bring to Walter? How does the tone of the play shift at this point in the play? 
 
Act 3 // Saturday evening
22. Who comes to visit? Where does he want Beneatha to go? 
23. Who does Walter call and why? 

24. When Walter tells Mama what he plans to do, she says, “you won’t have nothing left then, Walter Lee.” What does she 
mean by that? 
25. According to Mama, when is the most important time to love somebody? 

26. How Walter Lee redeem himself in the end? 

27. What symbolic item does Mama grab before she walks out the door?