Name_________________________________________Date___________________________

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?
ay!e it "ust sags
Like a heavy load#
Or does it e$plode?
Langston %ughes
STUDY GUIDE/ASSIGNMENT PACKET
A &aisin in the 'un -- Anticipation (uide
We are going to the read the play, A ai!in in the S"n# The $ollo%ing !tate&ent! %ill gi'e yo"
!o&e in!ight into &any o$ the the&e! pre!ent in the play# An!%er tr"e or $al!e $or ea(h
!tate&ent )a!ed on yo"r o%n per!onal opinion# E*plain yo"r rea!oning#
)*# +ou should hold onto your dreams, if you work hard enough for them they will come true# ________
ea!oning+
-*# Once children are grown. their parents are no longer responsi!le to provide them with money and housing#
___________
ea!oning+
/*# We should think of the 0nited 'tates as a 1melting pot2 in which people from many cultures leave their
differences !ehind and only follow 1American2 customs and traditions# ___________
ea!oning+
3*# Neigh!ors have the right to decide what kind of community they want to have4including who lives in that
neigh!orhood# _______
ea!oning+
5*# A parent and child often disagree a!out the way the child should live his6her life# ____________
ea!oning+
7*# ost people don8t try hard enough to see the other fellow8s pro!lem# ____________
ea!oning+
9*# When someone insults you. it is !est to 1turn the other cheek#2 ________
ea!oning+
:*# ;ased on the a!ove statements. make / predications a!out what you think will happen in the play. A &aisin in
the 'un#
)*#
-*#
/*#
,a(-gro"nd Note! on .orraine /an!)erry
0a&ily
;orn in <hicago on ay )=. )=/>
?he youngest of four children
%er parents were well-educated African Americans who fought against discrimination
As a child. lived with her family on the 'outh 'ide of <hicago
Later. her family !ecome one of the first !lack families to move into a white
neigh!orhood
When treated unfairly. the %ans!errys defended themselves
.iterary E*perien(e!
Like <isernos. %ans!erry felt the inclination to record her own e$periences. thus A
&aisin in the 'un is often considered auto!iographical
%ans!erry was one of the first playwrights to create realistic portraits of African-
American life
A &aisin the 'un received the New +ork Drama <ritics8 <ircle Awards for ;est @lay of the
+ear
'he was the youngest playwright. the fifth woman. and the only !lack writer at that point
to win the award
%er promising career was cut short when she died in )=75. at the age of thirty-four of
cancer
E.EMENTS 10 DAMA
An order to !etter understand a play. such as A &aisin in the 'un. you will need to know the
terms most commonly used to discuss drama#
Dire(tion!+ De$ine ea(h ele&ent o$ dra&a "!ing the eader2! /and)oo-#
Ele&ent De$inition
34# a(t 5p#6774
84# !(en(e!
94# (a!t o$ (hara(ter!
:4# (hor"!
64# dialog"e
;4# dra&ati( de'i(e! Tool! a dra&ati!t &ay "!e to add intere!t
to play!
<4# &onolog"e/!olilo="y 5p#67:4
>4# plot 5p#67;4
?4# !")plot 5p# 67;4
374# !tage dire(tion! 5p#67<4
334# !tr"(t"re
384# the&e
Dire(tion!+ A$ter ea(h reading o$ the play, add in$or&ation a)o"t ea(h (hara(ter2! trait!
and a(tion!/,e !pe(i$i(#
Chara(ter Phy!i(al Trait! Per!onality Trait! A(tion!
"th
Yo"nger
Walter .ee
Yo"nger
Tra'i!
Yo"nger
,eneatha
Yo"nger
.ena
Yo"nger
5Ma&a4
@o!eph
A!agai
George
M"r(hi!on
Mr!#
@ohn!on
Karl .inder
,o)o
A(t I A S(ene I and II
Chara(ter St"dent
Narrator
Walter .ee Yo"nger
"th Yo"nger
Tra'i! Yo"nger
,eneatha Yo"nger
Ma&a 5.ena Yo"nger4
@o!eph A!agai
A(t II A S(ene I, II, and III
Narrator
"th Yo"nger
,eneatha Yo"nger
Walter
George
Ma&a
Tra'i! Yo"nger
Mr!# @ohn!on
Karl .inder
,o)o
A(t III
Narrator
@o!eph A!agai
,eneatha
"th
Ma&a
Walter
Karl .inder
STUDY BUESTI1NS
DirectionsB Answer each Cuestion in a complete sentenceDs*#
STUDY BUESTI1NS C3 A A(t I A S(ene 1ne
)*#Why did Walter ask &uth what was wrong with her?
-# Why was &uth upset when Walter gave ?ravis the money?
/# Who are Willy and ;o!o?
3# Walter said. EDamn my eggs # # # damn all the eggs that ever wasFE Why?
5# Who is ;eneatha?
7# Why was ama getting a check for G)>.>>>?
9# Why did ;eneatha say she wouldnHt marry (eorge?
:# What was ;eneathaHs attitude towards (od?
=# What happened to &uth at the end of Act A 'cene One?
'?0D+ I0J'?AON' K- - Act A -'cene ?wo
)*# Who is Loseph Asagai? Where did ;eneatha meet him?
-# What did &uth find out at the doctorHs office?
/# Why is AsagaiHs present to ;eneatha appropriate?
3# Why is AsagaiHs nickname for ;eneath appropriate?
5# What does ama say is EdangerousE?
7# Where did &uth actually go instead of the doctorHs office?
9# Why did ama call Walter a disgrace to his fatherHs memory?
STUDY BUESTI1NS C9 A A(t II AS(ene 1ne
)# What was ;eneathaHs family doing when (eorge came in?
-# What are Eassimilationist NegroesE?
/# What did ama do with her money?
3# What was WalterHs reaction to amaHs purchase? &uthHs reaction?
'?0D+ I0J'?AON' K3 -Act AA -'cene ?wo
)# %ow did &uth find out Walter hadnHt !een going to work?
-# Where had Walter !een going instead of to work?
/# What did ama do for Walter?
STUDY BUESTI1NS C6 AA(t II AS(ene Three
)# Who was Marl Lindner. and why did he visit the +oungersH house?
-# What was WalterHs reaction to Lindner?
/# What presents did ama get?
3# What news did ;o!o !ring to Walter? 5Thi! i! the (li&a* o$ the play4
STUDY BUESTI1NS C; A A(t III
)# Why didnHt ;eneatha want to !e a doctor anymore?
-# %ow did Asagai define EidealistsE and ErealistsE?
/# What does Asagai ask ;eneatha to do?
3# What fault does ama find with herself?
5# What solution does Walter have?
7# Why didnHt Walter take the money Lindner offered?
9# What did the +ounger family decided to do in the end of the play? What does this say a!out Walter
as a person?