Your Name: ____________________________________
_____________
Ms. Burns
___________
date:
Block:
A Raisin in the Sun: Examining themes
A drama like A Raisin in the Sun is powerful and it seems to ask us to ask questions, to delve beyond the
surface of the story to discover more about what Lorraine Hansberry is saying. In your research paper, I’ll ask
you to explore one of the themes in A Raisin in the Sun and comment on what Hansberry is suggesting about
the big questions in life.
Before we can look at themes (the central, underlying messages of the text), we will first explore some motifs.
In literature, a motif is an object or idea that repeats itself throughout a literary work. Moreover, a motif will
contribute to a theme. For example, if the motif is an idea that repeats throughout the text, then the theme is
the complete message we receive with the help of that repeated idea. A motif in A Raisin in the Sun might be
dreams. The theme, however, is what Lorraine Hansberry is saying to us about dreams. Make sense? In order
to come up with some themes in A Raisin in the Sun, start by looking at some motifs and then asking yourself
What is Hansberry saying about that motif?
Below you will find some motifs. You will select three motifs and decide what Hansberry suggests/implies
about each one. When you combine them, you will have your theme, and the beginning of your thesis
statement. What’s still missing? The parts/prongs, of course! Once you have told your reader what your
theme is, you will need to touch on why you feel that way (or, in other words, what in the text shows that
theme). Before we work on making our complete thesis statements, however, you will need to find some
examples for each of your possible themes to help you decide which one you really want to write about.
Directions: First, choose three motifs from A Raisin in the Sun.
Possible motifs
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Dreams, Hopes, and Plans
Discrimination
Family
The American Dream
The Home
Race
Pride/Dignity
Poverty
Suffering
Dissatisfaction
Gender
Choices
Sacrifice 
Next, think about what Hansberry seems to be saying about each motif. Write your responses below.
- Motif #1: ________________________________
- What Hansberry is saying about it: ___________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
- Motif #2: ________________________________
- What Hansberry is saying about it: ___________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
- Motif #3: ________________________________
- What Hansberry is saying about it: ___________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
As a class, we will discuss what Hansberry is saying about various motifs in order to create themes (motif +
what author is suggesting about it = theme). You will then select one of the themes to write your research paper
on. Your chosen theme will become the beginning of your thesis statement. You will still need to add your
“parts” (the reasons it is the theme/places this theme is apparent), but that will be coming soon!
Example:
In A Raisin in the Sun, Hansberry suggests that (insert motif) is (insert what you think Hansberry
believes or suggests)
In A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry suggests that The American Dream is only an illusion for some
individuals.
Now, use your work from the previous page and our class discussion to write down two themes below:
- Possible theme#1: ______________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
- Possible theme #2: _____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
The theme I choose to write about is: __________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
On the chart on the next page of this packet, you will be finding quotes from the text to support the theme who
have chosen. These quotes will serve as proof/examples of the theme you have selected. Your job is to go back
through the text and find three quotes that demonstrate your chosen theme, and write down how that
example proves your theme.
Your Name: ___________________________________
Date: ______________________
Quotation Worksheet: Quotes from A Raisin in the Sun
Theme:_____________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Summarize Quote
Quotation 1
Quotation 2
Quotation 3
How does this quote show your
chosen theme?