A Raisin in the Sun
by_____________________
(Act 1, scene 1)
Vocabulary – Use a dictionary to define the following terms; be sure to use the appropriate
definition:
indictment (25) –
“slubborn” (29) –
graft (33) –
unobtrusive (39) –
feeble (39) –
peaked (40) –
ledger (42) –
notes (44) –
“fresh” (46) –
shallow (48) –
neurotic (49) –
Characters – Define each character in terms of who he/she is in the play AND his/her
personality.
Ruth –
Walter –
Travis –
Beneatha Mama –
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Reading Questions
1. What is the setting (time/place)?
2. On page 25, Ruth tells Walter, “All right, you just go ahead and lay there and next thing
you know, Travis will be finished and Mr. Johnson’ll be in there and you’ll be fussing and
cussin…” To what is she referring when she says “in there”?
What does this tell you about the family’s economic status?
3. To what “check” (page 26) do you think Walter is referring?
4. Walter tells Ruth he does NOT want scrambled eggs, but the stage directions (page 26) tell
you she “starts to scramble” them. Why do you think she does this?
What does it tell you about their relationship?
5. From Ruth (page 27), what does the reader learn about Travis’s “bedroom”?
6. On page 27, Walter tries to appeal to his wife, but the stage directions tell the reader she
does not accept his advances. What do her actions tell you about her well being this
morning?
What do you think could be wrong with her?
7. One page 28, Travis makes reference to the “check coming tomorrow.” He’s the 3rd
character to talk about it. What is this foreshadowing to the reader?
Obviously, a check has to do with money; how/why do you think these people could
be acquiring this particular check ?
8. On page 29, Travis says, “This is the morning we supposed to bring the fifty cents to
school,” but Ruth denies him the money. He asks to “go carry some groceries” after
school to earn the money. Why do you think having the money so important to him?
Why do you think Ruth denies him of the money even if he earns it himself?
Why does Ruth get upset with Walter for giving him the money?
9. On page 32, Walter talks about Charlie Atkins earning $100K a year by taking a business
chance. What does this tell us about Walter?
10. What does Walter want Ruth to do for him? (page 32-33)
What is her response? (page 34)
What is the difference between Walter’s priorities and Ruth’s priorities?
11. What does Walter do for a living? (page 34)
How does this job contradict with his ambition/goals?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------12. According to the stage directions on page 35, how is Beneatha different than the rest of
the family?
13. What does Beneatha want to do with her life? (page 36)
What is Walter’s immediate concern about this goal?
To what “sacrifices” is Walter most likely referring on page 37?
14. Though they cannot see it, how are Walter and Beneatha very much alike?
15. On page 38, Walter says, “He was my father, too!” What knowledge does his exclamation
provide for the reader?
16. Why does Walter think, on page 38, that his race is “the most backward race of people”?
17. To what/whom is Beneatha referring when she says, “And then there are all those
prophets who would lead us out of the wilderness—into the swamps!” on page 38?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------18. How is Mama portrayed to the reader in the stage directions on page 39?
19. With what is Mama preoccupied when she first enters the scene? (page 39)
20. What does Ruth mean by “it” on page 41?
21. Why is Mama so against Walter’s idea? (page 42)
22. How does Mama bring up the theme of race on page 43?
23. How are Mama’s priorities different than her children’s? What are her priorities? (page 43)
24. How does Ruth bring up the theme of race on page 44?
25. In what two ways would Mama most like to spend the money?
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26. In what ways were Mama’s priorities and hopes different from her husband’s?
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27. Why do Ruth and Mama laugh at Beneatha’s wanting to learn to play guitar? (page 47)
28. How is Beneatha’s view of marriage different than Mama’s and Ruth’s? (page 48-50)
Why won’t she marry Asagai?
29. Despite the fact that her children are fully grown, there are some ways in which Mama
treats them as children. Explain this through the incident on pages 50-51.
What did Beneatha do that Ruth refers to as “childish”? (page 52)
30. What is Beneatha’s view of God? (page 51)
31. Beneatha does NOT apologize for her actions, yet Ruth tells Mama that she did. Why do
you think she tells this lie? (page 52)
32. On page 52, Mama says, “No-there’s something come between me and them that don’t
let us understand each other…” What is the “something”?
33. On page 52, Mama says, “Got to admit they got spirit—Bennie and Walter. Like this little
old plant that ain’t never had enough sunshine or nothing—and look at it…” How do
Walter and Beneatha compare to the dying plant? What is Mama trying to say?
34. What happens to Ruth at the close of the scene? (page 53)
Make a prediction as to why this might have happened.