“A Raisin in the Sun” Study Guide
Act 1
Scene One
Describe the Youngers’ living room and how it got to be
that way.
What is the time and place this play is set in?
Describe what the relationship between Ruth, Travis, and
Walter seems to be.
What is Walter’s plan with Willy and Bobo?
it cost?
How much will
What is the message Walter is saying when he says that a
woman says
”Eat your eggs” to a man?
What is Ruth’s response?
What does Walter say is the problem with black women?
What does Beneatha want to go to school for?
What is the situation regarding the check?
According to Walter, when will black people start to get
ahead in the world?
How much is the check?
What does Mama want to do with the money?
How does Beneatha feel about God and what is her mother’s
reaction?
Scene Two
What news does Ruth get from the doctor?
Describe Asagai’s personality. What does his and
Beneatha’s relationship seem to be like?
What does Asagai say about American women not being
liberated?
What does Asagai call Beneatha and what does it mean?
Is Walter going to get the money for his liquor store?
What is his reaction?
How does Mama describe Walter’s actions over the last few
years?
What does Walter say is life?
What news does Ruth give Walter about her pregnancy?
Act Two
Scene One
What did Beneatha do to her hair?
What is everyone’s reaction and why did Beneatha do it?
What does George say about the African heritage?
Beneatha’s reaction?
What is
What kinds of things does Walter say to George?
What does Ruth ask of Walter?
What is his response?
What did Mama do with the money?
What reasons does she give Walter for why she did what she
did?
What does Walter say she does to his dreams?
Scene Two
What is the problem with George and Beneatha’s
relationship?
What was the news in the black paper?
What does Ms. Johnson say about the Younger family and how
they act?
Has Walter been to work for the last three days?
What does Mama give to Walter?
with it?
Scene Three
Who comes to see the family?
part of?
What is he supposed to do
What organization is he a
What does he say most of the trouble in the world is caused
by?
What message from the community does he bring?
What is the community willing to do?
What does Walter do to the man and what does the man say in
response?
What presents does Mama get from the family?
What news does Bobo bring the family about Willy?
Willy have?
What did
What is Mama’s reaction to Walter’s news that he never went
to the bank?
Act Three
What does Beneatha say was the one concrete thing a human
can do?
Beneatha tells Asagai that she has stopped caring.
Why?
What does she say about progress?
What is Asagai’s response?
What does Asagai suggest Beneatha do when it is all over?
Walter went through the boxes. What was he looking for and
what did he do when he found it?
Does Mama want to move now?
Who did Walter call?
What did Willy Harris teach Walter?
What does Beneatha now say about the family?
What does she say about Walter having gone down on his
knees? What is Mama’s response?
According to Mama, when are you supposed to love someone
the most?
What does Walter tell Lindner?
What reason does he give?