A RAISIN IN THE SUNA RAISIN IN THE SUN

An IntroductionAn Introduction

Two Questions…Two Questions…

What would you do with 40 What would you do with 40 bajillion dollars?bajillion dollars?

What would you do with 70 What would you do with 70 thousand dollars?thousand dollars?

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?Maybe it just sags like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

The Younger FamilyThe Younger Family

Poor African Poor African American familyAmerican family

Lives on Chicago’s Lives on Chicago’s South Side in the South Side in the 1950’s1950’s

Shares a small 1 Shares a small 1 bedroom bedroom apartmentapartment

1 bathroom for 1 bathroom for whole floorwhole floor

Lena Younger (Mama)Lena Younger (Mama)

Kind old gentle Kind old gentle womanwoman

Husband (big Husband (big Walter) recently diedWalter) recently died

$10,000 life $10,000 life insurance check on insurance check on the waythe way

Dreamt with her Dreamt with her husband about husband about owning a home one owning a home one dayday

Walter Lee YoungerWalter Lee Younger

Son of Lena and Son of Lena and Big WalterBig Walter

Chauffeur for a Chauffeur for a wealthy white manwealthy white man

Dreams of Dreams of providing a better providing a better life for his familylife for his family

Has big plans for Has big plans for $10,000 check$10,000 check

Ruth YoungerRuth Younger

Married to Walter Married to Walter LeeLee

Works as a Works as a housekeeper in the housekeeper in the home a white home a white familyfamily

Feeling tired and Feeling tired and sick as play openssick as play opens

Dreams of a better Dreams of a better life for her familylife for her family

Beneatha YoungerBeneatha Younger

Sister of Walter Lee Sister of Walter Lee and Daughter of and Daughter of LenaLena

College student, College student, does not have a jobdoes not have a job

Interested in Interested in learning about her learning about her African heritageAfrican heritage

Dreams of being a Dreams of being a doctordoctor

Travis YoungerTravis Younger

Son of Walter Lee Son of Walter Lee and Ruth Youngerand Ruth Younger

Sleeps on the Sleeps on the couchcouch

Willy and BoboWilly and Bobo

Friends of Walter Friends of Walter Lee’sLee’s

Potential business Potential business partners for Walterpartners for Walter

They want to invest They want to invest in a liquor store in a liquor store togethertogether

George and JosephGeorge and Joseph

Beneatha dates Beneatha dates both men during both men during playplay

George is rich, but George is rich, but shallowshallow

Joseph is from Joseph is from Africa and a fellow Africa and a fellow student of student of Beneatha’sBeneatha’s

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?Maybe it just sags like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

YOUR TASKYOUR TASK

1.1. Write a well developed paragraph in Write a well developed paragraph in which you discuss what point the which you discuss what point the poem makes about dreams that are poem makes about dreams that are not accomplished.not accomplished.

-Your response should be at least 6 -Your response should be at least 6 sentencessentences