A Raisin in the Guide Study Guide Name:
12-1-16
1. You should be able to identify the 5 elements of a story in A Raisin in the Sun.
Plot (MAJOR EVENTS)*Also fill out plot graph
Setting
Theme
Conflict
Characters
2. What characters are static? What characters are dynamic?
3. You should know the characters motivations ( What drives them)
4. You should know what part of the story these quotes are from, and why I lifted them (Why are they important)! What is the deeper meaning behind them?
1.Beneatha: Love him? There is nothing left to love.
Mama: There is always something left to love. And if you ain't learned that, you ain't learned nothing. (Looking at her) Have you cried for that boy today? I don't mean for yourself and for the family 'cause we lost the money. I mean for him: what he been through and what it done to him. Child, when do you think is the time to love somebody the most? When they done good and made things easy for everybody? Well then, you ain't through learning - because that ain't the time at all. It's when he's at his lowest and can't believe in hisself 'cause the world done whipped him so! when you starts measuring somebody, measure him right, child, measure him right. Make sure you done taken into account what hills and valleys he come through before he got to wherever he is.
2. George:(Looking at him with distaste, a little above it all)
You're all wacked up with bitterness, man.
Walter (Intently, almost quietly, between the teeth, glaring at the boy) And you ain't you bitter, man? Ain't you just about had it yet? Don't you see no stars gleaming that you can't reach out and grab? You happy? You contented son-of-a-bit** you happy? You got it made? Bitter? Man, I'm a volcano. Bitter? Here I am a giant surrounded by ants! Ants who can't even understand what it is the giant is talking about.
3.Beneatha :Because I hate assimilationist Negroes
4.Mama: Lord, ever since I was a little girl, I always remembers people saying, "Lena – Lena Eggleston, you aims too high all the time. You needs to slow down and see life a little more like it is. Just slow down some." That’s what they always used to say down home – "Lord, that Lena Eggleston is a high-minded thing. She’ll get her due one day!"
5.Mama: Oh—So now it’s life. Money is life. Once upon a time freedom used to be life—now it’s money. I guess the world really do change
6.MAMA (Quietly, woman to woman)
He finally come into his manhood today, didn’t he? Kind of like a rainbow after the rain…
RUTH (Biting her lip, lest her own pride explode in front of Mama)
Yes, Lena.
7 MAMA: No. Travis you stay right here. And you make him understand what you doing, Walter Lee. You teach him good. Like Willy Harries taught you. You show where our five generations done come to. Go ahead son- go ahead.