1. By: Lorraine Hansberry
A Raisin in the Sun Unit
By: Lorraine Hansberry

2. Dream Deferred
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? Langston Hughes

3. POEM What is the poem about? What does happen to a dream deferred?
How is the poem connected to the title?
The questions are all rhetorical questions, because they intend to answer themselves. Each question in the first stanza uses simile: “like a raisin in the sun,” “like a sore,”like rotten meat,” “like a syrupy sweet.” The second stanza which is not a question but a suggestion also uses simile “like a heavy load.” The last stanza uses metaphor, “does it explode?”
The poem employs rhyme: sun-run, meat-sweet, load-explode.
The poem also uses imagery: “raisin in the sun,” “fester like a sore— / And then run,” “stink like rotten meat,” etc.

4. Themes/Concepts
The following four slides contain words that are the themes within the play as well as concepts the characters need to grasp.
THINK ABOUT THE WORDS AS THEY FLASH UP ON THE SCREEN.
What do these words mean?

5. DREAM

6. Materialism

7. Family

8. Self- Esteem

9. IMAGINE
Imagine that your family just won the lottery. What does it feel like to have all of that money? What conflicts would arise in your family?
Imagine that your family moves to a new neighborhood, but your neighbors do not want you there. They do everything to make your life unpleasant in your new home. Do you put up with it or move out?
CHOOSE ONE AND ANSWER IT IN A MINIMUM OF A PARAGRAPH.

10. Connection
We looked at President Lincoln and President Obama’s Inaugural speeches. We also listened to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s speech. These have all dealt with change for America. Dr. King addressed civil rights for all humans- specifically the quest of Black Americans for freedom, equality, and justice. This was his American Dream! Has Dr. King’s dreams come true?
How do the three men compare in their dreams for America and how do they differ? What do their America’s look like?

11. THE PLAY
We are going to read about an ordinary family- each member in the family has a dream for a better life for all of them. Each dream is different, but each dream has the same goal – to make a better life for the family. Keep the goals in mind as we read the play.