1. Background, Vocabulary, and Allusion Notes
A Raisin in the Sun
Background, Vocabulary, and Allusion Notes

2. Background
-Play by Lorraine Hansberry -First published/performed in Setting: between ; well kept but poor apartment in Southside of Chicago; Black family receives a $10,000 life insurance check -Themes · The value and purpose of dreams, the need to fight racial discrimination, the importance of family

3. Background
-Conflict: The Youngers, a working-class black family, struggle against economic hardship and racial prejudice

4. Background -Important Characters:
-Walter Lee Younger (Protagonist): a dreamer
-Beneatha: Walter’s sister; college
“Mama” Younger
Ruth Younger: Walter’s wife
Travis Younger: Ruth and Walter’s son
Joseph Asagai and George Murchison: Benaetha’s love interests
Karl Lindner: only white character in the play

5. Plot, Quotes, etc. Play title “I’m a volcano” “Alaiyo”
Characterization of all important characters/Static vs. dynamic characters
Lorraine Hansberry
Plot

6. -A reference to another work (literature, history, film)
Allusion
-A reference to another work (literature, history, film)

7. Prometheus Greek Mythology Created man from clay Gave fire to man
Severe punishment from Zeus
Walter Lee Younger*

8. Garbo (The “Garbo Routine”)
Greta Garbo
Legendary Actress of 1930s
Dramatic, mysterious
George to Beneatha

9. Mrs. Miniver Late in play, Mama compared to this fictional character
Oscar-winning film (1942)
Middle-class housewife
Tends roses
Strength and hope

10. Scarlett O’Hara Character in Gone with the Wind Well dressed
Novel/film about the fall of the South

11. Colonel McCormick Owner/publisher of the Chicago Tribune newspaper
Prominent Chicago resident

12. Uncle Tom Reference to Harriet Beecher Stowe’s book
Black man who accepts the domination of a white man without resistance

13. Tarzan Popular films Boy raised by apes in African jungle
Beneatha comments...what most people know about Africa comes from Tarzan films

14. Assimilation
Giving up aspects of one’s own culture (language, clothing, etc) in order to fit in with the dominant culture

15. Graft
Acquiring money by illegal or unfair means
Blackmail; bribe

16. Pan-Africanism
-Belief/movement that encourages solidarity among Africans worldwide
-Unity is necessary for social, political, and economic progress

17. Ghetto
A poor, neglected, disadvantaged part of a city

18. Peachy-keen -Popular phrase used by white teens during 1950’s
- “That’s very good...”

19. Epitaph
Inscription on a tomb stone