A Raisin in the Sun--Introduction------REMEMBER---ALL THE WEEK'S ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE ON FRIDAY OF THAT WEEK--SO THIS WEEK IT WILL ALL BE DUE BY APRIL 24TH.

A Raisin in the Sun Day 1

First: Watch the video introduction for the play: Video Introduction to A Raisin in the Sun

Second, read the "Introduction" (pages 8-17) to the play (below is a link for the entire play including theintroduction) It is also in the left-hand column under "Quarter 4 texts": 

click here for the entire play including introduction

On a sheet of lined paper answer the following text-based questions using THE RACE STRATEGY (RESTATE ANSWER CITE EXPLAIN) when possible for full-credit:

1) Describe the importance of the play A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry to American culture.
2) Explain the need to cut several scenes from the play.
3) Describe how these cuts affected the overall meaning of the play.
4) What did James Baldwin mean when he wrote that "Americans suffer from an ignorance that is not only colossal, but sacred" (8)? How does this relate to the play?
5). Why does the author say that the end of the play is not a "happy ending" (10)?
6). Describe the 2 scenes that were cut and restored on pages 11 and 12 (Travis and Mrs. Johnson) and their effect on the play.
7) Why does it seem to some that the play is "a sad commentary on America"(13)?
8) Why does the author say that the play will be relevant even when we get past racism "as we must" (13)?

DEFINE the following vocabulary words AND then use each in your own sentence:
consciousness
presaged
ineradicably