Curriculum  /  ELA  /  7th Grade  /  Unit 3: Pursuing Dreams: A Raisin in the Sun  /  Lesson 15

Pursuing Dreams: A Raisin in the Sun

Lesson 15
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ELA

Unit 3

7th Grade

Lesson 15 of 26

Objective

Compare and contrast the film version of A Raisin in the Sun with the original text by identifying techniques used by the filmmakers and their impact on mood and meaning.

Readings and Materials

  • Play: A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry  pp. 110 – 124 — ending with "(the bell rings)"

  • Movie: A Raisin in the Sun  — 1:21:55–1:35:02

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A Note for Teachers

Though A Raisin in the Sun (1961) is not rated, the film contains offensive language that may be distressing for students. The film also contains depictions of excessive alcohol consumption. For further guidance, review the Parents' Guide to A Raisin in the Sun from Common Sense Media as a part of intellectual preparation.

Target Task

Assign

Discussion & Writing Prompt

What kind of camera angles does the filmmaker use when Mr. Lindner comes to the apartment? Explain why the filmmaker most likely chose these angles and the impact it has on communicating meaning.

Sample Response

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Key Questions

  • Contrast the lighting the filmmaker uses in the Youngers' apartment and the scenes at the new house. How does the filmmaker use lighting in each of these scenes to communicate mood and meaning? (Film: A Raisin in the Sun, 1961)

  • What is the mood in the Younger house to start the Scene Three before the doorbell rings? How do both Hansberry and the filmmaker develop this mood? Cite evidence from both sources to support your answer. (A Raisin in the Sun & Film: A Raisin in the Sun, 1961)

  • How do both the playwright and the filmmaker emphasize how Beneatha's tone is different from Walter and Ruth's when she is speaking to Mr. Lindner?  Cite evidence from both sources to support your answer. (A Raisin in the Sun & Film: A Raisin in the Sun, 1961)

  • Mr. Lindner does not come out and explicitly say that the people in Clybourne Park do not want a Black family moving in. Instead, he says this indirectly. What words and phrases does he use in his monologue to get this point across? (A Raisin in the Sun)

  • How does the movie differ from the play in this scene? How do the changes in the movie impact the mood and meaning? Provide examples from both sources in your answer. (A Raisin in the Sun & Film: A Raisin in the Sun, 1961)

Vocabulary

Text-based

amiably

adv.

(p. 115)

friendly

Homework

Assign

To ensure that students are prepared for the next lesson, have students complete the following reading for homework. Use guidance from the next lesson to identify any additional language or background support students may need while independently engaging with the text.

  • Play: A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry  pp. 124 – 130

While reading, answer the following questions.

  • Who is Bobo?

  • What does Bobo tell Walter?

  • What has Walter done with the money Mama gave him?

  • How does Mama react to this news?

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Common Core Standards

  • RL.7.4 — Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of rhymes and other repetitions of sounds (e.g., alliteration) on a specific verse or stanza of a poem or section of a story or drama.
  • RL.7.6 — Analyze how an author develops and contrasts the points of view of different characters or narrators in a text.
  • RL.7.7 — Compare and contrast a written story, drama, or poem to its audio, filmed, staged, or multimedia version, analyzing the effects of techniques unique to each medium (e.g., lighting, sound, color, or camera focus and angles in a film).

Supporting Standards

L.7.5
L.7.5.c
RL.7.1
RL.7.2
RL.7.5
RL.7.10
SL.7.1
SL.7.6
W.7.1
W.7.1.a
W.7.1.b
W.7.4
W.7.9
W.7.9.a
W.7.10

Next

Analyze how the playwright structures A Raisin in the Sun to develop the climax of the play.

Lesson 16
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