Pursuing Dreams: A Raisin in the Sun

Lesson 9
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ELA

Unit 3

7th Grade

Lesson 9 of 26

Objective


Analyze how the playwright structures the play to develop the plot and create suspense.

Readings and Materials


  • Play: A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry  pp. 46 – 60 — starting with "BENEATHA comes in" through p. 60 ending with "The bell rings"

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Target Task


Discussion & Writing Prompt

How does Hansberry structure the play to create suspense and drive the plot forward? Cite evidence from the text to support your answer.

Sample Response

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Key Questions


Key Questions

  • How does Beneatha's dialect differ from Mama and Ruth's? What does this reveal about her character?

  • How does Mama's perspective of religion differ from Beneatha's? What is the result of this difference in perspective? Cite evidence from the text to support your answer.

  • How does Hansberry structure the play to dramatically reveal that Ruth is pregnant?

  • How do Beneatha, Ruth, and Mama respond to the idea of Ruth having a baby? How does Hansberry develop their differences in perspective? Cite evidence from the text to support your answer.

  • What is the effect of the doorbell ringing in the middle of page 60?

Exit Ticket

Assess student understanding and monitor progress toward this lesson's objective with an Exit Ticket.

Vocabulary


Text-based

dreary

adj.

(p. 53)

gloomy; lacking liveliness

forlornly

adv.

(p. 57)

feeling nearly hopeless

Homework


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. 60 – 75 — starting with "BENEATHA. Oh, my god…''

While reading, answer the following questions.

  • Who is Asagai? Where is he from?

  • What does Beneatha say to Asagai when she first meets him? How does he respond?

  • What does Asagai want from Beneatha? How does she respond?

  • How do Ruth and Travis respond when the check arrives?

  • What does Walter do when Mama refuses to invest the money?

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Common Core Standards


  • RL.7.5 — Analyze how a drama's or poem's form or structure (e.g., soliloquy, sonnet) contributes to its meaning.
  • RL.7.6 — Analyze how an author develops and contrasts the points of view of different characters or narrators in a text.

Supporting Standards

L.7.6
RI.7.10
RL.7.1
RL.7.2
RL.7.4
RL.7.5
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

Compare and contrast the film version of A Raisin in the Sun with the original text to explain the impact of specific techniques used by the filmmakers on the meaning and structure of the play.

Lesson 10
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