A Raisin in the Sun (Act I)

Question 1

exasperated

Answer 1

annoyed; irritated; fed up

Question 2

tyrant

Answer 2

ruler who exercises power in a harsh, cruel manner

Question 3

tentatively

Answer 3

subject to further confirmation; doubt

Question 4

ledger

Answer 4

a book used to record accounts and transactions

Question 5

undistinguished

Answer 5

common; nothing special

Question 6

graft

Answer 6

the illegal or unfair acquisition of money

Question 7

vengeneance

Answer 7

with violence or fury

Question 8

permeated

Answer 8

spread throughout; diffused

Question 9

proposition

Answer 9

proposal or plan

Question 10

vindicated

Answer 10

justified; proven right

Question 11

stupor

Answer 11

a daze; mental unawareness

Question 12

defiance

Answer 12

resistance

Question 13

forlornly

Answer 13

looking pitiful, desperate, or hopeless

Question 14

assimilationist

Answer 14

to try to blend in with the more dominant culture

Question 15

suppress

Answer 15

to restrain or prevent from developing

Question 16

mutilated

Answer 16

maimed; damaged; ruined

Question 17

insinuatingly

Answer 17

with more meaning than what is actually spoken

Question 18

inappropiately

Answer 18

unsuitably; improperly

Question 19

evading

Answer 19

to escape or avoid

Question 20

Heathenism

Answer 20

“religion” of those who don’t believe in God and/or are uncivilized

Question 21

Why was Ruth upset that Walter gave Travis money?

Answer 21

he undermined her power by not listening to her commands of not to give him money

Question 22

Who are Willy and Bobo?

Answer 22

Walter’s friends that want to open a liquor store w/ Walter

Question 23

What does Walter do for a living?

Answer 23

a chaffeur for a white man

Question 24

What does Ruth do for a living?

Answer 24

works in someone else’s kitchen to cook for them

Question 25

Why was Mama receiving a $10,000 check?

Answer 25

insurance money for her husband’s death

Question 26

What does Mama want to do with the insurance check at first?

Answer 26

put aside some money for Beneatha’s education and put a down payment on a nicer home

Question 27

What was Mama and Big Walter’s dream 35 years ago that was deferred?

Answer 27

buy a house on Morgan Park and renovate it with a small garden in the back

Question 28

What event made Mama “lose” Big Walter?

Answer 28

lost a baby because of poverty

Question 29

What are some activities Beneatha is involved in?

Answer 29

guitar, playacting, horseback riding, and photography

Question 30

Why do Mama and Ruth not understand Beneatha?

Answer 30

she does not follow the traditional gender roles and isn’t sure of marriage

Question 31

Why did Beneatha not want to marry George?

Answer 31

he’s too shallow and thinks that her wanting to become a doctor is humorous (her family is also snobby)

Question 32

What does Mama’s little plant symbolize?

Answer 32

her dreams that were deferred

Question 33

What happens to Ruth at the end?

Answer 33

she faints

Question 34

How old is Mama?

Answer 34

early 60s

Question 35

How old is Walter?

Answer 35

35

Question 36

How old is Ruth?

Answer 36

about 30

Question 37

How old is Beneatha?

Answer 37

about 20

Question 38

How old is Travis?

Answer 38

10 or 11

Question 39

What is Walter’s view on women?

Answer 39

stereotypical; men should be in power and women should stay in the kitchen

Question 40

What is Beneatha most worried about when Joseph Asagai comes over?

Answer 40

her mother will say something offensive or ignorant

Question 41

What is ironic about Mama’s comment to Beneatha about Africans?

Answer 41

she says why should she know anything about Africa.

It’s ironic because her origins stem from there

Question 42

Ruth comes home from the doctor. What does she learn?

Answer 42

she’s pregnant

Question 43

Where did Ruth actually go to?

Answer 43

an abortion clinic

Question 44

Why is Mama happy about the new baby?

Answer 44

she’s religious and a new baby is a gift from god

Question 45

Beneatha thinks the baby will be a hindrance, why?

Answer 45

there’s no space in the apartment

Question 46

Who is Joseph Asagai? Where is he from?

Answer 46

Beneatha’s friend from school that is teaching her about African culture. He’s from Nigeria from the Yoruba tribe

Question 47

Why does Beneatha get so mad when Asagai calls her an assimilationist?

Answer 47

she wants to be connected to her unique culture and is trying to break away from the traditional expectations

Question 48

What is Asagai’s nickname for Beneatha?

Answer 48

Alaiyo, meaning “One for Whom Bread - Food - is not enough”

Question 49

Why’s Alaiyo an appropiate nickname?

Answer 49

Beneatha is one who always strives for more and isn’t satisfied with the bare necessities

Question 50

When Mama is arguing with Walter, what does she say is “dangerous”?

Answer 50

She says that a man going outside of his home to look for peace is dangerous

Question 51

How much was the down payment that Ruth put down on the abortion?

Answer 51

$5

Question 52

Why did Mama call Walter a disgrace to his father’s memory?

Answer 52

he failed to uphold his father’s value of protecting their children’s live at whatever cost

Question 53

What is the unspoken argument that goes on between Walter and Mama?

Answer 53

Walter should be the head of the household instead of Mama because he is a man

Question 54

What is Mama so worried about for Walter?

Answer 54

he has lost his values and has become too obsessed with money

Question 55

Why does Mama not understand Walter and Beneatha?

Answer 55

Mama has suffered through worse things and the fact that she can be safe with the necessities is enough. She can’t fathom why Walter and Beneatha still want more despite the fact they have enough.