Rasin in the sun

Question 1

In what city does the play take place?

Answer 1

The play takes place in Chicago

Question 2

The living room setting seems overtaken by weariness. Name two details that suggest this

Answer 2

The furniture is described as worn and tired.
The carpet is threadbare and faded.

Question 3

Two references are made to a check early on in the play, one by Walter and one by Travis. How does each character refer to the check?

Answer 3

Walter refers to the check as the life insurance check from his father’s death, emphasizing its financial potential.
Travis refers to it simply as money, indicating his more innocent understanding.

Question 4

According to his mother, why is Travis getting so little sleep?

Answer 4

Travis is getting so little sleep because he has to sleep on the couch in the living room, which is noisy and uncomfortable.

Question 5

What plan has Walter, Willy Harris, and Bobo been figuring out?

Answer 5

They plan to invest in a liquor store.

Question 6

Why is Walter upset with his wife’s reaction to the plan?

Answer 6

Walter is upset because Ruth is not supportive and dismisses his dream, making him feel undervalued and disrespected.

Question 7

What does Walter want from Ruth?

Answer 7

Walter wants Ruth to support his business ambitions and dreams, showing belief in his plans.

Question 8

What does Walter mean when he says, “We one group of men tied to a race of women with small minds?”

Answer 8

Walter is expressing frustration, feeling that the women in his life (specifically Ruth and his mother) are limiting his ambitions and not supporting his dreams.

Question 9

What is Walter’s job?

Answer 9

Walter works as a chauffeur.

Question 10

How would you describe the tone that Beneatha uses with her brother?

Answer 10

Beneatha uses a sarcastic and critical tone with Walter, often belittling his ideas and dreams.

Question 11

Why is Walter upset with Beneatha’s plan to go to medical school?

Answer 11

Walter is upset because he feels the money she will need for medical school could be better used to fund his business venture.

Question 12

What does Beneatha really mean when she says, “forgive me for ever wanting to be anything at all”?

Answer 12

Beneatha is expressing frustration and sarcasm, feeling that her aspirations are not respected or considered valid by her family.

Question 13

What does Walter tell Beneatha she should do with her life? In reality, he has a deeper, underlying conflict. What is Walter’s hidden fear?

Answer 13

Walter tells Beneatha she should just get married. His deeper fear is that his own aspirations will never be realized and that he will always be stuck in a low-paying job.

Question 14

At the beginning of the scene, what is Beneatha doing that smells bad?

Answer 14

Beneatha is spraying insecticide.

Question 15

What does Mama suspect about Ruth?

Answer 15

Mama suspects that Ruth might be pregnant.

Question 16

Who is Joseph Asagai and where is he from?

Answer 16

Joseph Asagai is a Nigerian student and Beneatha’s friend from Nigeria.

Question 17

Why is Beneatha concerned about Mama interacting with Joseph Asagai?

Answer 17

Beneatha is worried that Mama might be judgmental or not understand Asagai’s cultural background.

Question 18

What is the incident Travis is involved in down in the streets?

Answer 18

Travis has been chasing a rat, which indicates the poor living conditions they are in.

Question 19

What does Asagai give to Beneatha?

Answer 19

Asagai gives Beneatha Nigerian robes and music.

Question 20

What issue does Asagai have with Beneatha’s hair?

Answer 20

Asagai thinks Beneatha’s straightened hair is a form of assimilation to Western standards of beauty, and he encourages her to embrace her natural African hair.

Question 21

What does Mama tell Walter about the insurance settlement that upsets him?

Answer 21

Mama tells Walter that she does not intend to invest in his liquor store plan and has put a down payment on a house instead.

Question 22

What does Mama tell Walter about Ruth?

Answer 22

Mama tells Walter that Ruth is pregnant and is considering an abortion due to their financial struggles.

Question 23

n the last line of the scene, how does Mama criticize Walter?

Answer 23

Mama criticizes Walter for not stepping up as the man of the house and for not supporting Ruth during her difficult time.

Question 24

When does Act II begin? What is Beneatha doing as the first scene opens? What is she wearing?

Answer 24

Act II begins later the same day. Beneatha is wearing Nigerian robes and dancing to African music.

Question 25

Why does Walter join her in the dance?

Answer 25

Walter joins her in a playful manner, pretending to be a warrior, as a way to escape his frustrations temporarily.

Question 26

How does the arrival of George Murchison change the mood of the scene?

Answer 26

George’s arrival brings a sense of tension and reality, as he is not amused by the African rituals and is more pragmatic.

Question 27

Beneatha calls George an “assimilationist.” What does she mean by that?

Answer 27

Beneatha means that George conforms to the dominant white culture and rejects his African heritage.

Question 28

What is Walter’s attitude toward George?

Answer 28

Walter is envious and resentful of George’s wealth and education.

Question 29

What is George’s attitude toward Walter?

Answer 29

George is dismissive and condescending towards Walter, seeing him as less educated and unrefined.

Question 30

Who is Prometheus, and why does George call Walter by that name?

Answer 30

Prometheus is a Titan in Greek mythology who brought fire to humanity and was punished for it. George calls Walter “Prometheus” sarcastically, implying that Walter’s ambitions will lead to his downfall.

Question 31

How does Ruth try to ease Walter’s mood?

Answer 31

Ruth tries to ease Walter’s mood by being affectionate and supportive, showing that she still cares for him.

Question 32

What evidence is there that Walter and Ruth still love each other, despite their problems?

Answer 32

Despite their arguments, Ruth and Walter share moments of tenderness and concern for each other’s well-being.

Question 33

What news does Mama break to the family in this scene?

Answer 33

Mama announces that she has bought a house in a predominantly white neighborhood.

Question 34

How do Ruth and Walter react to Mama’s news? What does Walter accuse Mama of?

Answer 34

Ruth is initially shocked but happy, seeing it as a new start. Walter is furious, feeling that Mama has ignored his dreams and wasted the money. He accuses Mama of being manipulative and not respecting his wishes.

Question 35

When does Act III begin? What are Walter and Beneatha doing? When Asagai arrives at the apartment, how does his mood contrast with Walter’s and Beneatha’s?

Answer 35

Act III begins an hour later. Walter is in despair, and Beneatha is disillusioned. Asagai’s mood is optimistic and hopeful, contrasting sharply with their depression.

Question 36

How has the loss of the money changed Beneatha’s optimism? What does she tell Asagai? What is Asagai’s response?

Answer 36

Beneatha feels that her dreams of becoming a doctor are crushed. She tells Asagai that she no longer sees the point in aspiring to be anything. Asagai encourages her to look beyond the immediate setback and to keep dreaming.

Question 37

How does Asagai define idealists and realists? Which group does he prefer to be associated with

Answer 37

Asagai defines idealists as those who dream and strive for change, while realists are those who accept the world as it is. He prefers to be an idealist.

Question 38

What alternative view of the future does Asagai offer to put Beneatha’s depression in perspective?

Answer 38

Asagai suggests that they return to Africa to work on meaningful projects, offering Beneatha a new perspective and a way to contribute to something larger than herself.

Question 39

Asagai leaves, and Walter comes into the living room. How does Beneatha attack Walter? What does Walter do?

Answer 39

Beneatha attacks Walter for losing the money and ruining their dreams. Walter initially responds with self-pity but then devises a plan to accept Lindner’s offer to regain some money.

Question 40

How is Mama’s resignation evident in her changed physical appearance? Why does Mama put her plant back on the windowsill?

Answer 40

Mama looks defeated and older, symbolizing her lost hope. She puts her plant back on the windowsill as a gesture of clinging to a small piece of hope and resilience.

Question 41

Who does Mama blame for the current situation, and how does she plan to deal with it?

Answer 41

Mama blames herself for not raising Walter better and for making poor decisions. She plans to deal with it by moving forward and trying to support her family as best she can.

Question 42

Up until now, Ruth has been the practical one. How does she react to Mama’s resignation?

Answer 42

Ruth becomes more hopeful and supportive, encouraging Mama not to give up and to see the new house as a fresh start.

Question 43

Describe Walter’s new view of life as being divided between the “takers” and the “tooken.”

Answer 43

Walter views life cynically, believing that people are either exploiters (takers) or victims (tooken). He sees himself as someone who has been taken advantage of and now wants to be a taker.

Question 44

What does Mama mean when she tells Walter that if he takes Lindner’s money he will have nothing left inside?

Answer 44

Mama means that by accepting Lindner’s bribe to stay out of the white neighborhood, Walter would lose his dignity and self-respect, which are more valuable than money.

Question 45

Beneatha says Walter is no brother of hers. What lesson does Mama have to remind Beneatha about?

Answer 45

Mama reminds Beneatha about the importance of family and forgiveness, teaching her to support her brother despite his flaws.

Question 46

What does Walter tell Lindner? Why? Why does Lindner decide to appeal to Mama? What is her response?

Answer 46

Walter tells Lindner that they will move into the new house and will not accept the bribe. Lindner appeals to Mama, hoping she will be more reasonable, but she supports Walter’s decision.

Question 47

Even though they love one another and have just acted heroically, the play ends with Walter and Beneatha arguing again. What do their actions now say about them as “heroes”?

Answer 47

Their actions show that they are flawed and human, yet capable of great courage and resilience. They continue to strive for their dreams and stand up for their dignity despite their conflicts.

Question 48

What change do both Mama and Ruth find in Walter?

Answer 48

They see that Walter has grown more responsible and assertive, taking a stand for his family’s future with newfound maturity and pride.

Question 49

What is the importance of having Mama return to the empty apartment to grab her plant?

Answer 49

The plant symbolizes Mama’s care and hope for her family’s growth and future. By taking it with her, she signifies her intention to nurture her family’s dreams in their new home.