Berneatha

What do you think will happen to Berneatha? Give me a prediction.

"Raisin in The Sun" and "Romeo and Juliet"

Compare Raisin in the Sun and Romeo and Juliet. I'm sure there are dozens of ways they could be compared. Rather than spoil things by suggesting some comparisons I would ask you to come up with some creative way to do this. I will be disappointed with overly short answers. This is a question that begs for a thorough treatment.

Mrs. Johnson

Mrs. Johnson doesn't seem to approve of the way Mama has spent the $10,000. Among other things she says:
"Ain't it something how bad these here white folks is getting here in Chicago! Lord, getting so you think you right down in Mississippi! 'Course I think it's wonderful how our folks keep on pushing out. You hear some of these Negroes round here talking 'bout how they don't go where they ain't wanted and all that--but not me, honey! Wilhemenia Othella Johnson goes anywhere, any time she feels like it! Yes I do! Why if we left it up to these here crackers, the poor niggers wouldn't have nothing--Oh, I always forgets you don't 'low that word in your house."

Why do you think Mrs. Johnson is so upset at the idea of the Youngers moving?

Asagai

Asagai has some very pointed things to say to Berneatha about her hair and her "assimilationism". Do you agree or disagree with him? Specifically do you agree with his criticisms of Berneatha's hair? Do you agree that she is an assimilationist?

Early scenes in Raisin

Why doesn't Mama want to invest the insurance money in a liquor store?j
Who is the relationship between Ruth and Berneatha?
Where is Asagai from?
Why did Ruth go to the doctor?
Mama said that if she bought a house she'd put something in the backyard? What was it?

Langston Hughes

A Dream Deferred

by Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes homepage

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?

Or fester like a sore--

And then run?

Does it stink like rotten meat?

Or crust and sugar over--

like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags

like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

Could you improve this poem?

If I asked you to subtract one word that would make the poem better what word would that be?

If I asked you to add two lines to this poem to improve it what would you add? Where would you put these two lines exactly?

If I asked you to change three words in this poem to make it better what words would you change? And what would be your replacement words?

What could you spend money on?

Imagine that you just inherited $20,000. What would you do with it? Be specific (not, "buy a car" but "buy a 2009 Lincoln Town Car with special rims, etc." If necessary do internet research to see if you can actually buy this thing with the money you inherited. If you want to save the money (for college, for instance) specify what you are saving for.