1. A Raisin in the Sun
By Lorraine Hansberry
English 11
Mrs. Delaney
2. About LorrAine
HAnsberry
Born in Chicago,
May 19, 1930
Father, a real estate
broker, fought for years
against restricted
housing
Before moving to NYC
in 1950, Hansberry
studied painting in
Mexico and Chicago
3. More About
LorrAine HAnsberry
A Raisin in the Sun made Hansberry, in
1959 at age 29, the youngest American,
the fifth woman, and the first black
playwright to win the Best Play of the Year
Award.
Unfortunately, Hansberry’s life was claimed
by cancer in 1965; she was only 35 years
old.
4. setting
Because the play is set during the 1950’s, it is very
important that we know about some of the major
events that took place during this time.
Here are some of the topics we will be studying:
The Civil Rights Movement
Brown vs. The Board of Education
The Little Rock Nine
The Montgomery Alabama Bus Boycott
Rosa Parks
5. tHe CiviL rigHts MoveMent
Segregation and civil
rights were two
important issues during
the time in which the
play was set.
6. Use this video to answer the questions on the next slide.
7. rosA PArks
Rosa Park’s decision to stay at the front of the bus
made her a civil rights hero.
For more information, check out this site:
http://www.time.com/time/time100/heroes/profile/park
s01.html
8. Use this video to answer the questions on the next slide.
9. tHe LittLe roCk nine
On September 23, 1957 nine African American
teenagers were the first to attend an all white High
School in Little Rock, Arkansas. For more
information, check out:
http://pbskids.org/wayback/civilrights/features_school
.html
10. brown vs. tHe boArd of
eduCAtion
In the Midwest town of Topeka,
Kansas, a little girl named
Linda Brown had to ride the
bus five miles to school each
day although a public school
was located only four blocks
from her house. The school
wasn't full and the little girl met
all of the requirements to
attend — all but one that is.
Linda Brown was black. And
blacks weren't allowed to go to
white children's schools.
11. Use this video to answer the questions on the next slide.
12. MontgoMery, ALAbAMA bus boyCott
From 1955 to 1956 the
Montgomery bus
boycott was an
important movement
that served as a
catalyst for
desegregation in the
U.S.
13. Use this video to answer the questions on the next slide.
14. iMPortAnt terMs
Protagonist – central character in a story, the
one who initiates or drives the action
Antagonist – opponent who struggles against
or blocks the hero or protagonist
Conflict – struggle between opposing forces
or characters in a story
Internal – struggle involving opposing forces within
a person’s mind
External – struggle between two people, a person
and nature/machine, or a person and society
15. More iMPortAnt terMs
Plot Structure
Exposition – opening of story; info on setting and
characters
Rising Action – development of conflicts, until
turning point
Climax – turning point and/or moment of greatest
emotional intensity
Falling Action – activity after the climax that leads
to the resolution
Resolution – the conclusion of the story when all
or most of the conflicts have been settled (not
always a happy ending)
16. “i HAve A dreAM…”
A Raisin in the Sun is about an ordinary man
with a dream – a dream of a better life for
himself and his family.
18. “A Dream Deferred”
by Langston Hughes
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?
