Analyzing Word Choice and Theme in a Play — Quiz Answers

Read the passage from A Raisin in the Sun . RUTH: You know what I'm going to do soon as I get in that new house? BENEATHA: What? RUTH: Honey—I'm going to run me a tub of water up to here . . . ( With her fingers practically up to her nostrils. ) And I’m going to get in it—and I am going to sit . . . and sit . . . and sit in that hot water and the first person who knocks to tell me to hurry up and come out— BENEATHA: Gets shot at sunrise. RUTH ( laughing happily ) : You said it, sister Which statement is the best summary of the theme in this passage?

Read the passage from A Raisin in the Sun . MAMA: Father, give us strength. ( Knowingly—and without fun .) Did he threaten us?. BENEATHA: Oh—Mama—they don't do it like that anymore. He talked Brotherhood. He said everybody ought to learn how to sit down and hate each other with good Christian fellowship, She and WALTER shake hands to ridicule the remark . MAMA ( sadly ) : Lord, protect us . . . Which statement best explains how word choice affects the tone of this passage?

Read the passage from A Raisin in the Sun . BENEATHA ( with a grand and bitter gesture ) : This, friends, is the Welcoming Committee! WALTER ( dumfounded, looking at LINDNER) : Is this what you came marching all the way over here to tell us? LINDNER: Well, now we've been having a fine conversation. I hope you'll hear me all the way through— WALTER ( tightly ) : Go ahead, man. Which words from the text best support a sarcastic tone?

Read the passage from A Raisin in the Sun . [LINDNER:] But you've got to admit that a man, right or wrong, has the right to want to have the neighborhood he lives in a certain kind of way. And at the moment the overwhelming majority of our people out there feel that people get along better, take more of a common interest in the life of the community, when they share a common background. Which words best describe Lindner's tone, based on his use of the phrase "in a certain kind of way”?

Read the passage from A Raisin in the Sun . RUTH ( looking up at her and smiling ) : . . . . Lord, that man—done changed so 'round here. You know—you know what we did last night? Me and Walter Lee? BENEATHA: What? RUTH ( smiling to herself ) : We went to the movies. ( Looking at BENEATHA to see if she understands .) We went to the movies. You know the last time me and Walter went to the movies together? BENEATHA: No. RUTH: Me neither. That's how long it been. ( Smiling again .) But we went last night. The picture wasn't much good, but that didn't seem to matter. We went—and we held hands. BENEATHA: Oh, Lord! RUTH: We held hands—and you know what? BENEATHA: What? RUTH: When we come out of the show it was late and dark and all the stores and things was closed up . . . and it was kind of chilly and there wasn't many people on the streets . . . and we was still holding hands, me and Walter. BENEATHA: You're killing me. How does the playwright develop the theme "It can be difficult to keep romance alive in a marriage" in this passage?

Read the passage from A Raisin in the Sun . LINDNER: Yes—that's the way we feel out in Clybourne Park. And that's why I was elected to come here this afternoon and talk to you people. Friendly like, you know, the way people should talk to each other and see if we couldn't find some way to work this thing out. As I say, the whole business is a matter of caring about the other fellow. Anybody can see that you are a nice family of folks, hard-working and honest I’m sure. (BENEATHA frowns slightly, quizzically, her head tilted regarding him. ) Today everybody knows what it means to be on the outside of something . And of course, there is always somebody who is out to take advantage of people who don't always understand. WALTER: What do you mean? LINDNER: Well—you see our community is made up of people who've worked hard as the dickens for years to build up that little community. They're not rich and fancy people; just hard-working, honest people who don't really have much but those little homes and a dream of the kind of community they want to raise their children in. Now, I don't say we are perfect and there is a lot wrong in some of the things they want. But you've got to admit that a man, right or wrong, has the right to want to have the neighborhood he lives in a certain kind of way. And at the moment the overwhelming majority of our people out there feel that people get along better, take more of a common interest in the life of the community, when they share a common background. I want you to believe me when I tell you that race prejudice simply doesn't enter into it. It is a matter of the people of Clybourne Park believing, rightly or wrongly, as I say, that for the happiness of all concerned that our Negro families are happier when they live in their own communities. BENEATHA ( with a grand and bitter gesture ) : This, friends, is the Welcoming Committee! WALTER ( dumfounded, looking at LINDNER) : Is this what you came marching all the way over here to tell us? . . . . RUTH : Lord have mercy, ain't this the living gall! How does the playwright use dialogue to develop the message in this passage?

Read the passage from A Raisin in the Sun . BENEATHA ( laughingly noticing what her mother is doing ) : Mama, what are you doing? MAMA: Fixing my plant so it won't get hurt none on the way . . . BENEATHA: Mama, you going to take that to the new house? MAMA: Un-huh— BENEATHA: That raggedy-looking old thing? MAMA ( stopping and looking at her ) : It expresses ME! RUTH ( with delight, to BENEATHA) : So there, Miss Thing! How would the tone change if the word hideous replaced the word raggedy ?

Read the passage from A Raisin in the Sun . MAMA ( sensing their facetiousness ) : What's the matter with you all? WALTER: Ain't nothing the matter with us. We just telling you 'bout the gentleman who came to see you this afternoon. From the Clybourne Park Improvement Association. MAMA: What he want? RUTH ( in the same mood as BENEATHA and WALTER) : To welcome you, honey. WALTER: He said they can't hardly wait. He said the one thing they don't have, that they just dying to have out there is a fine family of fine colored people! ( To RUTH and BENEATHA.) Ain't that right! RUTH (mockingly) : Yeah! He left his card— BENEATHA (handing card to MAMA) : In case. MAMA reads and throws it on the floor—understanding and looking off as she draws her chair up to the table on which she has put her plant and some sticks and some cord . MAMA: Father, give us strength. ( Knowingly—and without fun .) Did he threaten us? BENEATHA: Oh—Mama—they don't do it like that anymore. He talked Brotherhood. He said everybody ought to learn how to sit down and hate each other with good Christian fellowship. Which statement best summarizes the theme in this passage?

Read the passage from A Raisin in the Sun . LINDNER ( looking around at the hostile faces and reaching and assembling his hat and briefcase ) : Well—I don't understand why you people are reacting this way. What do you think you are going to gain by moving into a neighborhood where you just aren't wanted and where some elements—well—people can get awful worked up when they feel that their whole way of life and everything they've ever worked for is threatened Which connotations are associated with the phrase "worked up”? Choose three correct answers.

Read the passage from A Raisin in the Sun . WALTER ( amiably, as he sits himself easily on a chair, leaning forward on his knees with interest and looking expectantly into the newcomer's face ) : What can we do for you, Mr. Lindner! LINDNER ( some minor shuffling of the hat and briefcase on his knees ) : Well—I am a representative of the Clybourne Park Improvement Association— WALTER ( pointing ) : Why don't you sit your things on the floor? LINDNER: Oh—yes. Thank you. ( He slides the briefcase and hat under the chair .) And as I was saying—I am from the Clybourne Park Improvement Association and we have had it brought to our attention at the last meeting that you people—or at least your mother—has bought a piece of residential property at—( He digs for the slip of paper again .)—four o six Clybourne Street . . . WALTER: That's right. Care for something to drink? Ruth, get Mr. Lindner a beer. LINDNER ( upset for some reason ) : Oh—no, really. I mean thank you very much, but no thank you. Which connotations are associated with the word representative as it is used in this passage? Choose two correct answers.