A Raisin in the Sun A play by Lorraine Hansberry

1. A Raisin in the SunA play by Lorraine Hansberry An analysis of the themes, characters, literary devices, and plot.

2. Author’s Page • Lorraine Hansberry 1930-1964 Lorraine Hansberry was born in Chicago on May 19, 1930. A Raisin in the Sun was her first play. It was also the first Broadway production written by an African-American Woman. Lorraine was the first African-American to win the New York Drama Critics Circle Award in 1959. Lorraine was not a persistent writer. The only other play she ever completed is the Sign in Sidney Burstein's Window in 1964.

3. The Harlem Renaissance Dreams Hold fast to dreamsFor if dreams dieLife is a broken-winged birdThat cannot fly.Hold fast to dreamsFor when dreams goLife is a barren fieldFrozen with snow. By Langston Hughes The poem, Dreams, was written, like Lorraine Hansberry’s work, during the Harlem Renaissance. Though some scholars disagree on the dates of the movement, this time period took place between 1910 and 1940. This time period was characterized by an explosion of social and cultural art forms in highly populated areas like Chicago and New York, by African-Americans who , in an effort to gain their rights, founded what they referred to as the “New Negro”. Scholars say this began in Harlem, New York. This cultural movement led to organizations that helped ban Jim Crow laws and fight discrimination.

4. Themes in the play • Stereotyping and prejudice • Dreams and dreams deferred • The conflict between expectations • The strength of family

5. Symbols in the play • Lena’s plant • Sunlight and contrasting darkens • Money • George Murchison’s white shoes and Asagai’s Nigerian robes

6. Characters • Ruth • Walter • Travis • Lena • Asagai • Beneatha • Lena • Linder