Post one level two question, and one level three question for your classmates about the text. Then, answer at least one question as well. Use textual evidence and close reading skills in your post.
"MAMA: Son- how come you talk so much 'bout money? WALTER: (With immense passion) Because it is life, Mama! MAMA: (Quietly) Oh- (Very quietly) So now it's life. Money is life. Once upon a time freedom used to be life- now it's money. I guess the world really do change..." (Hansberry 74) Why did Hansberry use this quote? What effect does it have? Why did Walter say it 'with immense passion?'
Why do you think Mama wanted Ruth to put the ten thousand dollars away somewhere? What do you think Mama was feeling? Ruth? Travis?
@ Reagan level 2 question: I think the effect of this quote was to show the contrast in views about the value of money and the materialistic power that it holds and how it has changed over time. Mama was showing/proving that back in her day it was more important to have freedom than money while Walter's generation believes that the most important thing to have now is money, and the quality of your life is defined by how many figures your worth. - Grace
Reply to Reagan's Level 2: This quote is one of the most relatable aspects of the play. Everyone can relate to an elder not understanding change and feeling like your being ungrateful. Walter, as much as I dislike his character, is more relatable than Mama in this scene. He's passionate about this because, unfortunately, he is obsessed with money as we see on numerous occasions.
2: Determine why Ruth is so hostile toward her husband so early in the morning.
3: Compare what you have read in the play ( ARITS ) so far, to The Color Of Water, what are some similarities between the characters and how they live (living conditions, financial situation, time period, etc.) and what are some differences?
Both are set in the same time period, and both stories took place in a poor, crowded neighborhood. The characters are very similar like James and Beneatha both have dreams of becoming more than what their parents were. Since they both come from impoverished families, it was hard for them to accomplish these goals. But both families are putting everything they have into their dreams. Some differences is that Ruth in the Color of Water went through alot of hard things to get where she is today but the family in ARITS lived in one place their entire life- it was just hard for them to get by. "Somebody would of thought my children done all but starved to death the way they talk about money here late." (ARITS 43) Money was difficult for both families, but the Youngers are in a much better position than the McBrides, they just gave up on their dreams.
Both books were set in a fairly large city in a time where there was barely any equality and most African Americans were in poverty. In both of these stories it shows how a family lives their day to day lives, and how even though neither family had much money, they still were happy with family. I also remembered that in COW there were a ton of kids living in the house and in ARITS there's also quite a few family members living in the apartment. -Hannah Blankenship
I think that Ruth's hostility is a mix of exhaustion and Walter being Walter. She doesn't want to talk about what he wants to talk about so early in the morning, and she gets sick of him coming in purposefully doing everything the exact oppssite of what she says, but she does it to him, too. She's also an extremely tired mother who thinks it's just too early in the morning to deal with Walter and the like.
2: Explain why the author made the setting so worn and depressing. Do you think the setting is a symbol of Walter's, Mama's, Ruth's and Beneatha's hopes and dreams once being alive, but over time shriveled away? 3.Evaluate the plant that Mama cares for. This is the one thing that Mama desperately tries to take care of it even though it lacks sunlight and water. What do you think this says about Mama's hope for the Younger family? -Aissa
@Aissa's level 2: I think that it sets the scene for the time period, but more so in a way that show struggle between african Americans. I think you are right about the living room representing the Young's dreams being so worn down that they have lost hope just as the room has lost its luster and comfort. It also represents their lifestyle, not only in their house but financially, economically, and social wise. I think your comment was very insightful and very interesting. Great job!
@Aissa's level three I think that the plant represents the younger family because even though they don't have a lot of money, which is represented by the sunlight and water, Mama still has hope in them succeeding. Even though the family may not be in the best shape, she still is going to do whatever she can to keep them healthy.
2: Everyone living in the apartment has different views on money and what should happen with the 10,000,000 dollars. Compare and contrast these views. And also try to explain the opinion you feel is most valid given your background/morals.
3: Imagine that the background and physical appearance were to change, how would the play change the novel how would it stay the same (gender, race, religion, environment/setting). -Grace
Level 2- Analyze this quote on page 51 "Mama you don't understand. It's all a matter of ideas, and God is just one I don't accept. I get tired of him getting credit for all the things the human race achieved through its own stubborn effort. There simply is no blasted God." Mama then went on a rant about how she put in a lot of work to make sure her kids went to church every Sunday. Infer where this sudden defiance of religion came from and why mama reacted the way she did.
Level 3- In the last few pages of act 1, Mama accuses Walter of having an affair with another women, and soon after he finds out that Ruth is pregnant and may be considering an abortion; he then reacts poorly by walking out with mama chasing after him. Evaluate Walters behavior so far, do you agree with mama that he might be having an affair? Predict how Walters possible affair, and the baby situation will affect Walter and Ruth's marriage, and Youngers family as a whole.
@Hannah's level 2: I think Beneatha is trying to figure out her views, opinions and who she really is. She's been trying all of these different hobbies and now shes starting to analyze religion. I think Mama got so upset is because religion is a big part of her life and she's disappointed it isn't in Beneathas. -Haley
Level 2: When Travis doesn't get the money that he needs for school, he asks if he could go carry some groceries to earn the money. Compare how kids like Travis would earn money to how kids currently get money. How does that affect them as a person, and how does it set them up for their future?
Level 3: "That money belongs to Mama, Walter, and it's for her to decides how she wants to use it."(Nemiroff 36) Put yourself in Beneatha's shoes. Your family is in a cramped up apartment, and your mother gets a check for ten thousand dollars. Would you let her have it all to herself because it's hers, or would you ask for some of it to support your family? This goes back to the topic we discussed about parents supporting you, but did your opinion change now that you know about their living conditions?
Level 2: Compare the Younger family to your own and others displayed in media. Do you notice any common threads that seem like a universally relatable theme when it comes to family? Level 3: Hypothesize why the author put the poem at the beginning of the book? Especially considering that this is meant to be a play, not a novella. How does this poem relate to the play so far?
Level 2 - Infer how the setting of the play affects the rest of it. How would the play be different if the Younger family was rich? Level 3 - Imagine you were "mama" and you received that huge check. Evaluate why she told Ruth to keep it safe for her instead of spending it like crazy. And how does this relate to what we just read in the 'Pearl.'
@aissa level 3 - I think that mama's plant was significant for her life right now. She said that plant was really the only thing that hard real meaningful value to her. Walter had just died and she was very depressed about that. I also think it could be showing how they have been living and will be living because after mama had seen the plant die she basically threw it out and said time for a new one. Which won't be good if that happens to the family because that could mean mama would change her mind and not let them use the check.
"MAMA: Son- how come you talk so much 'bout money?
ReplyDeleteWALTER: (With immense passion) Because it is life, Mama!
MAMA: (Quietly) Oh- (Very quietly) So now it's life. Money is life. Once upon a time freedom used to be life- now it's money. I guess the world really do change..." (Hansberry 74) Why did Hansberry use this quote? What effect does it have? Why did Walter say it 'with immense passion?'
Why do you think Mama wanted Ruth to put the ten thousand dollars away somewhere? What do you think Mama was feeling? Ruth? Travis?
@ Reagan level 2 question: I think the effect of this quote was to show the contrast in views about the value of money and the materialistic power that it holds and how it has changed over time. Mama was showing/proving that back in her day it was more important to have freedom than money while Walter's generation believes that the most important thing to have now is money, and the quality of your life is defined by how many figures your worth.
Delete- Grace
Reply to Reagan's Level 2: This quote is one of the most relatable aspects of the play. Everyone can relate to an elder not understanding change and feeling like your being ungrateful. Walter, as much as I dislike his character, is more relatable than Mama in this scene. He's passionate about this because, unfortunately, he is obsessed with money as we see on numerous occasions.
Delete2: Determine why Ruth is so hostile toward her husband so early in the morning.
ReplyDelete3: Compare what you have read in the play ( ARITS ) so far, to The Color Of Water, what are some similarities between the characters and how they live (living conditions, financial situation, time period, etc.) and what are some differences?
Both are set in the same time period, and both stories took place in a poor, crowded neighborhood. The characters are very similar like James and Beneatha both have dreams of becoming more than what their parents were. Since they both come from impoverished families, it was hard for them to accomplish these goals. But both families are putting everything they have into their dreams. Some differences is that Ruth in the Color of Water went through alot of hard things to get where she is today but the family in ARITS lived in one place their entire life- it was just hard for them to get by. "Somebody would of thought my children done all but starved to death the way they talk about money here late." (ARITS 43) Money was difficult for both families, but the Youngers are in a much better position than the McBrides, they just gave up on their dreams.
Delete-Aissa
Both books were set in a fairly large city in a time where there was barely any equality and most African Americans were in poverty. In both of these stories it shows how a family lives their day to day lives, and how even though neither family had much money, they still were happy with family. I also remembered that in COW there were a ton of kids living in the house and in ARITS there's also quite a few family members living in the apartment.
Delete-Hannah Blankenship
I think that Ruth's hostility is a mix of exhaustion and Walter being Walter. She doesn't want to talk about what he wants to talk about so early in the morning, and she gets sick of him coming in purposefully doing everything the exact oppssite of what she says, but she does it to him, too. She's also an extremely tired mother who thinks it's just too early in the morning to deal with Walter and the like.
Delete2: Explain why the author made the setting so worn and depressing. Do you think the setting is a symbol of Walter's, Mama's, Ruth's and Beneatha's hopes and dreams once being alive, but over time shriveled away?
ReplyDelete3.Evaluate the plant that Mama cares for. This is the one thing that Mama desperately tries to take care of it even though it lacks sunlight and water. What do you think this says about Mama's hope for the Younger family?
-Aissa
@Aissa's level 2: I think that it sets the scene for the time period, but more so in a way that show struggle between african Americans. I think you are right about the living room representing the Young's dreams being so worn down that they have lost hope just as the room has lost its luster and comfort. It also represents their lifestyle, not only in their house but financially, economically, and social wise. I think your comment was very insightful and very interesting. Great job!
Delete@Aissa's level three
DeleteI think that the plant represents the younger family because even though they don't have a lot of money, which is represented by the sunlight and water, Mama still has hope in them succeeding. Even though the family may not be in the best shape, she still is going to do whatever she can to keep them healthy.
2: Everyone living in the apartment has different views on money and what should happen with the 10,000,000 dollars. Compare and contrast these views. And also try to explain the opinion you feel is most valid given your background/morals.
ReplyDelete3: Imagine that the background and physical appearance were to change, how would the play change the novel how would it stay the same (gender, race, religion, environment/setting).
-Grace
ReplyDeleteLevel 2- Analyze this quote on page 51 "Mama you don't understand. It's all a matter of ideas, and God is just one I don't accept. I get tired of him getting credit for all the things the human race achieved through its own stubborn effort. There simply is no blasted God." Mama then went on a rant about how she put in a lot of work to make sure her kids went to church every Sunday. Infer where this sudden defiance of religion came from and why mama reacted the way she did.
Level 3- In the last few pages of act 1, Mama accuses Walter of having an affair with another women, and soon after he finds out that Ruth is pregnant and may be considering an abortion; he then reacts poorly by walking out with mama chasing after him. Evaluate Walters behavior so far, do you agree with mama that he might be having an affair? Predict how Walters possible affair, and the baby situation will affect Walter and Ruth's marriage, and Youngers family as a whole.
-Hannah Blankenship
@Hannah's level 2:
DeleteI think Beneatha is trying to figure out her views, opinions and who she really is. She's been trying all of these different hobbies and now shes starting to analyze religion. I think Mama got so upset is because religion is a big part of her life and she's disappointed it isn't in Beneathas.
-Haley
Level 2: When Travis doesn't get the money that he needs for school, he asks if he could go carry some groceries to earn the money. Compare how kids like Travis would earn money to how kids currently get money. How does that affect them as a person, and how does it set them up for their future?
ReplyDeleteLevel 3: "That money belongs to Mama, Walter, and it's for her to decides how she wants to use it."(Nemiroff 36) Put yourself in Beneatha's shoes. Your family is in a cramped up apartment, and your mother gets a check for ten thousand dollars. Would you let her have it all to herself because it's hers, or would you ask for some of it to support your family? This goes back to the topic we discussed about parents supporting you, but did your opinion change now that you know about their living conditions?
Level 2: Compare and contrast Walter and Ruth's different ways of parenting. How are they different? How are they alike?
ReplyDeleteLevel 3: Everyone has different opinions on how the check should be spent. Put yourself in their shoes. How would you want to spend it and why?
-Haley
Level 2: Compare the Younger family to your own and others displayed in media. Do you notice any common threads that seem like a universally relatable theme when it comes to family?
ReplyDeleteLevel 3: Hypothesize why the author put the poem at the beginning of the book? Especially considering that this is meant to be a play, not a novella. How does this poem relate to the play so far?
Excellent questions Jenna! Feel better!
DeleteLevel 2 - Infer how the setting of the play affects the rest of it. How would the play be different if the Younger family was rich?
ReplyDeleteLevel 3 - Imagine you were "mama" and you received that huge check. Evaluate why she told Ruth to keep it safe for her instead of spending it like crazy. And how does this relate to what we just read in the 'Pearl.'
^^^sorry that was from ashlyn
ReplyDelete@aissa level 3 -
ReplyDeleteI think that mama's plant was significant for her life right now. She said that plant was really the only thing that hard real meaningful value to her. Walter had just died and she was very depressed about that. I also think it could be showing how they have been living and will be living because after mama had seen the plant die she basically threw it out and said time for a new one. Which won't be good if that happens to the family because that could mean mama would change her mind and not let them use the check.
-ashlyn