1. Imagine you are the teacher teaching this novel. What's worth talking about? What's not? What would you hope your students are getting out of the play?
2. In at least 10 lines, write the beginning lines of the sequel. Emulate the author's tone, voice, diction, and syntax.
1: As a teacher i feel like discussing the financial situation for particular races from the book and comparing them to the present time. I would ask how they would use the money from the check for themselves. I would also discuss wheter they can see any comparison between the way races were treated in the sixties and the way they are treated in the present. I would also discuss the relationships between mother and child and how that relationship can be affected by financial situation.
ReplyDeleteI agree and think you would be a very good ARITS teacher.:)
DeleteAct I
DeleteScene I
Time: One day later, everyone is at the new house unpacking. Boxes are stacked so tall they look as though they might topple over. Everyone is in the living room, removing things from their boxes and putting them in their rightful places.
BENEATHA: ( smiling softly but still with wild excitement) I just love this house, I'd never have expected for us to be here.
WALTER: ( grinning like a child and looking around proudly at the new living room) Its all because of me aint it? ( to mama) Dont you just love this place?
MAMA: I do baby. Just worried 'bout them white neighbors is all. You can tell they don't want us here. As soon as we got on up here they was looking at us like we was gonna run up an she them.
WALTER: ( Walks over to ruth and kisses her lightly on the forhead) what about you sweetheart?
RUTH: Im just glad we got the hell out of that damn rat trap up there. Was no good for none of us, especially travis, it'd been bad for him to grow up there.
BENEATHA: ( Akwardly stands, looking guilty and a little ashamed) Everyone. I have decided to go to Africa with Asagai, i want to study to be a doctor.
MAMA: ( staring blankly at beaneatha) By Gods sweet graces. What the heck are you thinking-
BENEATHA: (Cutting mama off) for the last time! God aint got anything to do with it. Being a doctor is all ive ever dreamed and im taking the one chance that ive got.
Everyone stands awkwardly looking at eachother. None of them wanting to be the first to speak. Suddenly TRAVIS storms in slightly out of breath.
TRAVIS: (Noticing the tension) ( to ruth) whats wrong?
RUTH: Nothing honey what is it? ( looking mildly worried but is suddenly cut off by the sound of the new door bell which is sweet in its ring)
WALTER: Who could that be I wonder? ( gets up to answer the door)
TRAVIS: ( adressing everyone ) well i was playing in the yard and saw them white folks walking up the drive. ( walter pauses a foot from the door and the doorbell rings but this time its ring is bitter and miserable )
( the whole family looks around debating whether or not walter should answer it)
Excellent Zoe!
Delete1:If i were a teacher I would talk about how each person values money differently, how each person deals with their dreams whether or not they feel as if they dream. I would also teach about race and racial identity. However I would not really touch on the abortion fact because it just seemed as if it was just there to have the plot just move along.
ReplyDelete-Grace
Act 1
DeleteScene one
Time: Later the same day
At rise everyone is off stage: they are waiting to go into the new house
BENEATHA (She parades into the new house as if she truly did own the place) Oh...my... God. (A glittering smile is on her face, she hops on over to the kitchen counter and spins around)
MAMA (she walks into the new house after BENEATHA with her dying plant in her arm. Tears start to fall down from her amazed face) PRAISE THE LORD. ( She lays down her plant on the ground and just sits there dumbfounded. WALTER walks in.)
WALTER (looking up at the ceiling) I can’t believe I almost gave this up (long pause in order the suck up the warm, welcoming feeling that the new house gave them instead of their old weary, cramped apartment) This is ours it must be a dream.
TRAVIS ( running into the apartment smiling ear to ear he jumps into his daddy’s arms) Yes sir this is ours. Where is mommy?
RUTH (she is the last person to come into the house. Slowly she walks in step by step; her eyes never fixture on one thing) No... way. Not in a million years did I saw myself moving out of that house and into THIS.
BENEATHA ( At WALTER I know you're a fool but you came through you came through. It did take however sixty -five hundred dollars to do it.
WALTER I think that is the first time you have ever thanked me in your entire naive life.
BENEATHA And I think that’s the first time you have ever said your welcome in your petty life.
.
RUTH We have not been her for thirty seconds and ya’ll are already starting. (Pause) Well I guess you two are going to be down here fighting while i go draw myself i nice hot bath.
TRAVIS (He goes over to MAMA with his arm out wide) Thank you Mama.
-Grace
I like how you said that each person spends money differently and I agree. I think that somethings are worthless to some people but are priceless to others. I also agree with the part about how the abortion wasn't that huge of a topic in this play.
Delete-Hannah Blankenship
Great job Grace! I love how you kept the plant alive!
Delete1. If I was a teaching teaching this play the main thing I would focus on is all of the relationships in the play. Which ones are healthy, which ones are not and why are they like that. I would also ask if they were put in this situation, whose side would they stand with?
ReplyDelete2. The YOUNGERS all in the living room, which looks quite like the original. They all try look happy, but you can tell by the way none of them sit still, and they can't stop looking around that they are pretending not to be nervous. They all are sitting to rigid and you can tell from their weary expressions that none of them have gotten a good nights sleep in days. Finally WALTER breaks the silence.
WALTER well...(Trying to act happy in a very unconvincing tone) It's been a week now, (He pauses and looks around at everyone, trying to figure out how to approach the subject) and the only thing we've had to deal with so far is a nasty letter. It's not so bad is it now?
TRAVIS But the letter said if we didn't move by today, they would come to our house!
MAMA Now that's just a pack of lies Travis, (pause) These people ain't gone do nothing. They're just afraid of their image getting all ruined and hurting some innocent folks like us would ruin it more then having blacks in the neighborhood. (Another pause, as if she seems unsure of herself) Now I don't want to hear you speak on this again.
TRAVIS alright mama
(Suddenly the doorbell rings. BENEATHA hops up to get it, glad to have an excuse to leave)
BENEATHA That must be Asagai! I'll get it. (she throws open the door to see a group of white people standing on the porch. SHe freezes and drops her book she was holding. she turns her head slightly, never dropping her eyes from the group. calming she calls out.) Mama. There's someone at the door.
-Haley
1: If I were a teacher I would focus on the author. She was the youngest American, fifth woman, and first black playwright to win the Best Play of the Year Award of the New York Drama Critics, which says a lot about her. I would ask the kids if they thought that made a difference in the themes for the book and if it changed their mind about anything. I would talk about the motifs, such as the plant or the Nigerian outfit/ their meanings and discuss further meanings and themes.
ReplyDelete2: (One week after they moved in)
The new YOUNGER living room is a large room. Boxes lie around, some opened, some not. A window is open, allowing a slight breeze to flow through that blows on the curtains, causing them to gently flap. These are the curtains RUTH bought, and they fit the windows, as well as the room's wall color and atmosphere, perfectly. After MAMA'S plant, now residing in the kitchen where it receives nice sunlight, the curtains were the first thing unpacked and set up. BENEATHA enters the room, leans down to an opened box, lifts a book from the box, and habitually brushes off the cover. She looks around the room before sighing with content. She wasn't sure she wanted to move here, especially after Asagai's offer to wed and move to Africa with him. Now, Beneatha realizes this new house is what she wanted. Besides, MAMA was right: she is to young to get married, whether it be to Asagai or George Murchison. She is about to slowly climb the stairs and is on the fourth step when the door opens and TRAVIS bursts in.
TRAVIS: (before closing the door, he turns around and waves at an unseen friend he met the day they moved in.) Bye! (he shuts the door, and Beneatha smiles and thinks about how fast Travis makes friends, regardless of race, gender, or any other difference. Travis simply doesn't see the differences, unless it's about a TV show or book: "Naw, man, Batman is way cooler!" or the like.)
I like how you mentioned the author. I didn't mention this in my response but I think the way she writes has a lot to do with her background so it would be nice for then kids to learn more about her.
Delete-Ashlyn
1. If I was the teacher I would keep a spotlight on the importance of not letting go of your true culture. This was a big theme of this book because things like money and how other people thought about them, was dragging them away from their culture. One theme that I don't feel like would be necessary to talk about was the question if parents needed to support their children, even if they had grown up and had become adults. Even though this theme does come up a lot in the book, it didn't affect the overall theme about culture and race.
ReplyDelete2.
Delete(one day later)
The YOUNGER family had just moved into the new house, and were still unpacking all of their stuff. There were boxes strewn everywhere, and it was so crowded that it almost felt like home.
BENEATHA:(bursting through the door, with a tone of excitement and wonder in her voice, alomost like she was a kid again.) I've decided to go with Asagi to Africa, and train to be a doctor!
MAMA:Baby, are you crazy? We just moved in to a brand new house, and your planning on running off to another country with some mad man?
BENEATHA: (Offended my her words)Mad man? I don't care if he doesn't have the money that George does, I love him and I know that this is what I want to do.
WALTER:(Entering the room, hearing all the commotion.) Did I hear what I think I just heard? You ain't actually gonna follow that man and trust him with your life? George is such a better option, he actually has a future planned for himself.
BENEATHA:(Realizing what her family is saying about Asagai) You people are blinded by Georges money, and do not realize the value of our culture! When I put that dress and head piece on, I felt like I was actually living how I was meant to! Asagai may not have a lot of money, but he's twice the man that George is, and I question nothing about my decision. (BENEATHA storms out of the room, distraught by her family's lack of support and ignorance.)
(TRAVIS enters, in awe of the size of the house.)
TRAVIS: This house looks like one from my cartoons! Who will I have to share a room with?
MAMA: Share a room? Since when does a growing, young man have to share a room with someone?
TRAVIS:(Taken back with curiosity and excitement) Wait, you mean...I get my own room to myself?
MAMA: That's right!
TRAVIS: Maybe I'm good enough to be something better than a bus driver...
Ben I agree on your standpoint on true culture. It seems that the white man's culture is oppressive and is pushed on people like George and should be payed attention as a theme in the book.
Delete-Aissa
1. As a teacher I think that the topics of overcoming adversity and racial inequality are the two most important themes to learn from this play. The family overcame adversity by deciding to not listen to Mr. Linder and moving into their new home. It took a lot of courage to over come the danger of being shot, being harassed and being outcasts and just move into the house no matter what race of neighborhood they're moving to. The topic of racial inequality is also clearly a huge topic in this play. They don't get paid as much as white people, or get as good of jobs, and they've been attacked all over Chicago and pushed out of neighborhoods and shot and kids need to know that there's no difference in people just because of their skin color. It's clear in the book that the Youngers are a nice, hardworking family and they're probably not much different than most families so why should they be forced to live somewhere that they don't want to? I think a theme that I could leave out of my lesson would be about spending money wisely. I don't think that theme is as big as my other two even though it's also important. I hope my students would learn that everyone has dreams and ambition and emotions and that's what makes us all human and that everyone needs to be treated equally.
ReplyDelete2. In this story the neighborhood is trying to kick out the Youngers and Ruth is worried for Travis's safety but Travis is in that moody teen phase and just wants to be left alone by Ruth.
Ruth- Travis you eaten anything yet? Ya better grab a jacket it's cold out there today. (She says with concern.)
Travis- Ma can you stop treatin me like a child! I don't need no jacket I can care for myself.
Ruth- Oh Travis don't be like that, I'm just lookin out for your health now.
Travis- Yea ok I'm gone.
(He says with annoyance.)
Travis leaves,
Enter Walter.
Ruth- Oh Walter what are we gonna do about Travis? (The concern still in her voice.)
Walter- This bes not be about those white kids down the street bulliying our boy. Us colored folks ain't done nothin to them and they treat us like this?! (He says and slowly develops an angrier tone.)
Ruth- I better have a talk with Mr. Linder, he need to stop them from bullying our here family. (The rage in her also starts to appear.)
Walter- Well Ruth let's not make this worse now.
Ruth- No, someone needs to stand up for us and if you ain't gon do it then I sure will!
Walter- Well if that's what you think is best...(he says with concern and doubt.)
To be continued....
-Hannah Blankenship
Your "sequel" is way better than mine but isn't Travis ten? Three or four years seems like a bit of a like time to continuously try to get someone to leave.
Delete1) As a teacher I would highlight the main points or themes and let the students build off them. I would talk about gender, and how Walter doesn't think Beneatha is capable to be a doctor because she is a woman. I would talk about how we would use the check, because what Mama used it for was good but was in reality was it the best thing she could have bought? Which ties into what Ms. A had us do when she asked us to rap about what we would do with a lot of money when we read "The Pearl." We would talk about Walter. Because towards the beginning of the play, Walter doesn't really have much respect for his family and he didn't like the idea of Mama buying the house in the first place. We would analyze each character and the setting and discuss how it effects the play. Because each character has a strong opinion and they like to share their voice and we would talk about how the play is with them but also how it would be without them. The setting - the whole play takes place in the apartment so obviously that was purposely done by the author. Which gives the readers an idea about how the characters live and what they are going through as a family and financially. I would hope my students would take away that even though you want to try to fit in sometimes you get pushed out but that's ok. Sometimes getting what you want isn't nesasary when you need to get what you need first. Also stick together as a family no matter what.
ReplyDelete-Ashlyn
2) The Younger's move into the new house and find the neighbors quite nice but then find out they are saying stuff behind their back.
ReplyDeleteMama - Have y'all met Ms. Suzie yet?
Ruth - Such a nice woman.
Walter - You mean that good for nothin' blabber mouth?
Mama - Walter!!
Walter - What? I heard her tell them other folks about how they wanted us out, and how they were going to try to convince us to go out.
Ruth - They wouldn't do that to us.
Walter - Believe what you want, I heard what I heard. And I ain't ever wrong.
(Walter leaves)
Mama - What has gotten into him?
Ruth - You know how he is, Mama.
(enter Traivs)
Travis - Has anyone heard from Aunt Bennie lately? I miss her!
Mama - We all do honey, but you know she has to be doing her practices.
-Ashlyn
1. As a teacher one of the most prominent themes is race. There is so much more that that going on though. Sexism is scattered throughout the play along with religious beliefs, culture, and persistence. The actual plot of the book isn't as important as it's themes, so to speak. The plot might center around the check and the new house but the themes and morals aren't centered around those plot points. Anyone can look at a painting from far away and determine if they perceive it as good, but to critically examine it you have to look at the brush strokes. My goal would be to get my students to notice the brush strokes and tell me how they contribute to the whole.
ReplyDelete2. Time: Saturday evening. Two months after the purchase of the house. The Younger's new living room has the worn furniture from their old home placed around the much larger room, having been arranged and rearranged as though the family can't decide how they wanted the room to look. Boxes that have yet to be unpacked are haphazardly placed around the room. The clean, new house clashes with the worn furniture and although nothing is dirty, it is cluttered and unorganized. If you look through the doorway to the right you see a small kitchen with MAMA's plant in the windowsill above the sink, which is filled with dishes that no one has had the time to do. RUTH enters from the front entangle that directly enters into the living room. She looks world weary and exhausted. She dumps her stuff onto an end table and walks down the hall to open a door.
RUTH: Walter, get up! ...(Pauses, mumbled words from WALTER) Walter Lee, you're going to be late for your shift!
(RUTH waits for a moment at the door way before walking to the kitchen. She starts making WALTER toast as he stumbles towards the bathroom across the hall. Beneatha , disheveled, enters from upstairs)
RUTH: You want some coffee?
(Beneatha nods and Ruth starts a pot)
RUTH: What's keeping you up tonight, Bennie?
BENEATHA: Studying for exams.
(A comfortable silence settles between them, both understanding the others exhaustion when WALTER enters, in a security guard uniform.)
BENEATHA: Look what the cat dragged in.
(WALTER looks like he's about to angrily reply when RUTH steps in)
RUTH: You two quit it. Lena and Travis are resting.
( WALTER Quietly sits down as RUTH sets a plate of toast a cup of steaming coffee in front of him and Beneatha)
BENEATHA: So, Brother, when'll you be getting home? (She keeps her voice low, remembering RUTH's words, and asks the question genuinely)
WALTER: Around six. (Looking at RUTH, whose now preparing food for herself)
RUTH: Hmm?
WALTER: Can you get Travis Ready for school in the morning?
RUTH: Fine, s'long as your able to get him the rest of the week.
I agree with you; race was a huge theme in A Raisin in the Sun, and that all of its contributors make up a painting.
Delete-Grace
1.As a teacher I would focus on the how the lack of dreams coming true corresponds with the resources a family has available. For example, how Walter could not open a liquor store due to the fact his family couldn't afford it. Due to the family's race and financial status they were cut off to a lot of things. Many hopes and dreams were put off so they could support themselves first. Another thing I would want students to focus on is how social oppression leads to less diversity. How people in America push white culture on different races because other traditions and cultures are considered "poor" or "inferior".
ReplyDelete2. One month later...
TRAVIS enters the kitchen where MAMA is standing. MAMA unloads dishes from the dishwasher and dries them so they are sparkly clean. BENEATHA opens the front door and is holding a textbook when she walks in. BENEATHA goes into the kitchen for an afternoon snack, joyfully playing with her curls.
BENEATHA How was school today Travis?
TRAVIS It was nice, we are learning multiplication and about the order of operations
MAMA We ain't learn them things as a kid, is Walter still outside mowin' the grass?
RUTH hears conversation and enters.
RUTH Yea he been out there for a while been' really taking care of us now
BENEATHA This might be my last snack for a while, Africa's long ways away.
MAMA We gon miss you so much around here, come back and visit us- at least 4 times a year.
BENEATHA I'll send postcards
The doorbell rings.
Curtain
-Aissa