Write a critical response paper analyzing Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun. Your paper should demonstrate close reading skills, textual analysis, and the ability to develop a clear argument supported by specific evidence from the play.
We will watch the play in class. There is a link to the text in out PDF for the class. Be advised that the link leads to a wonky text version (I didn’t choose it:) so you may want to check a copy out of the library or find a free PDF version online.
Format Requirements
Length: 2 full pages (minimum)
Format: Typed, double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, 1-inch margins
Citations: Include page numbers for all quotations from the play using MLA format
Header: Include your name, course number, instructor name, and date in the upper left corner
Submission Instructions
Complete your paper as a Google Doc.
Submit through Blackboard by clicking the assignment link.
Ensure sharing permissions are set to “Anyone with the link can view.”
Our text for the class is very helpful for this, particularly pages 22 through 41.
You DO NOT need to conduct research of secondary sources for this paper; you will write your own analysis and response.
Due Date: Nov. 19 by 11:59 PM
Prompt Options (Choose ONE)
Option 1: The American Dream Deferred
Analyze how Hansberry explores the concept of the “American Dream” through the Younger family’s experiences. How do different characters define success and happiness? Consider how race, class, and generation influence each character’s vision of the American Dream. Use specific examples to show how the play critiques or complicates traditional notions of upward mobility and success in America.
Option 2: Gender and Identity
Examine the roles of the three Younger women (Mama, Beneatha, and Ruth) and how each represents different aspects of Black womanhood in 1950s America. How does Hansberry use these characters to explore themes of tradition versus progress, motherhood, education, and self-determination? Discuss how their individual struggles and aspirations reflect larger social tensions of the era.
Option 3: Space, Place, and Dignity
Analyze the significance of the apartment setting and the family’s desire to move to Clybourne Park. How does Hansberry use physical space—both the cramped apartment and the dream of a house—as a metaphor for larger themes in the play? Consider how issues of territory, belonging, and dignity connect to the characters’ psychological and emotional states throughout the play.
Grading Criteria
Clear thesis statement and organized argument (25%)
Use of specific textual evidence and quotations (25%)
Analysis and interpretation (not just plot summary) (25%)
Writing mechanics, grammar, and MLA formatting (25%)
Academic Integrity Reminder
This paper must be your own original work. Any use of outside sources beyond the play itself must be properly cited. Papers will be submitted through Blackboard’s plagiarism detection system.