English 123—Rosichan Discussion of A Raisin in the Sun Consider the application of Postcolonial Theory to by discussing as A Raisin in the Sun many of the following terms as you can in depth: ambivalence, hegemony, language abrogation and/or appropriation, mimicry, alterity/otherness, subaltern, worlding. Discuss how they appear in the play and find evidence (including characters and specific scenes and lines as well as behaviors and descriptions, etc.) that exemplifies them. Take note of how the evidence means what you say it does and why, for what purpose. Apply Deconstruction to by making the arguments that the play has a A Raisin in the Sun happy ending and that it has an unhappy ending, that the Younger family overcomes racist oppression and that it succumbs to it. Find evidence of one interpretation in the play (including but not only the ending). Then find evidence of the other interpretation in the play (again including but not only the ending). Does a particular interpretation require the audience or reader to focus on a particular character or characters and their perspective? How and why? What purpose do these conflicting interpretations/perspectives have? What might Hansberry be saying about (coping with) racism in America? Apply New Historicism to Read Langston Hughes’ poem (A A Raisin in the Sun. “Harlem Dream Deferred),” and then find evidence of it in the play. Find characters and dialogue that show their dreams and their different perceptions of and reactions to their deferral. Why do you think Hansberry chose to title her play after Hughes’ poem? What do you think Hansberry is saying about African Americans’ dreams of and for America and the way to achieve them or the possibility or impossibility of achieving them? Harlem (A Dream Deferred) What happens to a deferred? Does it dry up Like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore— And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over— Like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags Like a heavy load. Or does it explode? --Langston Hughes
English 123—Rosichan Discussion of A Raisin in the Sun Consider the application of Postcolonial Theory to A Raisin in the Sun by discussing as many of the following terms as you can in depth: ambivalence, hegemony, language abrogation and/or appropriation, mimicry, alterity/otherness, subaltern, worlding. Discuss how they appear in the play and find evidence (including characters and specific scenes and lines as well as behaviors and descriptions, etc.) that exemplifies them. Take note of how the evidence means what you say it does and why, for what purpose. Apply Deconstruction to A Raisin in the Sun by making the arguments that the play has a happy ending and that it has an unhappy ending, that the Younger family overcomes racist oppression and that it succumbs to it. Find evidence of one interpretation in the play (including but not only the ending). Then find evidence of the other interpretation in the play (again including but not only the ending). Does a particular interpretation require the audience or reader to focus on a particular character or characters and their perspective? How and why? What purpose do these conflicting interpretations/perspectives have? What might Hansberry be saying about (coping with) racism in America? Apply New Historicism to A Raisin in the Sun. Read Langston Hughes’ poem “Harlem (A Dream Deferred),” and then find evidence of it in the play. Find characters and dialogue that show their dreams and their different perceptions of and reactions to their deferral. Why do you think Hansberry chose to title her play after Hughes’ poem? What do you think Hansberry is saying about African Americans’ dreams of and for America and the way to achieve them or the possibility or impossibility of achieving them? Harlem (A Dream Deferred) What happens to a deferred? Does it dry up Like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore— And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over— Like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags Like a heavy load. Or does it explode? --Langston Hughes
English%20123%20A%20Raisin%20in%20the%20Sun%20discussion.docx