A RAISIN IN THE SUN by Lorraine Hansberry: Follow-up Activity Options

• Option A: Write a children’s book with illustrations about the life of the author, Lorraine Hansberry.  This should be in your own words and written at the reading level of an elementary school student.  Be sure to discuss how her life influenced the plot, characters, and/or themes of A Raisin in the Sun.  Copy and paste ALL sources used into a bibliography (the website address is fine).  With a cover/title page and the bibliography, your story should be at least 7 pages long (but, each page does not need to have a lot of writing!).
• Option B:  Write the sequel or ending to the play.  You may write this in play form, as a series of letters/journal entries written by the characters, or as a traditional 1st or 3rd person narrative.  Think about and answer the following with clear justification about how and why these things happen: What happens to the Youngers in Clybourne Park? Does Beneatha go to Africa and/or become a doctor? Does Ruth have the baby? What kind of a man is Walter now? What about Mama and Travis? Think about cause and effect and motivation and societal influences when answering these questions.
• Option C: Write (at least) a five paragraph literary analysis essay about the plant as a symbol in the play.  You must include quotations (correctly cited) and analyze them from at least three different scenes that discuss the plant or gardening or something to do with the plant.  See quotes below for help:
• Mama: “Lord, if this little old plant don’t get more sun than it’s been getting it ain’t never going to see spring again.” (40)
• Mama: "Lord, child, you should know all the dreams I had 'bout buying that house and fixing it up and making me a little garden in the back.... And didn't none of it happen." (45)
• Mama: “They spirited all right, my children. Got to admit they got spirit—Bennie and Walter. Like this little old plant that ain’t never had enough sunshine or nothing—and look at it… " (52)
• Mama: “Well, I always wanted me a garden like I used to see sometimes at the back of the houses down home. This plant is close as I ever got to having one.” (53)
• Ruth: "Is there--is there a whole lot of sunlight?" Mama: "Yes, child, there's a whole lot of sunlight." (94)
• Mama: "Oh, Big Walter, is this the harvest of our days?" (106)
• Beneatha: “Mama, what are you doing?” Mama: “Fixing my plant so it won’t get hurt none on the way…” Beneatha: Mama, you going to take that to the new house?” Mama: “Un-huh—“ Beneatha: “That raggedy-looking old thing?” Mama: It expresses ME!” (121)
• Mama: "Now I don't have to use my knives and forks no more..." (123)
• Travis: "It's a gardening hat! Like the ladies always have on in the magazines when they work in their gardens." (124)
• Mama: "You what supposed to be my beginning again. You--what supposed to be my harvest." (144)
• Mama grabs her plant and exits the apartment for the last time. (151)