Short Paper One: Play Analysis Prompt
Prompt for First Short Paper: Play Analysis
Requirements:
Page Length: 2-3
Required number of sources: At least two (2) with one being the play itself
Sources must be fully and appropriately cited according to either APA or Following your completion of reading A Raisin in the Sun, please offer a 2-3 page review of work by responding to the follow series of questions in a way that utilizes concepts, terminology, and critical assessments found in your textbook:
What genre would you classify this work? Is it solely a tragedy? Would you consider it to be a combination of genres? If so, which ones, and what led you to this decision?
What are the primary, driving conflicts in A Raisin in the Sun? Are these conflicts only between characters? Or are conflicts present between the characters and greater forces? If so, what are those forces?
What is, in your opinion, the overall purpose of A Raisin in the Sun? I suggest doing a little research on Lorraine Hansberry’s life. You’ll see that there are many parallels between her life and the story she wrote here, so really, this play is relatively autobiographical. So, why did Hansberry write this play, and what, as an artistic artifact, is the play attempting to say?
What themes do you find most present within this work? If a friend, for example, asks you, “Hey, I heard you just finished reading A Raisin in the Sun. I’ve always wanted to read it but have never gotten around to it. What is it about? What does its story deal with?” what might you say? Here, think about general concepts or topics. For example, obviously the play has very prominent racial overtones, meaning that the concept of race is really important here. More specifically, the issue of race in a post-WWII society. What other things are present?
Lastly, are the content and themes found within A Raisin in the Sun still relevant today, in 2019 US North America? Why or why not?
