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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Beneatha tells Mama that George is:

2. Which character enters in a happy, excited mood?

3. While Beneatha listens to Mr. Lindner, she:

4. What does Mr. Lindner represent?

5. Walter Lee can't understand why:

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Beneatha upset at Walter Lee in this scene?

2. Beneatha says that there's nothing left of Walter Lee to love now. How does Mama respond?

3. Ruth wants to take a hot bath at the new house. Explain why that is a luxury for her.

4. Mama explains to Mrs. Johnson that Walter Lee is busy resting. What conclusion does Mrs. Johnson jump to on hearing that?

5. Instead of going to his job for several days, Walter Lee spent the time driving away from the city. Why did he do this and where did he go?

6. How do the onstage character to react to Mr. Lindner's offer to buy their new house? Describe their emotions.

7. Ruth tells Beneatha she went out with Walter Lee the night before. Why is that special?

8. Why does Walter Lee finally decide not to take Karl Lindner's money?

9. Ruth thinks that the sign Beneatha is making for a box of china can be seen from an airplane. What is Ruth implying about Beneatha?

10. Beneatha sarcastically asks George "Why read books---why go to school?" Give her answer.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At the end of the play, Mama tells Ruth that Walter Lee came into "his manhood." What is Mama saying about male gender roles? How does her attitude contrast with Walter Lee's thoughts about manhood?

Essay Topic 2

Hansberry starts the play with a poem by Langston Hughes about a "dream deferred." Explain how this poem and its images relate to the play.

Essay Topic 3

Identify and describe the following dramatic structures in the play: Exposition, Rising Action, Turning Points, Climax, and Falling Action. Use dialogue and text examples to support your descriptions.

(see the answer keys)

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