PLOT POINTS
What major event is the Younger family waiting for at the start of the play?
The arrival of the insurance check.
Which character is most proud of their African heritage?
Beneatha
What is Walter’s main motivation in Act I?
He wants to invest in a liquor store to improve the family’s financial situation.
“Eat your eggs” is said by which character?
Ruth
Exasperate
This word means:
A) To encourage
B) To annoy
C) To comfort
D) To confuse
B — To annoy.
Why is Ruth considering an abortion in Act I?
She is worried about the family’s financial struggles and cramped apartment.
Who is the head of the Younger household at the start of the play?
Mama
What conflict does Ruth face regarding her pregnancy?
She isn’t sure the family can afford another child.
What does “Eat your eggs” mean in Walter and Ruth’s argument?
Ruth telling Walter to be realistic and stop dreaming.
Quizzical
A quizzical look is best described as:
A) Angry
B) Confused or questioning
C) Joyful
D) Terrified
B) Confused or questioning
What does Walter want to do with the insurance money?
Invest in a liquor store business.
How much money does Travis ask his parents for in Act I?
50 cents
What motivates Beneatha to try so many different hobbies?
She is searching for her identity and what she wants in life.
Who says, “Once upon a time freedom used to be life—now it’s money”?
Mama
Which sentence uses doggedly correctly?
A) “She doggedly kept trying even after failing several times.”
B) “He doggedly finished his homework quickly without effort.”
C) “They doggedly laughed at the joke.”
D) “The dog doggedly slept all day.”
A) “She doggedly kept trying even after failing several times.”
In Act II, Scene 1, what awkward moment interrupts George and Beneatha’s evening?
Walter drunkenly performs an elaborate speech/dance mocking African heritage.
How does George Murchison feel about Beneatha’s interest in African culture?
He finds it silly or “eccentric,” showing he prefers assimilation.
Why does Mama disagree with Walter’s plan for the insurance money?
She believes the money should help the whole family, not just Walter’s business idea.
What does Mama mean when she says, “Seems like God didn’t see fit to give the black man nothing but dreams"?
She’s expressing frustration with Black families’ limited opportunities.
Which sentence correctly uses elude?
A) “The meaning of George’s words seemed to elude Beneatha.”
B) “Mama eluded her plant to the porch.”
A) “The meaning of George’s words seemed to elude Beneatha.”
What decision does Mama make at the end of Act I that surprises the family and changes their future?
She decides to use part of the insurance money to buy a house.
How does George Murchison’s attitude toward Walter in Act II, Scene 1 show the difference between their personalities?
George thinks Walter’s dreams are foolish, showing he’s serious and snobbish, while Walter is emotional and frustrated.
What causes the argument between George and Beneatha in Act II, Scene 1?
George wants Beneatha to act more “proper,” but she wants to express her own ideas and identity.
When Beneatha says, “There is simply no blasted God,” why is Mama so upset?
Because faith is important to Mama, and she feels Beneatha is rejecting the family’s values.
(True/False):
The word profound describes something that is deep or meaningful.