Write an essay of 4-6 pages, include two secondary sources (essays/books on history, the country where this takes place, the play, the author, literature, etc) and MLA citations. You may certainly use literary devices if they support your point with, say, symbolism, characterization, or word choice. Answer one of these, analyzing EITHER this weeks A Raisin in the Sun or next weeks The Importance of Being Ernest:
Does A Raisin in the Sun define the American experience today? Personal examples are acceptable here, as are statistics and recent news.
How does A Raisin in the Sun exemplify the concept of the American dream the idea that anyone can do well if he/she works hard? Does this work even when race is factored in? What about the power struggle between Mrs. Younger and her son? Do the characters succeed?
Does A Raisin in the Sun favor assimilation or maintaining a separate Black identity? Do different characters find different answers?
Which unionJacks with Gwendolen or Algernons with Cecilyseems more likely to succeed? Or the reverend and Miss Prism? One character with anothers bank account? Or is the story really about another relationship altogether? (Audiences at the time would have noticed lots of gay subtext https://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/bs-fe-everyman-earnest-20181207-story.html(Links to an external site)
2. Analyze the gender reversals in this text. Does the feminized Lord Bracknell foreshadow what Jack and Algernon may become? Are males or females more passive/dominated in this play? Who has the agency? How does this comment on gender expectations in 1895 England?
3. How does dramatic irony (one character or the audience knowing something another character doesnt) create humor in The Importance of Being Earnest? Identify a handful of instances in which the audience members know more about what is going on than the characters on stage. Why does this create humor? Why would an audience of the time have particularly appreciated this?
Here is the link of A Raisin in the Sun:
https://www.napavalley.edu/people/LYanover/Documents/English%20123%20Lorraine%20Hansberry%20A%20Raisin%20in%20the%20Sun.pdf
Here is the link of The Importance of Being Ernest:
https://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/bs-fe-everyman-earnest-20181207-story.html
and
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/844/844-h/844-h.htm
