1. Introduction to A Raisin in the Sun
The American Dream Deferred

2. Making Connections
Recall from your research what you know about MLK and his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.

3. Before Reading / Listening
Listen for the following rhetorical devices and annotate the speech while you read to identify these devices as used by Dr. King in his speech
Allusion: a reference to something well-known
Metaphor: a comparison between two unlike things without using like or as
Simile: a comparison between two unlike things using like or as
Parallelism: repeated grammatical structure used to create emphasis and to connect important ideas
Theme: overall message
Tone: the feeling of the speaker toward the subject

4. Harlem
What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore— And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over— like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode?

5. Reflection
Based upon the themes of MLK’s “I Have a Dream” and Langston Hughes’ “Harlem,” what do you think A Raisin in the Sun is about? Consider the historical context of the play which opened on Broadway in Also consider the fact that the title itself if an allusion to Hughes’ poem.