Ask another person in class to work with you, trace the development /resolution of conflicts between/among the characters. Examine/ discuss the following:
 | Walter Lee and Ruth. What are their expectations of each other? |
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| Walter Lee and Beneatha. Are they sensitive to each other's needs, or have
they become locked into the "sibling rivalry" syndrome? | | |
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| Walter Lee and Lena. Is she unconsciously emasculating him? Is he behaving
more like a son than a husband and father? What cultural traditions affect
their relationship? |
|
| Lena and Ruth. Is Lena trying to undermine Ruth's maternal authority by
commenting on what Travis eats, how he dresses, and her excusing his lapses
as "he's just a little boy" [31]? | | |
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| Beneatha and Asagai. What cultural differences cause tension in their relationship? How does he prove he really cares for her? |
For the following, write one or two sentences that show your understanding of the following:
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| Walter, Ruth, Beneatha. The argument over the spending of the insurance money (20-29). | |
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| Lena, Ruth, Beneatha. Beneatha's refuting the existence of God's will infuriates her mother (70-77). | |
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| Walter, Lena, Ruth. Lena reemphasizes her objection to the liquor store; Ruth admits she is planning an abortion (102-110). | |
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| The Younger family. Lena announces that she has made the down payment on the house in Clybourne Park (121-127). | |
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| Lena and Walter. Lena finally acknowledges Walter's need and entrusts him with the rest of the money (138-142). | |
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| Beneatha and Asagai. Asagai reveals his compassionate understanding of human nature and his wisdom; his proposal to Beneatha (180-190). | |
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| The Younger family. Walter announces that he has agreed to accept Lindner's offer; Walter's moment of recognition when he subsequently refuses it (193-202). | |
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| Compare Walter Lee, Beneatha, and Lena as rebels. How are the young people really like their mother? Use citations from the play.* | |
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| Discuss Asagai, as the "modern" man. How are his values and those of the more traditional Lena surprisingly alike? Use citations from the play.* |
Analyze the function of each character in the screenplay according to the following guidelines: What does the character do to extend the plot; to explain another character; or to enhance a theme?
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| Mrs. Holiday, Lena's employer (31-42). |
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| Mr. and Mrs. Arnold, Walter's employers (43-45). |
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| The white clerk at the neighborhood grocery (51-53). |
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| Mrs. Johnson, the Youngers' neighbor (54-55). |
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| Herman, the white clerk in a liquor store (59-63). |
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| Bobo and Willy Harris, Walter's hoped-for business partners (81-84). |
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| Mr. Lindner, the insensitive emissary from the Clybourne Park Neighborhood
Association (157-168). | |
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Character Development
Marriage, Families in Crisis
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| Can you describe the dynamics of this family? Tell us who had the power
and who had affection for whom? |
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| What problems did this family suffer from? |
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| What were the dysfunctional parts of the family? | Alcohol and Drug Abuse
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| What role did alcohol and drug abuse play in the problems faced by this
family? | Female Role Model
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| Who do you think was a female role model in this film? Was there more than
one? |
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