Sophisticated Claim Notes (TEMPLATE)

Essential Question (EQ):

Where does authority come from, and how can we tell if it is just or unjust?

Act, scene:
II, Scene 1

A.) Identify a Literary

Device (with citation)

B.) Characterization
and Plot Points

C.) Essential Question

Connections

Symbolism, dialect, imagery,

interesting diction, etc.

How would you objectively

summarize the scene?

How has Hansberry

answered our question?

I see you all all the time-with the books tucked under
your arms... What the hell
you learning there? Filling up
your heads with sociology
and psychology- but they
teaching you how to be a
man? (Hansberry 84).
Symbolism
When Walter mentions the
books, he refers to them
because he shows the sense
of jealousy and shows that
George has money which is
something Walter wants. The
books he carries with him
give Walter the sense of
jealousy and is clearly shown
when he tells him if all that
schooling can teach him how
to be a man.

While Beneatha goes into

the African culture, Walter
comes home drunk as usual
and judges and joins
everyone in what they are
doing but being obnoxious.
Walter acts like the man of
the house but is just
destructing so many things in
the house. For example,
when he speaks to George
and shows the sense of
jealousy and compares
himself to someone big not
being understood.

Hansberry answered the

question by giving Walter the
role of someone passionate
about money and being
male. Walter has two
different sides where he is
passionate about wanting
something more than what
he can only afford. But he is
also the obnoxious,
controlling person who tries
to run the house and
everyone in it under his
rules. This shows how
authority comes from
frustration and
demandingness.

Man, Im a volcano. Bitter?

Here I am a giant-surrounded by ants! Ants
who cant even understand
what it is the giant is talking
about (Hansberry 85).
Imagery
This is a metaphor that
Walter uses to describe
himself in his bitterness and
shows how sees himself to
be powerful but no one
understands what he wants.
All I can say is if this is my
time in life to say goodbye-to these goddam cracking

walls! --and these marching

roaches! And this cramped
little closet which aint now
or never was a kitchen!..
Then I say it loud and good,
HALLELUJAH! AND
GOODBYE I DONT NEVER
WANT TO SEE YOUR UGLY
FACE AGAIN! (Hansberry
93-94).
Dialect
Shows what the house they
live in gives them feeling of
and how much hatred they
see when they look at their
surroundings (the house).
There is much passion when
this is said by Ruth because
of the word and punctuation
choice. Although they would
move to a white
neighborhood, they are
better off there instead of
where they are now.
Sophisticated Claim
How does the authors language impact our interpretation of the play (characters or events)
as it relates to the concept of authority or justice? Put it all together: A+B+C=Claim!

Hansberrys use of
dialect
as its used with
Walter
suggests that
when someone is frustrated and want so much more than what
they already have, they want to play the role of a leader to not only
get closer to their dream but to have everyone else under their
command.