A Raisin in the Sun - Act I Vocabulary

Question and answer flashcards covering the vocabulary definition list for Act I, Scene One and Scene Two of Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun (Handout 3).

According to the vocabulary list for Act I, Scene One, what is the definition of "pretenses"?

false appearances or reasons

What is the definition of "rousing"?

vigorous; intense

How is "stupor" defined in the text?

a daze; mental unawareness

What is the meaning of the word "vain" in Act I, Scene One?

futile; failing to achieve the desired result

What does "exasperated" mean?

annoyed; irritated; fed up

How is "mechanically" defined?

acting like a machine

What is the definition of "vindicated"?

justified; proven right

How does the vocabulary list define "defiance"?

resistance

What is the definition of "proposition"?

proposal or plan

How is "graft" defined in Act I, Scene One?

the illegal or unfair acquisition of money

What does the word "permeated" mean?

spread through; diffused

What is the definition of "doggedly"?

stubbornly

According to the text, what is a "ledger"?

a book used to record accounts and transactions

What does "furtively" mean?

done secretly

How is "raucous" defined?

harsh sounding; loud

In Act I, Scene Two, what is the definition of "bastion"?

strong, secure stronghold

What is the definition of "indignantly"?

righteously angry

What does the word "forlornly" mean?

done sorrowfully, usually due to being abandoned

How is "suppress" defined in Act I, Scene Two?

to keep secret

What is the definition of "quizzical"?

puzzled; confused

According to the vocabulary list, what is an "assimilationist"?

advocate of blending in with the culture

What does "recitation" mean?

reciting a memorized speech

How is "evading" defined?

escaping; eluding

What is the definition of "raptly"?

in a deeply engaged manner

What is the definition of "beseechingly"?

in a begging or pleading manner