Grade 9 English: Analyzing Anglo-American Drama

Flashcards covering curriculum standards, vocabulary, characters from A Raisin in the Sun, and structural elements of Anglo-American drama.

The American Dream

A national ethos centered around the belief that every individual should have the opportunity to achieve success, prosperity, and upward social mobility through hard work, determination, and initiative.

Matriarch

A word referring to the female head of a family or tribe.

Assimilation

The process of integrating or adopting the customs, traditions, and beliefs of a different cultural group into one's own.

Predominant

Having greater strength, influence, or prevalence compared to others.

Segregation

The enforced separation of different racial, ethnic, or cultural groups.

Deferred

A term meaning postponed or delayed, notably used in Langston Hughes' poem Harlem.

Drama

A literary work written for performance on stage involving dialogue, stage directions, and sometimes songs or music.

Short Story

A written prose narrative that can be read individually in one sitting and typically relies on descriptive language to establish setting.

Character

A person, animal, being, creature, or thing in a story used by writers to perform actions and speak dialogue.

Protagonist

The main character around which the whole story revolves, whose decisions are affected by internal or external conflicts.

Antagonist

A character, group of characters, nature, technology, or fate that causes conflict for the protagonist.

Major Characters

Well-developed characters who undergo substantial growth or change and are central to the story's main conflicts and themes.

Minor Characters

Characters who are not as important as major ones but help drive the story forward and impact the decisions of the protagonist or antagonist.

Direct Characterization

Also known as explicit characterization, it occurs when the author or narrator tells the audience exactly what a character is like.

Indirect Characterization

Also known as implicit characterization, it consists of the author showing the character's traits through their thoughts, words, and deeds.

Lena Younger (Mama)

The matriarch of the Younger family who receives a life insurance check after her husband's death and wants to use it to improve family circumstances.

Walter Lee Younger

Lena's son who dreams of becoming a successful businessman and struggles with feelings of inadequacy.

Beneatha Younger

Lena's daughter and an aspiring doctor who represents the search for social progress and African identity.

Ruth Younger

Walter Lee's wife who works as a domestic servant and tries to maintain family stability despite financial and marital tensions.

Karl Lindner

A representative of a neighborhood improvement association who attempts to dissuade the Younger family from moving into a white neighborhood.

Joseph Asagai

A Nigerian student who befriends Beneatha and introduces her to African culture and heritage.

Episodic Plot

A chronological structure consisting of a series of loosely related incidents tied together by a common theme or characters.

Parallel Plot

A structure where the writer weaves two or more dramatic plots linked by a common character and a similar theme.

Exposition

The section of the plot where main characters and setting are introduced and the primary conflict is established.

Climax

The event that marks the turning point of a drama.

Sustainable Development Goal 5

A global initiative (SDG $5$) to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

Sustainable Development Goal 10

A global initiative (SDG $10$) to reduce inequality within and among countries.