A Raisin in the Sun Vocabulary | 10 Essential Words | Lorraine Hansberry

Study 10 essential vocabulary words from Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun, including assimilationist, indictment, and defiance, with definitions, book examples, and a practice quiz.

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Essential Vocabulary

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry

High School Grades 9-11 10 Key Words American Drama - 1959

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These 10 words trace the emotional and moral pressure the Younger family lives under in A Raisin in the Sun, from Walter's exasperated frustration with his family's caution to the quiet defiance that finally earns him their respect. Several words describe how people act under strain, doggedly, furtively, erratically, while others describe the larger judgments the play makes about the world around the family, assimilationist, indictment, futile. Learning these words in context makes them easier to recall on both a literature exam and the SAT, since terms like indictment and vindicated appear constantly in essay prompts about the play.

Word List

Word	Part of Speech	Definition	Example from the Book
Assimilationist	noun	A person who believes minority groups should give up their own culture and blend into the dominant one	"George Murchison represents an assimilationist point of view, believing the Younger family's pride in their African heritage is old-fashioned."
Doggedly	adverb	In a persistent and determined manner, without giving up	"A small, doggedly growing plant on Mama's windowsill mirrors her family's stubborn hope for a better life."
Furtively	adverb	In a secretive or sneaky manner, as if trying to avoid being noticed	"Ruth studies Mama furtively while ironing, trying to gauge her mother-in-law's mood."
Exasperated	adjective	Feeling intense irritation or frustration	"Walter grows exasperated with his family's caution about the insurance money."
Vindicated	verb	Cleared of blame, or shown to be right after doubt or criticism	"By the play's end, Mama feels vindicated in trusting Walter with responsibility again."
Indictment	noun	A strong criticism or expression of blame	"Walter's restless anger throughout the play stands as an indictment of a society that limits what a Black man can achieve."
Erratic	adjective	Unpredictable and lacking a consistent pattern	"Walter's erratic behavior in the weeks after receiving the insurance check worries every member of his family."
Defiance	noun	Open resistance or bold disobedience	"When Walter stands up to Mr. Lindner and refuses his offer, it is an act of defiance that finally earns his family's respect."
Disheveled	adjective	Untidy or disordered in appearance	"The Youngers' small, disheveled apartment reflects the cramped conditions the family has endured for years."
Futile	adjective	Incapable of producing a useful result; pointless	"Mama's small houseplant, struggling for sunlight, at first seems like a futile effort, yet she refuses to stop caring for it."

Look-Alike Words

Related but Distinct · Persisting Despite the Odds vs. Having No Chance At All

Doggedly

Acting in a persistent, determined manner, without giving up.

Futile

Incapable of producing a useful result, pointless.

Tip: Mama tends her windowsill plant doggedly, refusing to quit, even though the effort might look futile given how little light it actually gets.

Commonly Confused · Hiding vs. Standing Up

Furtively

Acting secretly, trying to avoid being noticed.

Defiance

Open resistance or bold disobedience, meant to be seen.

Tip: Ruth watches Mama furtively, careful not to be noticed. Walter's refusal of Mr. Lindner's offer is the opposite: open defiance, meant to be felt by everyone in the room.

Commonly Confused · A Personal Feeling vs. A Larger Judgment

Exasperated

Feeling intense irritation or frustration, a personal emotional state.

Indictment

A strong criticism or expression of blame, often aimed at something larger.

Tip: Walter feels exasperated by his family's caution, a private frustration in the moment. His anger as a whole becomes an indictment of the racism that limits his opportunities, a judgment aimed at society itself.

Vocabulary Video

Watch - Essential Vocabulary from A Raisin in the Sun

Practice Quiz

A Raisin in the Sun - Vocabulary Quiz

Question 1 of 10

George Murchison represents an __________ point of view, insisting the Youngers should let go of their African heritage to get ahead.

Question 2 of 10

Mama tends the small plant on her windowsill __________, refusing to let it die despite the lack of sunlight.

Question 3 of 10

Ruth studies Mama __________ while ironing, trying to read her mood without drawing attention to her own worries.

Question 4 of 10

Walter grows __________ with his family's constant caution about the insurance money, feeling their fear has kept them poor for generations.

Question 5 of 10

By the play's end, Mama feels __________ in trusting Walter with responsibility again, even after his earlier mistake nearly cost the family everything.

Question 6 of 10

Walter's restless anger throughout the play stands as an __________ of a society that limits what a Black man can achieve no matter how hard he works.

Question 7 of 10

Walter's __________ behavior in the weeks after receiving the insurance check, swinging between excitement and despair, worries everyone in the family.

Question 8 of 10

When Walter stands up to Mr. Lindner and refuses his offer, it is an act of __________ that finally earns his family's respect.

Question 9 of 10

The Youngers' small, __________ apartment, with its shared bathroom and worn furniture, reflects the cramped conditions the family has endured for years.

Question 10 of 10

Mama's small houseplant, struggling for sunlight, at first seems like a __________ effort, yet she refuses to stop caring for it.

out of 10 correct

Full explanations for every question appear below after you check your answers.

Answer Key & Explanations

1Assimilationist. Believing the Younger family should abandon their African heritage and blend into the dominant culture to get ahead is exactly what an assimilationist point of view describes.

2Doggedly. Refusing to let a struggling plant die despite little sunlight, tending it without giving up, is exactly what doggedly means.

3Furtively. Studying someone secretly while trying not to be noticed is exactly what furtively describes.

4Exasperated. Growing intensely frustrated with a family's caution is exactly what exasperated means.

5Vindicated. Feeling shown to be right in trusting someone again, after earlier doubt, is exactly what vindicated describes.

6Indictment. Anger that stands as a broader criticism of an unjust society, not just a personal complaint, is exactly what an indictment is.

7Erratic. Swinging unpredictably between excitement and despair, with no consistent pattern, is exactly what erratic describes.

8Defiance. Openly refusing an offer and standing up to someone in a way that earns respect is exactly what defiance means.

9Disheveled. A small apartment with worn furniture and cramped, untidy conditions is exactly what disheveled describes.

10Futile. An effort that seems incapable of producing a useful result, though it continues anyway, is exactly what futile means.

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