Problem
"Kitchenette Building" Literary Connection Analysis
Directions: The following poem, written in 1963 (four years after A Raisin In the Sun was published), describes a life very similar to that of the Younger family in the play. When you have read the poem, consider its connections to characters and themes that have developed in A Raisin in the Sun.
kitchenette building* By Gwendolyn Brooks.
We are things of dry hours and the involuntary plan,
Grayed in, and gray. "Dream" makes a giddy sound, not strong
Like "rent," "feeding a wife," "satisfying a man."
But could a dream send up through onion fumes
Its white and violet, fight with fried potatoes
And yesterday's garbage ripening in the hall,
Flutter, or sing an aria** down these rooms
Even if we were willing to let it in,
Had time to warm it, keep it very clean,
Anticipate a message, let it begin?
We wonder. But not well! not for a minute!
Since Number Five is out of the bathroom now,
We think of lukewarm water, hope to get in it.
*small apartments in Chicago that were converted from single-family homes. These homes often featured many families under one roof, living in cramped, conditions to save money.
**Opera term; a song sung by one person, often unaccompanied by instruments.
Answer the following questions in complete sentences, using evidence from the text of the poem and/or play:
A. Paraphrase: Who is the speaker of the poem (don't say "Gwendolyn Brooks")? How do you know? How many speakers are there? Write each stanza in your own words. (You can use the space to the right of the poem to do this)
B. Inferences: Read through the poem again. Circle, highlight, or underline any significant language. This language can include anything interesting to the general meaning of the poem, similes, metaphors, hyperbole, imagery, rhyme, etc. Choose 2 observations worth analyzing. For each observation, make an inference as to what it means and how it might help the author get her point across.
C. Tone: What is the tone, or speaker's attitude, toward the subject of the poem? You must use evidence from the poem to support your conclusion.Feel free to pick from the following words or choose your own word: appreciative, candid, resigned, inspirational, pessimistic. Use a dictionary (or your phone) to define any unknown words.
D. Theme: What is the theme of the poem? What message is the author trying to get across in the poem? Use evidence from the text, and explain your answer (3-4 sentences).
E. Connections: How does this poem connect to A Raisin In The Sun? What characters might identify most with the speaker? Why? (3-4 sentences)