Struggles of the Youngers

This conflict-identification worksheet is designed for students in Grades 8 and 9 to strengthen understanding of character development, theme, and plot through Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun. Learners analyze a series of scenarios involving the Younger family and classify each struggle as internal (emotional or psychological) or external (social, economic, or cultural). The activity highlights how personal conflicts and outside pressures work together to drive the story.

Learning Goals

• Identifying Internal & External Conflicts (Grades 8-9)
  Students distinguish between struggles that occur within characters and those imposed by society or circumstances.
• Understanding Character Motivation & Response
  Learners examine how conflicts influence choices, relationships, and growth.
• Theme & Plot Connections
  Activities show how conflict develops themes such as dreams, identity, family, and racial injustice.
• Critical Reading & Analysis
  Students interpret situations carefully rather than relying on surface-level description.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource
  Designed by educators to align with middle school and early high school ELA standards.
• Clear, Focused Classification Task
  Helps students build analytical clarity without extensive writing demands.
• Supports Deeper Discussion
  Conflict categories serve as a springboard for conversations about theme and character growth.
• Flexible Classroom Use
  Ideal for guided practice, review, assessment, or discussion preparation.
• Printable & No-Prep
  Easy to implement in classroom or homeschool settings.

This Struggles of the Youngers worksheet helps students better understand how A Raisin in the Sun is shaped by both internal dilemmas and external pressures. By classifying and analyzing conflicts, learners strengthen comprehension, critical thinking, and insight into how tension drives character development and thematic meaning in the play.

This worksheet is part of our A Raisin in the Sun collection.