In Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry does not reject integration

Question

In Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry does not reject integration or the economic and moral promise of the American dream; rather, she remains loyal to this dream while looking, realistically, at its incomplete realization. Once we recognize this dual vision, we can accept the play's ironic nuances as deliberate social commentaries by Hansberry rather than as the "unintentional" irony that Bigsby attributes to the work.  Indeed, a curiously persistent refusal to credit Hansberry with a capacity for intentional irony has led some critics to interpret the play's thematic conflicts as mere confusion, contradiction, or eclecticism.  Isaacs, for example, cannot easily reconcile Hansberry's intense concern for her race with her ideal of human reconciliation. But the play's complex view of Black self-esteem and human solidarity as compatible is no more "contradictory" than Du Bois' famous well-considered ideal of ethnic self-awareness coexisting with human unity, or Fanon's emphasis on an ideal internationalism that also accommodates national identities and roles.
   1 
 1. The author's primary purpose in the passage is to

(A) explain some critics' refusal to consider Raisin in the Sun a deliberately ironic play
(B) suggest that ironic nuances ally Raisin in the Sun with Du Bois' and Fanon's writings
(C) analyze the fundamental dramatic conflicts in Raisin in the Sun
(D) justify the inclusion of contradictory elements in Raisin in the Sun
(E) affirm the thematic coherence underlying Raisin in the Sun

2 
 2. It can be inferred from the passage that the author believes which of the following about Hansberry's use of irony in Raisin in the Sun?

(A) It derives from Hansqerry's eclectic approach to dramatic structure.
(B) It is justified by Hansberry's loyalty to a favorable depiction of American life.
(C) It is influenced by the themes of works by Du Bois and Fanon.
(D) It is more consistent with Hansberry's concern for Black Americans than with her ideal of human reconciliation.
(E) It reflects Hansberry's reservations about the extent to which the American dream has been realized.

3 
 3. In which of the following does the author of the passage reinforce his criticism of responses such as Isaacs' to Raisin in the Sun?

(A) The statement that Hansberry is "loyal" to the American dream (line 3)
(B) The description of Hansberry's concern for Black Americans as "intense" (line 13)
(C) The assertion that Hansberry is concerned with "human solidarity" (line 15)
(D) The description of Du Bois' ideal as "well-considered" (line 17)
(E)The description of Fanon's internationalism as "ideal" (line 19)

4 
 4. The author of the passage would probably consider which of the following judgments to be most similar to the reasoning of critics described in lines in Bold?

(A) The world is certainly flat; therefore, the person proposing to sail around it is unquestionably foolhardy.
(B) Radioactivity cannot be directly perceived; therefore, a scientist could not possibly control it in a laboratory.
(C) The painter of this picture could not intend it to be funny; therefore, its humor must result from a lack of skill.
(D) Traditional social mores are beneficial to culture; therefore, anyone who deviates from them acts destructively.
(E) Filmmakers who produce documentaries deal exclusively with facts; therefore, a filmmaker who reinterprets particular events is misleading us.

GMATNinja · Accepted Answer

Question 1 
 
First, let’s consider the author’s purpose throughout the passage:

In the first sentence, the author introduces Hansberry’s loyalty to the American dream and realistic portrait of its incomplete realization. 
 Then, he/she notes that failing to recognize Hansberry’s intentional irony presents problems when interpreting Raisin in the Sun. 
 Finally, the author provides examples of critics who could not understand Hansberry’s irony and other authors that had the same view as Hansberry.

So, the author uses the passage to argue that Raisin in the Sun has a clear and coherent message. However, critics must recognize Hansberry’s intentional irony in order to identify and understand that message.

Question 1 asks us about the author’s primary purpose. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the answer choices:

While the author notes that some critics refuse to see Raisin in the Sun as deliberately ironic, he/she does not explain why they refuse to do so. In fact, the author calls their refusal “curious.” Eliminate (A).

The passage does describe similarities between Raisin in the Sun and Du Bois’ and Fanon’s writings. But the primary purpose of the passage is not to suggest that they are allied. Rather, the author uses Du Bois and Fanon as examples of authors who express views similar to Hansberry’s views. Eliminate (B).

The passage does not discuss the fundamental dramatic conflicts in Raisin in the Sun, and it certainly does not analyze those conflicts. Eliminate (C).

(D) is tempting. Much of the passage is devoted to explaining the  irony  found in Raisin in the Sun. But the author is not attempting to justify contradictory elements. Rather, the author believes that the critics who interpret the play’s conflicts as contradiction are wrong. So, the author does not see contradictory elements in Raisin in the Sun. Instead, he/she believes the play to be intentionally ironic. Eliminate (D).

In the first half of the passage, the author argues that Raisin in the Sun is not contradictory but rather uses intentional irony. In the second half of the passage, the author provides examples of other authors who share Hansberry’s view. The author’s purpose in all of this is to show that Raisin in the Sun is a complex but coherent play that expresses Hansberry’s view using irony. That is exactly what (E) says, and (E) is the best answer choice.

I hope that helps!

Aruni1991 · Answer

Please elaborate the explainations behind answers to Q1 & Q3

MBAB123 · Answer

Aruni1991 , Q1 Option E - the author is trying to affirm the thematic base of the play. The author insists that the nuances are intentional and not a mistake.

Q3 Option D - The author introduces an example that is similar to The raisin in the sun and calls it "well considered" , thereby defending the play.

Happy to discuss any other options of these 2 questions if needed!

mimishyu · Answer

Summary

to introduce the dual attitude, unrealistic while realistic, of Hansberry’s play to American dream, its influence on how we see the inharmonious ironic nuances, as that its deliberate and intentional, to the play, and how some critics, on the opposite, view the thematic of play as confused、contradicted、eclectic by taking Issac to support this thinking. In the ending, the author turn down those critic’s view by using the comparison of two thinkers, DuBois and Fanon, to highlight the relatively moderate compromising expression to the ethnic identity and solidarity of Blacks in America

1. The author's primary purpose in the passage is to

(A) explain some critics' refusal to consider Raisin in the Sun a deliberately ironic play

for some critics' refusal..., this is in the third sentence, its just part of the whole, and the author raise examples in the last sentence to take as an evidence to this saying, no explanation involved

(B) suggest that ironic nuances ally Raisin in the Sun with Du Bois' and Fanon's writings

this only concern the last sentence in the passage

(C) analyze the fundamental dramatic conflicts in Raisin in the Sun

this choice seems appealing, however, no analysis ever appear in the passage, the author just use the declarative tone to state facts

(D) justify the inclusion of contradictory elements in Raisin in the Sun

no tone of “justify” in the passage

(E) affirm the thematic coherence underlying Raisin in the Sun

.... correct , the passage, especially in the middle part, revolve around the words of “conflicted contradicted confused” is to highlight and give the affirmative tone, from the reverse side, to the coherence to the play

2. It can be inferred from the passage that the author believes which of the following about Hansberry's use of irony in Raisin in the Sun?

(A) It derives from Hansqerry's eclectic approach to dramatic structure.

some critics interpret the intentional use of the play is somehow “eclecticism” rather than ironic, and for “Hansqerry's eclectic approach”, no approach ever been mentioned in the text

(B) It is justified by Hansberry's loyalty to a favorable depiction of American life.

no tone of “justification” or any proof ever appear in the passage

(C) It is influenced by the themes of works by Du Bois and Fanon.

Du Bois and Fanon are used as degree of comparison to the ironic use in the play, no mutual influence between these two involve here

(D) It is more consistent with Hansberry's concern for Black Americans than with her ideal of human reconciliation.

see sentence in the passage:
Isaacs, for example, cannot easily reconcile Hansberry's intense concern for her race with her ideal of human reconciliation.

this context doesn’t intend to compare which one is more consistent with Hansberry's concern for Blacks in his ironic use of the play, it just convey us that Issac, an example raised to illustrate the prior sentence, was not able to connect Hansberry's concern with human reconciliation

(E) It reflects Hansberry's reservations about the extent to which the American dream has been realized.

.... correct , from the first sentence, “....rather, she remains loyal to this dream while looking, realistically, at its incomplete realization.”, then in next sentence the author talk about the play’s ironic use, by this, the author throw a statement to express the core idea in the passage in that Hansberry still think that American dream is half realized, not fully done

3. In which of the following does the author of the passage reinforce his criticism of responses such as Isaacs' to Raisin in the Sun?

I'm not very sure whether my thinking is correct or not...., que3 is a bit difficult for me

(A) The statement that Hansberry is "loyal" to the American dream

see sentence “rather, she remains loyal to this dream while looking, realistically, at its incomplete realization.”

(B) The description of Hansberry's concern for Black Americans as "intense" 
 
“Isaacs, for example, cannot easily reconcile Hansberry's intense concern for her race with her ideal of human reconciliation.” 
....this is just an example used to explain the prior sentence in that how "the critics", not the author", interpret Hansberry's play

(A)(B) are just statement, none of author’s response to critics being reinforced here

(C) The assertion that Hansberry is concerned with "human solidarity" (line 15)

(D) The description of Du Bois' ideal as "well-considered" (line 17)
 
see sentence:
“But the play's complex view of Black self-esteem and human solidarity as compatible is no more "contradictory" than Du Bois' famous well-considered ideal of ethnic self-awareness coexisting with human unity, or Fanon's emphasis on an ideal internationalism that also accommodates national identities and roles.”

"The assertion that Hansberry is concerned with human solidarity" is author’s opinion, not author’s response to those critics in bold sentence, and notice the phrase “no more than”, the author take Du Bois' and Fanon's as example to bring out the play’s view of solidarity is not as “contradicted” as those critics thought, in that the play is intentional, deliberate irony in its expression, and this is just where the author reinforce his criticism of responses to be

(E) The description of Fanon's internationalism as "ideal" (line 19)

for (D) and (E) two quite similar choices, if we really want to compare which one has a more responsive tone, then  it is (D)  stand out, since it’s the first to counter those critic’s view

4. The author of the passage would probably consider which of the following judgments to be most similar to the reasoning of critics described in lines in Bold?

(A) The world is certainly flat; therefore, the person proposing to sail around it is unquestionably foolhardy.
(B) Radioactivity cannot be directly perceived; therefore, a scientist could not possibly control it in a laboratory.
(C) The painter of this picture could not intend it to be funny; therefore, its humor must result from a lack of skill.
(D) Traditional social mores are beneficial to culture; therefore, anyone who deviates from them acts destructively.
(E) Filmmakers who produce documentaries deal exclusively with facts; therefore, a filmmaker who reinterprets particular events is misleading us.

“Indeed, a curiously persistent refusal to credit Hansberry with a capacity for intentional irony has led some critics to interpret the play's thematic conflicts as mere confusion, contradiction, or eclecticism.”: critics refuse to accept that the play’s intentional irony, rather they view its expression as mere “confusion, contradiction, or eclecticism”, which are all negative phrases to describe how the play lacks in its skill...., also notice the phrase “intend it to be funny”, this just parallel the “intentional irony” in its attribute thus  (C) perfectly fit  to the reasoning of critic

AditiDeokar · Answer

GMATNinja , can you please explain the answers to the rest of the questions as well

guddo · Answer

2. It can be inferred from the passage that the author believes which of the following about Hansberry's use of irony in Raisin in the Sun?

The author says Hansberry stays loyal to the American dream while realistically seeing its incomplete realization, and that this “dual vision” makes the play’s irony deliberate social commentary. So the irony reflects that tension between the dream and its incomplete fulfillment.

(A) It derives from Hansberry's eclectic approach to dramatic structure.

The author rejects the idea that critics should see the play as “confusion, contradiction, or eclecticism,” so this is the opposite.

(B) It is justified by Hansberry's loyalty to a favorable depiction of American life.

Hansberry is loyal to the dream, but the irony comes from showing its incomplete realization, not from wanting a purely favorable depiction.

(C) It is influenced by the themes of works by Du Bois and Fanon.

Du Bois and Fanon are used as comparisons to show “compatible tensions are not contradictions,” not as claimed influences on Hansberry’s irony.

(D) It is more consistent with Hansberry's concern for Black Americans than with her ideal of human reconciliation.

The author says the play treats Black self-esteem and human solidarity as compatible, so the irony is not more consistent with one than the other.

(E) It reflects Hansberry's reservations about the extent to which the American dream has been realized.

This matches directly: the “dual vision” is loyalty to the dream plus realism about its incomplete realization, and the irony flows from that.  So (E) is the best inference.

Answer: (E)

guddo · Answer

3. In which of the following does the author of the passage reinforce his criticism of responses such as Isaacs' to Raisin in the Sun?

The author criticizes Isaacs for treating Hansberry’s themes as hard to reconcile, and then counters that this “contradiction” is no more contradictory than Du Bois’  well-considered  ideal of ethnic self-awareness coexisting with human unity. Calling Du Bois’ ideal “well-considered” reinforces the criticism by implying that Isaacs is mistakenly labeling as contradiction something that can be a thoughtful, coherent position.

(A) The statement that Hansberry is "loyal" to the American dream

This supports the dual-vision framing, but it does not specifically reinforce the criticism of Isaacs’ “can’t reconcile” response.

(B) The description of Hansberry's concern for Black Americans as "intense"

That just characterizes her concern; it does not strengthen the rebuttal to Isaacs.

(C) The assertion that Hansberry is concerned with "human solidarity"

This is part of what Isaacs allegedly can’t reconcile, but it does not itself reinforce the author’s criticism.

(D) The description of Du Bois' ideal as "well-considered"

This directly reinforces the author’s criticism: it shows that combining ethnic self-awareness with human unity is a serious, coherent view, so Isaacs’ reaction is misguided.  This is the strongest reinforcement.

(E) The description of Fanon's internationalism as "ideal"

“Ideal” here is not doing the key argumentative work; it is more descriptive than corrective.

Answer: (D)

guddo · Answer

4. The author of the passage would probably consider which of the following judgments to be most similar to the reasoning of critics described in lines in Bold?

Those critics  assume Hansberry lacked the capacity for intentional irony , and then treat the play’s ironic effects as accidental, caused by confusion or poor control rather than deliberate design.

(A) The world is certainly flat; therefore, the person proposing to sail around it is unquestionably foolhardy.

This is a factual premise leading to a practical conclusion, not “deny intent, then blame incompetence.”

(B) Radioactivity cannot be directly perceived; therefore, a scientist could not possibly control it in a laboratory.

This is “cannot perceive” to “cannot control,” not “cannot intend” to “therefore accidental.”

(C) The painter of this picture could not intend it to be funny; therefore, its humor must result from a lack of skill.

This matches exactly: it denies the creator’s intention/capacity and then explains the effect as unintended and due to deficiency.

(D) Traditional social mores are beneficial; therefore, anyone who deviates acts destructively.

This is a moral generalization, not an argument about intention versus accidental effects.

(E) Documentaries deal exclusively with facts; therefore, reinterpretation is misleading.

This is about genre norms and truthfulness, not about denying intentional artistry.

Answer: (C)

In Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry does not reject integration

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

In Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry does not reject integration

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards