49 pages • 1 hour read
James BaldwinSonny's Blues
Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1957A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Essay Topics
Could the neighborhood of Harlem be considered a character in “Sonny’s Blues”? How does the environment where the brothers live impact their lives and choices?
Does “Sonny’s Blues” offer a hopeful or nihilistic view of living in a racist society? Use concrete examples from the text to justify your answer.
How does the narrator and Sonny’s relationship develop over time? What key events cause their relationship to either splinter apart or heal?
How does music help the characters contend with the suffering they have endured? How does it allow characters to heal from their pain?
Though racism is a major theme throughout “Sonny’s Blues,” Baldwin never refers to it by name, instead using several metaphors—such as “trap” and “darkness”—to describe it. Why does Baldwin use figurative language to discuss racism? How does figurative language allow Baldwin to better explain the psychological effects of a racist society?
Is “Sonny’s Blues” judgmental or empathetic toward drug addicts? Use concrete examples to justify your answer.
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