What does the narrator struggle with?

Releasing his own suffering, grieving Gracie's death, & accepting Sonny.

What does Sonny struggle with?

His heroin addiction and passion for creating/playing jazz music.

What imagery does the narrator use to describe his reaction to the news about Sonny?

He describes ice in his stomach and veins; touch.

Why doesn't the narrator like that Sonny loves jazz?

Jazz musicians are "good time people," according to dad.

What happens to the narrator and Sonny's uncle?

The uncle is hit by a car driven by white men, killed, and left to die.

What happens at the end of "Sonny's Blues"?

The narrator watches Sonny play jazz music at a club.

Why did Sonny play jazz?

Because it was an escape from the life he lived.

How did the narrator find out that Sonny got arrested?

He read about it in a newspaper

Why does the narrator worry about Sonny so much?

Because his mother told him to.

What is the setting of "Sonny's Blues"?

Harlem, pre and post-WWII, spring

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"Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin

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All about "Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin

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Questions 15

Answers

1
What does the narrator struggle with?
Releasing his own suffering, grieving Gracie's death, & accepting Sonny.
Traveling in Sonny's band all over the country.
His gambling addiction and financial instability.
His ability to teach algebra and memory loss.
2
What does Sonny struggle with?
NONE
His alcoholism and struggling business.
His gambling addiction and financial instability.
His heroin addiction and passion for creating/playing jazz music.
3
What imagery does the narrator use to describe his reaction to the news about Sonny?
He describes seeing darkness.
None of the above
He describes ice in his stomach and veins; touch.
He describes a horrible smell; smell.
4
Gracie is the narrator's two-year-old daughter who dies of polio.
True
False
5
Why doesn't the narrator like that Sonny loves jazz?
He thinks jazz is annoying.
Jazz musicians are "good time people," according to dad.
He would prefer that he play classical music.
Not true. He does
6
What happens to the narrator and Sonny's uncle?
The uncle is hit by a car driven by white men, killed, and left to die.
The uncle goes to jail for robbing a store.
The uncle becomes a famous jazz musician.
The uncle turns out to be Sonny and the narrator's biological father.
7
What happens at the end of "Sonny's Blues"?
Isabel leaves the narrator for Sonny.
The narrator watches Sonny play jazz music at a club.
Sonny and the narrator are arrested.
The narrator moves his family to Greece.
8
What musician does Sonny love?
John Coltrane
Miles Davis
Chet Baker
Charlie Parker
9
The narrator is Sonny's older, unnamed brother.
True
False
10
Why did Sonny play jazz?
Because it was an escape from the life he lived.
Because he hated all other genres.
Because all of the other junkies did.
None of these are correct
11
How did the narrator find out that Sonny got arrested?
His mother told him
A neighbor told him
He got a phone call
He read about it in a newspaper
12
Sonny is the narrator in "Sonny's Blues."
True
False
13
What point of view does Baldwin use in "Sonny's Blues"?
third-person limited point of view
second-person point of view
third-person omniscient point of view
first-person point of view
14
Why does the narrator worry about Sonny so much?
His father's dying wish
Because his mother told him to.
For his community in Harlem
For Sonny's friend
15
What is the setting of "Sonny's Blues"?
Greece, 1950s, spring
California, winter, 1920s
The Bronx, 1970s
Harlem, pre and post-WWII, spring

"Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin Flashcards | StudBud