Sonny's Blues

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the below bulleted outlines. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. “Sonny’s Blues” conveys the literary technique of tone toward those with substance use disorders (SUDs).

• How does “Sonny’s Blues” reveal a tone of judgment or empathy toward those with drug addictions? (topic sentence)
• Describe three situations or moments in the story that suggest this tone of judgment/empathy.
• In your concluding sentences, explain why the writer might have conveyed this tone. Why would Baldwin approach this issue with judgment/empathy?

2. Though settings are not traditionally seen as characters, in Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues,” the neighborhood of Harlem acts as a character in the story.

• In what ways does the neighborhood act like a character in “Sonny’s Blues”? (topic sentence)
• Describe 2-3 characteristics of the neighborhood that contribute to it being a character in “Sonny’s Blues.” What impact does the setting have on the brothers’ lives and choices?
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, briefly summarize the characteristics of Harlem that justify seeing it as a character in “Sonny’s Blues.”

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. Throughout “Sonny’s Blues” several of the characters contend with traumatic events, such as Mama, Daddy, Isabel, and the narrator. What role does music play in each of these characters’ traumas? Is the music the cause of the trauma? Is there the Healing Power of Music for this character? As you compose your essay, compare and/or contrast at least two characters’ traumas and the role of music as it relates to their traumas. Incorporate at least four quoted lines or phrases from “Sonny’s Blues” that strengthen your points of discussion. Cite your quotations with the appropriate page numbers.

2. 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? As you compose your essay, address how each metaphor explores the psychological effects of racism. Incorporate at least two quoted lines or phrases from “Sonny’s Blues” for each metaphor that strengthen your points of discussion. Cite your quotations with the appropriate page numbers.