“Sonny’s Blues” Refresher and Exercises
Barry Mauer and John Venecek
James Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues” [Refresher]
Exercises
- Do some quick research about James Baldwin. Who was he and why was he important? Share some of your findings with the class.
- Do some quick research about The Partisan Review, the journal in which Baldwin’s story, “Sonny’s Blues,” was first published. Share some of your findings with the class.
- Who is the narrator? Why do you think he doesn’t ever give his name?
- What are the most important events in the story? How would you describe the plot?
- What do you think changes as a result of the last scene of the story? In other words, we might imagine how this final scene changes the narrator, and perhaps his relationship with his brother. Share your ideas with your classmates.
