Literature Presentation Sonny’s Blues

1. Literature Presentation Sonny’s Blues Shania Mock

2. Plot Outline • Narrator reads about brother in heroin bust before he goes to teach • Sonny writes, narrator doesn’t write back(daughter dies) • Sonny out of jail Back in Time • Narrator talks about drunken father • Thinks of mom/take care of Sonny/marries Isabel and goes to army • Mom dies • Talks to Sonny about what he wants in life(music=nonsense) • Goes back to War-Sonny lives with Isabel and parents(not going to school)

3. Present Time • Sonny talks about heroin addiction  lady singing in street • Narrator asks if you have to feel like that to play • Sonny – suffering  left to escape • Sonny takes brother to Greenwich Village • Sonny plays piano-at first bad then turns to good • Narrator sees music turns the suffering to the complete opposite

4. Character • Dynamic- a changing character • Narrator changed through out the story • Author focused on Sonny because there was a deeper meaning with him

5. Tone • Suffering- Sonny getting addicted • Bitter- Narrator felt pain after daughter died  wrote Sonny • Frustrating/Anger- Sonny being addicted(how he explains it) • Narrator in beginning with students

6. Symbolism • Light- Mom tells family secret-moonlight hit pavement • Sonny in club-spotlight- narrator says drinks glowed just as Sonny did • Music- Narrator- bad, ppl who are musicians are bad ppl • Sonny- Plus side to life-an escape • End of story- Music is bridge for them/Narrator appreciates wonders and terrors of ppl in music

7. Relating • Sonny’s Blues and A Pair of Tickets • Different meanings, but both have to do with finding something

8. Critical Techniques • Readers Response • Why? • Older siblings, boss around, know everything, how to do things, protective • Forgets to look out for themselves instead of worry about me