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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 9 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What color of dress does the narrator associate with his mother?

2. At what age had Sonny considered traveling abroad?

3. What instrument had the narrator’s uncle played?

4. Which of the following does the narrator note having thrown from rooftops?

5. Which of the following does the narrator remark is near his home?

Short Essay Questions

1. For what is Sonny arrested?

2. What does the narrator note would happen on Sunday evenings with his parents when someone turned on a light?

3. Why does the narrator posit his students are full of rage?

4. Why does the narrator note that Sonny and his father had not gotten along?

5. Why does the narrator note being glad of Isabel’s presence when he brings Sonny home?

6. What are the narrator’s earliest memories of Sonny?

7. Why had the narrator not known he had an uncle?

8. Why does the narrator note having taken up residence where he did?

9. What outcome does Sonny’s old acquaintance foresee for him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Conversely, given demonstrated efforts toward censorship in a number of countries, what would likely prompt bans of “Sonny’s Blues”? By which groups? Why?

Essay Topic 2

Consider the ending of the story. Does it satisfy? How or how not?

Essay Topic 3

Sources attest to the presence of “Sonny’s Blues” on must-read lists. Assuming that such status reflects popularity, what accounts for the popularity of the short story? How does it do so?

(see the answer keys)

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