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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. Along what avenue do the narrator and Sonny travel?

2. In which of the following had the narrator’s uncle worked?

3. In what season does the story begin?

4. At what level of school does the narrator teach?

5. What subject does the narrator teach?

Short Essay Questions

1. For what is Sonny arrested?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Overall, what is the most important theme of “Sonny’s Blues”? What in the text indicates as much? How does it do so?

Essay Topic 2

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 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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