Sonny’s Blues
1. Sonny’s Blues is told from the point of view of his older brother. He is a major character in the story, and writes in the first person. Because the narrator is a main character in the story, you really see the emotion and feelings that the characters have. Also, we feel towards Sunny the way that the narrator does. At the beginning of the story, we are confused and we don’t get why he chose drugs. You almost find yourself questioning Sunny just as much as the narrator is. By the end of the story, when the brother goes and listens to Sunny play, the reader also feels like he or she now understand Sunny and what he went through.
2. The oldest brother is a teacher. This suggests that he wants to help children, and guide them in the right direction. I think that this is directly related to his brother, and the fact that he was not able to guide him in the right direction. He feels because he lost his brother, he needs to try and help other young boys get their lives on track.
3. The story would be completely different if Sonny told it. We would not wonder about Sunny, but would know how he was feeling. It wouldn’t really be about the realization at the end of how music related to Sonny’s life, but would be more like an autobiography describing his drug addiction. We would not be left in suspense at all about his situation. Also, the brother would not have been a major part of this story, because the point of the story is Sonny and is drug addiction.
4. The narrator writes his brother when his daughter, Gracie, dies. I believe he feels that he lost someone in his family, and doesn’t want to lose someone who could be a part of his life. He writes him to try and reconnect with him and regain their relationship, and in a way, save him.
5. The narrator’s mother asks him to take care of Sonny, and look out for him. Initially, the narrator does not do this because he loses contact with him and lets him get lost in the world of drugs. Eventually, he does keep this promise but making an effort to try and get Sonny back on his feet and to understand and beat the addiction.
6. They are very happy names. They make me think of a perfect family who calls their parents Momma and Daddy, and a son that is bright and happy, named Sonny. I think these were chosen to juxtapose the actually situation. This family is from the perfect family, and Sonny is far from a bright and happy character. It shows the reader that you can’t judge a book by its cover.
7. The last four paragraphs to me were the most inspiring part of the whole story. Throughout the whole story, the brother didn’t understand music the way Sonny did. He couldn’t see the serenity, or meaning it brought to Sonny. While he is playing, the brother witnesses the struggles Sonny has been going through his whole life. His rises, falls, and complications all come out in the playing of his music. He goes through moments of happiness, stress, insecurity, and nervousness all in one set of music. It can be called the “Sonny Blue’s” because it is a story of his life, and all the misfortunes along with it. This music has become its own because by listening to it one can relate each part to a portion of his life.


A Worn Path
1. The point of view in this story is from a narrator that partially all knowing, and partially objective. The narrator can describe Phoenix’s hallucinations, but cannot see into any other characters. Also, the narrator is not a character in the story, but is just someone telling the story.
2. The old woman could be named Phoenix because a Phoenix is a bird in mythology. A fire will occur, and the old phoenix will reduce to ashes and a new phoenix will be born after the flame. This can parallel the relationship the old lady has with her grandson and how she feels about the circle of life.
3. The meshing of Phoenix’s hallucinations with real life helps create a more vivid picture of the Phoenix, and also give the reader the opportunity to use their own imagination to see what is real and what is make believe. It also makes the reader somewhat confused, just as the grandma is, and kind of puts the reader in the characters shoes and makes you feel the same way that she does.
4. The white people in the story believe that she is crazy. They are nice to her, but think that she is out of her mind. This may show the time it was taken place because black people were not respected. They are nice to her because she is old, but do not care about her of respect her the way they would a white woman.
5. She admires that the dog is fearless. It appears to be scared of no one. This tells the reader that courage is a quality that Phoenix greatly appreciates, and wishes she had this quality.
6. I believe that his has more meaning than just a vivid picture of the lady. I believe that the idea that she is in armor can reflect the fact that she closes herself off the other people, and does not let anyone into the real her. The way she is positioned may be paralleled to the fact that she has almost given up, or has been defeated. These two images gives a reader a better understanding Phoenix and who she really is.
Word Count: 969