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Sonny and Narrator's father dies (Pg. 10)

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Sonny and Narrator's father dies (Pg. 10)

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This car was full of white men. They was all drunk, and when

they seen your father's brother they let out a great whoop and holler and they aimed the car straight at him. They was having fun, they just wanted to scare him, the way they do sometimes, you know. But they was drunk. And I guess the boy, being drunk, too, and scared, kind of lost his head. By the time he jumped it was too late," (Baldwin 1).

We chose this quote because it shows in detail how Sonny and the Narrator's father died. The issue of race plays a big role in this story and because of the hatred the white men had for black people, their father was killed and left them with trauma for their whole life.

Song: I Found a New Way of Living by Cindi Dimarco.

We chose this song because it captures the significance of the father dying. Once Sonny and the narrator's dad died, they had to move on with their lives and adjust, just like anyone would after they loose a loved one. Therefore, the title of this song, "I Found a New Way of Living" is perfect.

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Sonny and narrator's mother dies (Pg. 20)

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Sonny and narrator's mother dies (Pg. 20)

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"I couldn't tell you when Mama died-but the reason I wanted to leave Harlem so bad was to get away from drugs. And then, when I ran away, that's what I was running from-really. When I came back, nothing had changed I hadn't changed I was just-older," (Baldwin 20).

When Sonny and the Narrator's mother dies, it shows another example of how they are left with more heartache and trauma which is one of the reasons Sonny turns to drugs to help cope with the darkness in his life. This death is a contributing factor to the problems Sonny and the Narrator face in their lives.

Song: My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion

We chose this song because of it's second line. The song states, "I see you, I feel you". While Sonny and the narrator will have to live on without the presence of their mother, we believe they don't forget about her and that her memory lives on.

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Sonny gets arrested for selling heroin and then released from jail (Pg. 1)

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Sonny gets arrested for selling heroin and then released from jail (Pg. 1)

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"He had been picked up, the

evening before, in a raid on an apartment down-town, for peddling and using heroin. I couldn't believe it: but what I mean by that is that I couldn't find any room for it anywhere inside me. I had kept it outside me for a long time. I hadn't wanted to know. I had had suspicions, but I didn't name them, I kept putting them away," (Baldwin 1).

The narrator finds out Sonny was arrested for selling and using heroin by reading an article in the newspaper, and the narrator realizes that his brother has gone down a really dark path and can't believe what is going on. He denies everything because he can't come to terms with the fact his brother is an addict and the common theme of deny the things you can't accept beings here.

Song: Jailhouse Rock by Elvis Presley

We chose this song because of the singer behind it. Elvis too was arrested, however, he was accepted for manslaughter. Nevertheless, he came out better and continued his music career. Similar to Sonny, he gets arrested but later finds his path in life, and follows his musical dream. The title of this song is also key. Jailhouse is an old term for jail, especially in the time that this story took place.

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Narrator hears about Sonny and denies the truth (Pg. 1)

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Narrator hears about Sonny and denies the truth (Pg. 1)

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"I couldn't believe it: but what I mean by that is that I couldn't find any room for it anywhere

inside me. I had kept it outside me for a long time. I hadn't wanted to know. I had suspicions, but I didn't name them, I kept putting them away," (Baldwin 1).

The narrator always tends to deny the things he can't accept because he can't come to terms with the fact that his brother is a heroin addict. The narrator hates that his brother is not successful because he is a successful teacher but Sonny is not doing anything with his life. He wonders at what point did he not notice did his innocent brother go away and feels some guilt because his brother is a failure.

Song: Road Less Traveled by Lauren Alaina

We choose this song because of the the title and the connection to the story. The narrator is ultimately upset at Sonny because he is not successful is "his eyes". This is because Sonny is taking a path in life that is different from post people, becoming a musician. Therefore, he is taking a "road less traveled"

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Sonny moves in with narrator and wife, Isabel (Pg. 12)

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Sonny moves in with narrator and wife, Isabel (Pg. 12)

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"I gave up. I decided, if he didn't change his mind, that we could always talk about it later. "In

the meantime," I said, "you got to finish school." We had already decided that he'd have to

move in with Isabel and her folks. I knew this wasn't the ideal arrangement because Isabel's

folks are inclined to be dicty and they hadn't especially wanted Isabel to marry me. But I

didn't know what else to do. "And we have to get you fixed up at Isabel's."" (Baldwin 12).

Sonny gets out of control and doesn't want to finish school because he has his mind set on becoming a musician. When trying to control his brother and be a good older sibling, the narrator decides it is necessary for Sonny to move in with Isabel to get back on his feet and to hopefully have him finish up his education. Trying to control the things the narrator cannot accept.

Song: Home by Phillip Phillips

We chose this song because of one line it has. The song states, " Just know your not alone, I'm gonna make this place your home". This line has a great connection to the story because while the narrator is gone, Isabel and her family takes care of Sonny, therefore he is never alone. He moves in and kind of makes her house a home before he moves out.

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Narrator searches Sonny’s room and talks about the light/darkness when he sees the interactions at the cookout (Pg. 17)

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Narrator searches Sonny’s room and talks about the light/darkness when he sees the interactions at the cookout (Pg. 17)

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" Perhaps they both knew this, which was why, when, as rarely,

they addressed each other, they addressed each other as Sister. As the singing filled the air

the watching, listening faces underwent a change, the eyes focusing on something within;

the music seemed to soothe a poison out of them; and time seemed, nearly, to fall away

from the sullen, belligerent, battered faces, as though they were fleeing back to their first

condition, while dreaming of their last," (Baldwin 17).

It seems like the darkness gets lost when they start to sing and without realizing it, the narrator sees firsthand how music and song can offer a solution to the darkness of life. When the people are singing/worshiping, the darkness leaves and happiness takes over. This is similar to Sonny when he turns to music to heal his wounds.

Song: Better Place by Rachel Platten

We chose this song because sonny feels good when music is surrounding him. In other words, he is in a "better place". This song talks about how the colors are bright again when you are in a better place. Similarly to the story, there is a lot of light/colors when music surrounds Sonny, because he is happy and overall in a better place mentally.

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Sonny opens up to Narrator about heroin addiction (Pg. 18)

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Sonny opens up to Narrator about heroin addiction (Pg. 18)

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"When she was singing before," said Sonny, abruptly, "her voice reminded me for a minute of

what heroin feels like sometimes-when it's in your veins. It makes you feel sort of warm and cool at the same time. And distant. And- and sure." He sipped his beer, very deliberately not looking at me. I watched his face. "It makes you feel-in control. Sometimes you've got to have that feeling." (Baldwin 18).

Sonny finally opens up about his addition to heroin. He goes to music because it gives him the same sensation that heroin gives him and it fills the void in his life. This is an important moment in the story because for the first time, Sonny is honest with his brother and tells him why he chooses to turn to heroin.

Song: Fill The Void by All Fitz

We chose this song, mainly because of the title. The reason Sonny chose to do heroin in the first place, is because he had so much going on in his home life. He didn't know how to deal with it, so he turned to drugs to kind of help him cope, or otherwise, "fill the void" of his troubles.

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Sonny and Narrator get in the biggest fight and stop speaking and Sonny moves out (Pg. 15)

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Sonny and Narrator get in the biggest fight and stop speaking and Sonny moves out (Pg. 15)

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"So I got mad and then he got mad, and then I told him that he might just as well be dead as live the way he was living. Then he stood up and he told me not to worry about him any more in life, that he was dead as far as I was concerned. Then he pushed me to the door and the other people looked on as though nothing were happening, and he

slammed the door behind me," (Baldwin 15).

This was the downfall of the relationship between Sonny and the narrator and the moment when their relationship ended. Although sad, it shows how drugs and addiction can ruin relationships and even though the narrator cared about his brothers well-being, the way the drugs changed him caused their relationship to end.

Song: Before He Cheats by Carrie Underwood

We choose this song because of the emotion Carrie Underwood expresses in the song. While this song is about someone who cheated on her, we can see that she is very angry and lashes out. Likewise, in the story, Sonny and the narrator get in a huge argument and the mood is very tense and almost dark. Both the song and the story bring out troublesome emotions and angry voices.

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Narrator goes to club to watch Sonny play (Pg. 20)

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Narrator goes to club to watch Sonny play (Pg. 20)

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"We went to the only nightclub on a short, dark street, downtown. We squeezed through the narrow, chattering, jam-packed bar to the entrance of the big room, where the bandstand was," (Baldwin 20).

In hopes of mending their relationship and trying to understand Sonny's lifestyle, the narrator goes to the club to watch Sonny play. Before he gets there, he doesn't really think it will be that special but once he watches Sonny play and how music helps him cope with his suffering, he learns to accept and admire Sonny for his music abilities.

Song: Growing Up by Thomas Rhett

We choose this song to relate to the book because of the meaning. The song talks about how Thomas is growing up and how he "used to hit the bar downtown". In this exact moment in the story, Sonny is at the bar/club playing music. The way this song and the story are both built, are very similar. Later in the song, Thomas mentions "a little less jack in my cup". This phrase means there is less beer that he drinks. Likewise, in the story, beer is less mentioned at this time because Sonny knows he needs to focus more on his music career and in a way, grow up from the child he was.

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Sonny and the narrator bond at Sonny’s performance (Pg. 24)

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Sonny and the narrator bond at Sonny’s performance (Pg. 24)

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"There was a long pause, while they talked up there in the indigo light and after awhile I saw the girl put a Scotch and milk on top of the

piano for Sonny. He didn't seem to notice it, but just before they started playing again, he sipped from it and looked toward me, and nodded. Then he put it back on top of the piano. For me, then, as they began to play again, it glowed and shook above my brother's head like the very cup of trembling.," (Baldwin 24).

The ending shows Sonny in his element being successful and his brother kind pf rewards him for his success by getting him a drink. This shows character development because the narrator seems to be kind of proud of Sonny because he offers him milk which is a soothing drink and a peace offering. This is also a biblical allusion- sending him a drink as a sign that he knows even though he is an addict, he will be ok. The drink is taking the addiction out of his and and a suggestion that things are healed for Sonny which proves why he can have a drink and his world won't be ruined again

Song: Brother to The Blues by George Jones

We choose this song mainly because of the title. The title mentions both brothers and blues. At this time in the story, Sonny and the narrator are finally starting to act like brothers again. They do this because they realize how much Sonny wants to play "blues", therefore the connection between music and a brotherly bond help them connect at the end of the story.