Essay Questions

This activity contains 2 questions.

In his tribute to James Baldwin, John Stevenson traces Baldwin's search for a form of expression outside the influences of white culture. Stevenson claims that Baldwin found it in "jazz and the blues." The closing of "Sonny's Blues" features an orchestration of the blues and interprets its roots as it is played with Sonny at the keyboard and Creole on the bass. Explain how Baldwin's interpretation of the "blues experience" is reflected in the unfolding story of Sonny.

To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

As Sonny's older brother, the narrator, through education, has stepped beyond the inevitabilities of life in the urban ghetto. He rejects the lure of the drug culture and its nihilism. How ironic is it, then, that the brother can be so moved by the music that that culture seems to have inspired?

To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

The Submit Answers for Grading feature requires scripting to function. Your browser either does not support scripting or you have turned scripting off.

So, the Submit Answers for Grading button below will not work.

The following Submit Answers for Grading button is provided in its place and will clear your answers:
The Clear Answers and Start Over feature requires scripting to function. Your browser either does not support scripting or you have turned scripting off.

So, the Clear Answers and Start Over button below will not work.

The following Clear Answers button is provided in its place and will clear your answers: