1. The Plot Stages of "Sonny's Blues"
Exposition: Sonny's arrest and a meeting with Sonny's friend(pp. 93-97)
Rising Action:
-Narrator's reunion with Sonny(driving home scene, pp. 97-99)
-Flashback 1(Mom's story of their uncle's death, pp.100-102)
-Flashback 2(Narrator's confrontation with Sonny about his dream of becoming a Jazz musician, pp. 102-105)
-Flashback 3(Sonny's fleeing from Isabel's family and enlistment with Navy, pp. 105-106)
Climax: the second confrontation of Narrator and Sonny(p. 107)
Falling Action: Grace's death and Narrator's conversation with Sonny(pp. 107-112): Grace's death; the theme of "suffering," a sacrifice. Narrator's conversation with Sonny listening to an old-fashioned revival meeting: a hint of redemption
Resolution and Denouement: Nightclub scene(pp. 112-115): the narrator's recognition of the value of the music Sonny has devoted himself to, "the cup of trembling" as a sign of forgiveness and redemption.
Some Jazz(or Gospel) Numbers mentioned in the text
Charlie "Bird" Parker, "Groovin' High"(p. 103)
"Am I Blue?"(p. 114)
Am I blue, you'd be too
If each plan with your man done fell through
Was a time I was his only one
But now I'm the sad and lonely one, lonely
Was I gay till today
Now he's gone and we're through, am I blue
Was I gay till today
Now he's gone and we're through, am I blue
Oh he's gone, he left me, am I blue
1 'Tis the ol' ship of Zion,
'Tis the ol' ship of Zion,
'Tis the ol' ship of Zion;
Get on board, get on board!
2 It has landed many a thousand,
It has landed many a thousand,
It has landed many a thousand;
Get on board, get on board!
If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again(p. 109)
-
- How sweet and happy seem those days of which I dream,
When memory recalls them now and then!
And with what rapture sweet my weary heart would beat,
If I could hear my mother pray again.- Refrain:
If I could hear my mother pray again,
If I could hear her tender voice as then!
So glad I¡¯d be, ¡¯twould mean so much to me,
If I could hear my mother pray again.
- Refrain:
- She used to pray that I on Jesus would rely,
And always walk the shining gospel way;
So trusting still His love, I seek that home above,
Where I shall meet my mother some glad day. - Within the old home-place her patient, smiling face
Was always spreading comfort, hope and cheer;
And when she used to sing to her eternal King,
It was the songs the angels loved to hear. - Her work on earth is done, the life-crown has been won,
And she will be at rest with Him above;
And some glad morning she, I know, will welcome me
To that eternal home of peace and love.
A Film Adaptation of Sonny's Blues
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