Quiz Questions:

Multiple Choice:

1. What is the relationship between the two main characters in Sonny’s Blues? a. Brothers b. Father and son c. Friends d. Cousins

2. What is Sonny’s passion? a. Playing basketball b. Playing the piano c. Writing poetry d. Painting

3. What is the name of the narrator’s daughter? a. Grace b. Sarah c. Emily d. Rachel

4. What is the name of the bar where Sonny plays jazz? a. The Blue Note b. The Village Vanguard c. The Cotton Club d. The Apollo Theater

5. What is the narrator’s profession? a. Lawyer b. Doctor c. Teacher d. Writer

Short Answer:

1. What is the setting of the story?
2. What is the significance of the title “Sonny’s Blues”?
3. What is the narrator’s reaction when he sees Sonny for the first time after his release from prison?
4. What is the narrator’s wife’s reaction when she hears Sonny play the piano?
5. What is the climax of the story?

Answer Key:

Multiple Choice:

1. a
2. b
3. a
4. a
5. c

Short Answer:

1. Harlem in the 1950s
2. The title refers to the music that Sonny plays and the emotional pain that both Sonny and the narrator experience.
3. The narrator is shocked and surprised to see Sonny, but also feels a sense of relief that he is alive.
4. The narrator’s wife is moved to tears by Sonny’s music and feels a deep connection to him.
5. The climax of the story is when Sonny and the narrator finally have a conversation about their past and their relationship, leading to a sense of understanding and reconciliation between them.

Rubric:

Multiple Choice: 1 point for each correct answer

Short Answer: 2 points for each correct answer 1 point for partially correct answer 0 points for incorrect answer or no answer

Total possible points: 20