<p> TIMELINE FOR “SONNY’S BLUES”</p><p>*NOTE THAT EVERYTHING IS TOLD IN THE PAST TENSE, BUT WITHIN THAT TENSE, OUR NARRATOR WEAVES IN AND OUT OF FLASHBACKS FROM VARIOUS TIMES IN HIS LIFE.</p><p>I. PG. 29-34: LOOKING BACK AT THE ARREST OF SONNY. GOES THROUGH THE DAY TEACHING SCHOOL, AND THEN TALKS TO CHILDHOOD ACQUAINTANCE.</p><p>II. PG. 34: MOVES FORWARD TO FINALLY WRITING A LETTER TO SONNY AND RECEIVING ONE FROM HIM. SONNY IS RELEASED AND VISITS THE NARRATOR AND HIS FAMILY</p><p>III. BOTTOM OF PG. 36: QUICK BACKSTORY ABOUT SONNY WANTING TRAVEL TO INDIA WHEN HE WAS 14.</p><p>IV. TOP OF PG. 37: BACK TO CAB RIDE TO THE NARRATOR’S HOUSE</p><p>V. BOTTOM OF PG. 38: MAJOR BREAK IN TIME. BEGINS A LONG FLASHBACK ABOUT THEIR CHILDHOOD. THIS INLCUDES:</p><p> a. LIFE AND DEATH OF FATHER AND MOTHER</p><p> b. STORY ABOUT HIS UNCLE BEING KILLED BY DRUNK WHITE KIDS</p><p>VI. TOP PG. 43: 2 DAYS AFTER MOTHER’S DEATH, NARRATOR IS MARRIED TO ISABEL. SONNY MOVES INTO THEIR APARTMENT IN HARLEM. *NARRATOR IS THEN SHIPPED OFF TO WWII.</p><p> a. TALKS TO SONNY ABOUT JAZZ MUSIC</p><p> b. NARRATOR HEARS ABOUT SONNY PLAYING PIANO AND GOING TO GREENWHICH VILLAGE FOR DRUGS, ETC.</p><p> c. ISABEL GIVES UP ON SONNY</p><p> d. SONNY ENLISTS IN THE NAVY AND LEAVES FOR THE WAR. </p><p>VII. PG. 49: BOTH ARE BACK FROM THE WAR</p><p>VIII. BOTTOM OF PG. 49: BACK TO HEARING ABOUT SONNY’S ARREST, THEN A FLASHBACK TO GRACE’S DEATH. IX. MIDDLE OF PG. 50: KEY MEMORY RELATING TO A TIME WHEN SONNY WAS STAYING AT THEIR HOUSE (AFTER SONNY RETURNS FROM JAIL) AND THE NARRATOR FINALLY SEES HIM PLAY. </p><p>*CONSIDER WHY BALDWIN WANTS TO TELL THE STORY THIS WAY. WHAT AFFECT DOES IT HAVE ON YOU AS A READER? WHAT DOES IT ULTIMATELY SUGGEST ABOUT SONNY’S BLUES? ABOUT THE NARRATOR? ABOUT HARLEM? ABOUT STRUGGLE?</p>