Questions About Sounder

by William H. Armstrong

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Answered Questions (8)

Is Sounder considered historical fiction?

Duncan I think so. I would consider in historical fiction

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how did sounder died?

Cheryl

This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)

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what is the message or moral of the book?

Carolyn 1. The significance of a life is not diminished by its brevity. " 'Only the unwise think that what has changed is dead'. ... the teacher had said that…more1. The significance of a life is not diminished by its brevity. " 'Only the unwise think that what has changed is dead'. ... the teacher had said that if a flower blooms once, it goes on blooming somewhere forever. It blooms on for whoever has seen it blooming." (p. 114).
2. The human experience is as universal as our resilience to that experience. The boy is able to take solace in the biblical stories of Joseph and David, who also encountered adversity. The motif of the wind repeats through biblical allusions, and has a strong association with the presence of God. (less)

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Does it have a sequel??

Linda Armstrong's sequel is titled "Sour Land".…moreArmstrong's sequel is titled "Sour Land".(less)

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How is cultural diversity addressed in "Sounder'?

Liz Nothing is directly addressed as that is not a theme of the text, however, the depictions of experiences over time show the cultural diversity present…moreNothing is directly addressed as that is not a theme of the text, however, the depictions of experiences over time show the cultural diversity present during the story. It is a lazy answer to say that the story is a monoculture of Southern life in a snapshot of time and thus does not address cultural diversity.

As a Southerner, there are subcultures present that represent historically diverse perspectives including those related to income inequality and post-Reconstruction Black experiences like the forced prison laborers and the Sharecroppers (the main family). The Sharecropper's cultural depiction is set as a foil to the Good Ol' Boy culture connected to the sheriff, his deputies, and other law enforcement personnel in the story. They represent distinct, oppositional, and racially segregated cultures in the Deep South after Emacipation.(less)

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