Reading and Writing Assignment for August 2nd

William H. Armstrong’s coming-of-age novel Sounder teaches its central character some hard lessons about what it means to be an adult. For the most parts, the boy’s dog, Sounder, plays an important role to help the boy grow up. Sounder is shot down by the sheriff the night when the boy’s father is sent to the jail. At first the boy thinks that Sounder is shot to die and it will die under their cabin. But it turns out that he cannot find Sounder anyway. But when the boy does find Sounder, he notices that the dog is badly injured, with one eye and one ear lost. Sounder’s struggling for his life tells the boy that life is cruel, but he has to keep forward, and to be brave to face all the dilemmas. Thus, the boy is determined to take a long journey to find his father despite the risks that he may take. Also, Sounder’s only eye keeps looking at the direction that its master is gone. It teaches the boy to always be loyal and persistent to what he likes. Therefore, the boy sticks with reading new things once he gets opportunities.

As the dog Sounder gives the boy valuable lessons, he learns from his mother and father, too. His father is half paralyzed when he finally returns home from arduous work. However, being crippled and so vulnerable, his father insists to go hunting with Sounder, as he does when he is young and healthy. Finally, he dies from tiredness in the forest where he hunts. As his mother often sings, that Ain’t nobody else gonna walk it for you, you gotta walk it by yourself. The boy’s father sets another example for the boy to pursue what he is passionate about, and his mother reassures him by singing, that no one will replace the boy to choose his own way.

This is perfectly beautiful. Please note I have posted a video of exactly
that song you mention, sung by two American folk icons, Pete Seeger and
Arlo Guthrie. I hope you will listen to it. It says a lot about the message
of Sounder as you so correctly point out.

Your writing just gets better and better, Silver. I am very impressed.


On Sat, Aug 2, 2014 at 12:00 PM, IvyLabs Forum 美國常春藤教育博雅滙 <alerts@hoop.la>
wrote:

I will reply in more detail via e-mail, but this insight is very astute:

"Also, Sounder’s only eye keeps looking at the direction that its master is gone. It teaches the boy to always be loyal and persistent to what he likes. Therefore, the boy sticks with reading new things once he gets opportunities."