Sounder William H. Armstrong

1. SounderWilliam H. Armstrong Introduction Background Discussion Starters

2. SounderWilliam H. Armstrong “Sounder might come home again. But you must learn to lose, child.”

3. Sounder: Introduction On a cold October night, a very poor boy, his father, and their dog, Sounder, stand on the porch of their cabin and listen to the wind.

4. Sounder: Introduction Sounder is a great hunting dog. But they will not go hunting tonight.

5. Sounder: Introduction Instead, the father goes out alone . . . . and the next morning, sausage is sizzling on the stove, and ham is boiling in the pot. Stealing meat is a desperate act, and a risky one, but the family has to eat.

6. Sounder: Introduction A few days later, the sheriff and his deputies arrive at the cabin. They violently handcuff the father and throw him in the back of their wagon.

7. Sounder: Introduction When Sounder chases the sheriff’s wagon, one of the deputies shoots Sounder. Sounder disappears.

8. Sounder: Introduction The boy is left alone. His beloved dog is gone. His father is in jail. His mother and younger siblings are depending on him.

9. Sounder: Introduction How will the boy cope with the loss of his dog and his father? Will he be able to help his family survive?

10. Sounder: Background One hundred years ago in the southeastern United States, African Americans • had fewer rights than white people and were often treated unfairly • did not have many chances to learn how to read and write

11. Sounder: Background After the Civil War, many freed slaves became sharecroppers. These farmers • didn’t own the land they farmed • had to pay the landowner a large part of the money they made • often had to borrow money to survive until the crops were harvested

12. Sounder: Background Most families of former slaves became trapped in a cycle of debt, while landowners became wealthier. In many ways, these people were still enslaved.

13. Sounder: Background Around the middle of the twentieth century, • farm machinery began to replace laborers • the sharecropping system eventually fell apart

14. Sounder: Background Sounder is a mix of two dog breeds— bulldog Georgia redbone hound • muscular, determined • bred to fight bulls • powerful jaws • bred to hunt raccoons • smart and fast • loud, melodious voice

15. Sounder: Background Dogs like Sounder provided many valuable services to rural families: • helping catch animals for the family to eat • warning the family of danger • providing love and companionship

16. Sounder: Background During the time of this story, prisoners didn’t just sit in jail. Instead, they were often • forced to work on dangerous jobs, such as mining • overworked and poorly fed • whipped or beaten badly

17. Sounder: Discussion Starters • Discuss (1) • What, in your opinion, would be an appropriate penalty for stealing some sausages and a ham? • Why do you think the father in the story receives such severe punishment for this minor crime? • Do you think such a harsh injustice could take place in today’s legal system? Why or why not?

18. Sounder: Discussion Starters Discuss (2) In Sounder, the boy and his family labor hard and constantly, but still they barely survive. • If you lived this way, how do you think you would feel? • What might give you comfort in such a situation? • Would you be able to find hope for a better life? If so, how? If not, why not?