Question

At the beginning of "Sonny's Blues," the narrator refers to the news about Sonny as a block of ice in his stomach. What does the narrator mean by this metaphor?

1) The news about Sonny is causing the narrator physical pain.
2) The news about Sonny is making the narrator feel cold and numb.
3) The news about Sonny is causing the narrator to feel anxious and worried.
4) The news about Sonny is overwhelming the narrator with emotions.

Answer 1

The metaphor of the block of ice in the narrator's stomach in "Sonny's Blues" symbolizes the overwhelming emotions and burden caused by the news about Sonny.

Step-by-step explanation:

The metaphor of the narrator referring to the news about Sonny as a block of ice in his stomach in the beginning of "Sonny's Blues" suggests that the news is overwhelming the narrator with emotions. The use of the metaphor implies that the news is causing the narrator to feel a heavy burden, just like a block of ice would weigh someone down. This metaphor also conveys a sense of coldness and numbness, representing the narrator's emotional state upon hearing the news about Sonny.