Sing, Unburied, Sing Essay Questions

How is Sing, Unburied, Sing a family saga?

In the first section of the story, the reader is introduced to Jojo and his "nuclear" family. Jojo lives with his mother Leonie, his younger sister Kayla, and his maternal grandparents. However, as the story progresses, we understand that the events that unfold implicate those beyond Jojo's immediate family. The novel's exploration of Black Southern heritage connects Jojo to a larger, more communal sense of family. The novel's narrative style intertwines generations and other traditional time-based realms. Spiritual family is equally as important as physical family, and ghosts guide other characters in their decision-making. In this way, Sing, Unburied, Sing extends the understanding of what we consider "family" and encourages us to be open to non-traditional notions of family.

What does singing symbolize in the novel?

As demonstrated by the novel's title, singing is a recurrent motif that is essential to the story. Singing is a form of communication and connection—it is a vehicle that allows characters across generations and "realms of reality" to better understand one another. Singing allows for those who have died unjustly to continue expressing themselves and breathe life into their stories. Through singing, culture is preserved and ancestral tradition is kept alive.

What is the significance of the alternating narrators?

Throughout the story, the narrative voice switches between Jojo, Leonie, and Richie. The three characters create a sort of "holy trinity." They offer different perspectives and allow the reader to develop a more non-judgmental, empathetic worldview. Jojo's tenuous relationship with Leonie prompts him to approach his narration with anger and resentment. In Leonie's narration, however, we understand that she struggles with addiction and the pressures of motherhood. Richie has a more detached perspective that analyzes the family's dynamics from farther away. Through Richie, we understand the love that binds Jojo's family together.

What is the significance of Leonie and Michael's relationship?

Michael and Leonie enable one another's addictive tendencies. While Leonie is elated at their reunion, Michael is unable to ease the struggles she faces. When Michael is released fromm Parchman, Leonie has a dream that she is on a sinking raft with Michael and their children. Michael's return home triggers Leonie's anxieties about her inability to provide for her family. The sinking raft symbolizes that Leonie is "drowning" in life's pressures.

In addition, the audience begins to learn more about the complicated dynamics of Leonie and Michael’s interracial relationship. While the audience is aware that Michael’s family was responsible for covering up the murder of Given, Leonie must witness their bigotry firsthand. Ultimately, Leonie and her children are rejected by Michael’s parents because they believe that she has “tainted” their white lineage. While Leonie is shocked by Michael's family's prejudice, she also acts subservient to Michael because she has internalized her own racialized sense of inferiority.

How does the novel explore parent-child relationships?

As Mam lays dying, Leonie’s intense emotional reactions can be perceived as “childish.” While Leonie has lived life as a child who has been supported by her parents, Mam's death forces Leonie to step into the role of caretaker. Meanwhile, Jojo often feels that he is the "parent" in Kayla's life. While Leonie is out working or doing drugs, he takes on most of the domestic and emotional responsibilities of parenting. In these examples, Ward underscores how families operate when they encounter crises.