Sounder

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains depictions of racism, violence, cruelty to animals, incarceration, and death.

As the only named character and the namesake of the book, Sounder’s journey from an athletic hunting dog to an injured but loyal companion is an important arc in the story. The author initially describes Sounder’s appearance as unremarkable; he is a mixture of red coonhound and bulldog, with a “great square jaw and head” and a “muscular neck and broad chest” (10).

While his status as a stray mutt does not give him much of a pedigree, Sounder is treasured by the family for his gentle companionship and his valuable hunting skills. His ability to trap and kill possums and raccoons without breaking their fur is invaluable to the family, who rely on selling the animal hides for much-needed cash. In spite of the dog’s ordinary appearance, he is portrayed as a majestic dog with a strong voice that carries across the countryside, and the boy knows that “there was no price that could be put on Sounder’s voice […] It mellowed into half-echo before it touched the air” (10). 

As Sounder survives brutal violence and continues to provide companionship and comfort to the boy and his family, the author uses these details to demonstrate the dog’s resilience and loyalty, further developing the novel’s focus on

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