Piano Flashcards
Paragraph 1?
Music is presented as a metaphor, conveying the different emotional attachments created when one revisits cherished memories; through this, Lawrence explores the ways in which his emotions are recreated in the reader’s reaction to the poem.
Stanza 1 soft sibilant sounds “softly” “dusk” ==> sense of peace.
Sibilant sounds of “spite” is used again in Stanza 2. different meaning. The secondary meaning of “spite” sets a negative tone, reinforced by “insidious”. The sibilance here is sinister and snakelike – it links the words “spite… insidious… mastery… song [and] Betrays”.
Imagery of a vista gives the sense of memories views from the present
Paragraph 2?
The common sequence of looking back into one’s life is directly dissected by Lawrence’s own experience in order to highlight the importance of gratitude and acceptance of all human experience
The imagery that makes up the second half is gentle and comforting
It appeals to several senses – visual, auditory (the onomatopoeic “hymns” and “tinkling”, and sensory (“winter outside” implies sensations of warmth inside)
The effect is immersive – the poet is reliving this scene from his past with all his senses, and so do we
“Heart of me weeps” Synedoche - Not in control of his emotions
Previous stanzas have used sibilance. This one, however, uses plosives to mimic the pounding of the piano keys as the song reaches its climax
Obviously, onomatopoeia
Again, aural imagery to immerse us in the scene as the poet becomes overwhelmed
Emphasises the decisive rhythm of the line
Paragraph 3?
Lawrence dissects the common sequence of looking back into one’s life to highlight the importance of gratitude, which is also proven by his lost relationship with his mother
Uses Quatrains to separate each story. This gives a clear distinct process of Lawrence’s thoughts
The metaphor of “manhood is cast down” is rich
We can read “manhood” as “adulthood”, in which case the metaphor signifies a retreat into memory
We can also read it as “masculinity”, in which case he is submitting to his mother
(His relationship with his own mother was close, and… complex)
Imagery of a vista gives the sense of memories views from the present - reinforces immediacy of recollection
Paragraph 4?
Lawrence aims to trigger the audience’s sense of nostalgia through his introspection although he carries this feeling to a deeper and more agonizing truth that his mother’s shared relationship can’t be sustained
The word “glamour” is a very specific lexical choice
The surface reading is of ‘a display of wealth and luxury’
However, this is not the actual meaning. The reader is deceived! Which is mimetic, because…
It actually means a spell of ‘disguise and deceit’
It has connotations of elfish, faerie-like deception
The piano has gone from a domestic, comforting, “tinkling” instrument to an imposing image of “great black” terror.
The shift in tone is stark
It emphasises how his emotions have changed
The image of a “flood” is destructive, overwhelming and unstoppable
Paragraph 5?
Lawrences outpour of emotion following a personal, intimate piece of music conveys his character as a young child and how much it has developed through the years without his mother.
Stanza 1: “I see / A child sitting” – Adult is observing child
Stanza 3: “I weep like a child” – Adult has become a child
The distance between the poet as a man and the poet as a child has disappeared
He is now both reliving his childhood, and weeping for the loss of that childhood
Onomatopoeic “boom” and “tingling”
A recreation of the sound of the piano
Auditory image reinforces temporal distance.
Booming bass strings sit at the far left of the keyboard, tingling treble strings sit at the right
Echoes the distance between the adult poet and the child poet
“A child” Third Person
“Child” 3rd person
