Piano

Question 1

Who was the author of Piano

Answer 1

DH Lawrence

Question 2

The title

Answer 2

• Piano which is the title of the poem has two meanings. One being that it’s an instrument which can be used to express emotion. Perhaps this poem is Lawrence’s version of an instrument, he will express his emotions to us
• The other meaning is that ‘piano’ is a direction; an Italian word telling the musician to play softly.
• Both meanings suggest the poem will be describing a soft, heartfelt and emotional moment
• This sets a tone for the poem early on, telling us how we should interpret the rest of the poem

Question 3

Line 3

Answer 3

• ‘A child sitting under the piano’
• child described using the indefinite article (‘a’), the memory is personal but the language keeps it universal for us all to image ourselves in. Making it more relatable to the reader
• The description that the child is ‘sitting under the piano’ places the child in an intimate position with the instrument and the woman. As though he is nestled somewhere safe, suggesting that perhaps Lawrence found a comfort and shelter when with his mother. His mother more dominant, creating music whilst he hides underneath, listening and learning

Question 4

2nd stanza

Answer 4

-‘the insidious mastery of song’
- We are aware that the poet wants to resist the memory, however the song is ‘insidious’ or cunning, having the upper hand to the poet. Which then makes the song seem sinister
- The music ‘Betrays me back’, the woman has treacherously exposed the poet to his own past. Perhaps the poet sadness or resentment when remembering his mother. Alliteration on ‘b’ in a harsh word like ‘betrays’ suggests frustration in his memories being brought back up again
- Leads reader think that Lawrence is still grieving his mother

Question 5

Stanza 3

Answer 5

• begins with ‘so’ which is synonymous with therefore.
• previous 2 stanzas had been an emotional struggle for Lawrence, now we are to be told the consequence of this
• the next word ‘now’ returns the reader back to the present emotion of the poet
• ‘it is vain for the singer to burst into clamour with great black piano appassionato’
• appassionato is an Italian term in music, instructing to play with lots of emotion
• the song still remains emotional and loud/overbearing to Lawrence, however he has finally escaped the memory, back to the parlour
• He’s finally escaped the intense emotional trauma of the song, now brought back to reality and away from his thoughts

Question 6

Ending of the poem

Answer 6

• ‘I weep like a child for the past’
• Simile: the poet is crying like how a child would, uncontrollable tears
• importantly, his weeping is ‘for the past’
• so the poet is crying because he longs for the past to be alive again
• thus the poem charts the poet’s initial resistance to a memory which deeply saddens him.
• Eventually, he is defeated by its power, and cries for his lost past