Piano Flashcards
Q: What is the main theme of Piano?
A: The poem explores themes of nostalgia, childhood memories, the power of music, and the emotional conflict between past and present.
Q: How does Lawrence use structure to enhance the poem’s meaning?
A: The poem follows a consistent AABB rhyme scheme, creating a musical quality that reflects the theme of a song triggering memories.
Q: How does the poet use sensory imagery to evoke childhood memories?
A: Through rich sensory details like “the boom of the tingling strings”, Lawrence immerses the reader in the sound and emotional depth of the piano’s music.
Q: What is the significance of the opening line “Softly, in the dusk, a woman is singing to me”?
A: The gentle tone and setting establish a nostalgic mood, emphasizing the warmth and intimacy of the past.
Q: How does Lawrence portray the contrast between childhood and adulthood?
A: The adult speaker is torn between his present self and childhood memories, feeling overwhelmed as he regresses emotionally: “In spite of myself, the insidious mastery of song / Betrays me back.”
Q: What does the phrase “insidious mastery of song” suggest?
A: It implies that music has a powerful, almost uncontrollable influence over emotions, forcing the speaker to relive his past despite his resistance.
Q: How does the poet describe the childhood memory?
A: The imagery “Taking me back down the vista of years, till I see / A child sitting under the piano” paints a vivid picture of the speaker’s younger self, emphasizing his deep connection to music and his mother.
Q: How does Lawrence use contrast in the poem?
A: The poem contrasts the warmth and security of childhood with the emotional turmoil of adulthood, as seen in “the heart of me weeps to belong”.
Q: How does the phrase “the heart of me weeps to belong” reflect the speaker’s emotions?
A: It conveys the deep yearning and sadness the speaker feels, longing to return to the innocence and comfort of his past.
Q: What is the significance of the final stanza?
A: The final stanza reveals the speaker’s emotional surrender, as he “weeps like a child for the past”, illustrating the overwhelming power of nostalgia.
Q: What effect does the word “weeps” have in the poem?
A: It emphasizes the speaker’s vulnerability and raw emotion, showing that despite his adulthood, the memory has reduced him to a childlike state.
Q: How does Piano compare to Half-Past Two?
A: Both poems explore childhood memory, but Piano focuses on longing for the past, while Half-Past Two captures a child’s present experience of time and authority.
Q: What role does music play in the poem?
A: Music acts as a trigger for memory, transporting the speaker back to his childhood and evoking deep emotions.
