Piano Four Levels Summary
Piano 
David Herbert Lawrence, England (1885 – 1930)
Unit: Introduction
Subject: Adventures in English Volume I
Literal Comprehension:
It was evening. A
woman was playing on the piano and singing to the speaker. Her song made him
think of his childhood days. When he was a little boy and would sit under the
piano. The piano would make a loud unpleasant sound. He would press his
mother’s feet. But she would continue playing on the piano without being
disturbed and smile at her son. The speaker tried to control himself and remain
with the singer in the present time. But the lady’s song was so skillful that
it took him again to his boyhood days. When the family would sing a religious song
in their warm sitting room on Sunday evening, the piano played by his mother
would guide him and other family members. Now the speaker did not like the song
of the woman at all, because it had completed its task by taking him to his
last days with his mother. Therefore it sounded to him like a loud noise. He
wanted to forget his present manhood and wish to become a child. After this, he
wept openly like a child.
Interpretation:
This poem may be trying to tell us that music takes us back to our happy past. It may also be interpreted to mean that motherly love is superior to sensual love. The attraction of childhood makes us forget our manhood. Moreover “piano” is a poem about the power of memory.
Critical Thinking:
I don’t agree with the
speaker because being a man he wipes openly in the presence of a woman. His
pride in being a man does not allow him to do so. The poet has rightly observed
that one can not be satisfied with the presents if he is reminded of happy past
days.
Assimilation:
This poem has helped me to
understand myself better. A nostalgic feeling is equally found in human beings.
I have also a desire to belong to my past. Sometimes I think if I were a child I
would not have to be worried about my present difficult time.
Question Answers of Piano :
Q1. Why does the speaker weep like a child in the poem 'PIANO'?
ANSWER: The speaker weeps like a child in the poem 'PIANO' because the women's song takes the poet back to the happy past. He does not like to listen to music anymore. He wants to be lost in his happy memory. He is very happy with his childhood memories. He does not like to become a man. Therefore the speaker weeps like a child.
Q2. How does the speaker become nostalgic in the poem 'PIANO'?
ANSWER: The speaker becomes nostalgic in the poem piano by listening to the song of a woman. Her song takes the speaker to his childhood. He recalls the past and supposes that he is a very small boy sitting on the piano and his mother is singing and he is pressing her feet. she smiles at him and continues her playing. The poet knows that it is his memorable past. He does not like to listen to music anymore. He wants to be lost in his happy memory. He is very happy with his childhood memory. Now he does not like to become a man. He throws his manhood and begins to cry like a child. He supposes with his mother and likes to listen to the piano just playing by his mother. He does not like to forget his past memories.
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