QUIZ - CRITIQUE 5 - Wilson and Rankine
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Virginia Western Community College *
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114
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English
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Apr 3, 2024
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Quiz/Critique 5
1.
What is the significance of the carvings on the piano in August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson
?
The piano embodies the family history, although that perspective is quite different for Willie Boy and Berniece. The carvings are of Boy Willie, Mama Berniece, Mama Esther, and Boy Charles, as well as scenes from the wedding as well as Esther’s funeral. The carvings’ purpose was to please Miss Ophelia since her favored slaves, were traded to obtain the piano, whom she missed.
2.
What is Parchman Farm, and how does it bind some of the characters in August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson
?
The Parchman Farm ties Boy Willie, Lymon, Wining Boy, Doaker, and Crawley together. The history of the Farm goes back to when Lymon, Boy Willie, and Crawley were pilfering wood, and Crawley was shot and killed when they were being chased. Berniece blames Boy
Willie for Crawley’s death due to his recklessness with stealing. The men sing work songs to
reminisce about their time on the farm.
3.
In August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson
, Wining Boy says, “Now that’s the difference between the colored man and the white man. The colored man can’t fix nothing with the law.” Which of this semester’s overall themes does this quotation best represent? Explain.
The idea of social injustice has been a highlight in this semester’s readings. “The Lesson” by
Bambara has a very similar outlook to The Piano Lesson
since it focuses primarily on the vast social and economic divide between black and white individuals. Almost all of the readings in this segment had some correlation to racial discrimination but the two stories listed show some form of empowerment for characters to overcome their unjust circumstances. This is reflected in Sylvia’s (“The Lesson”) determination and in Boy Willie’s (
The Piano Lesson
) insistence on selling the piano and buying Sutter’s land to claim the land and leave his mark on the world (against the odds faced by his culture).
4.
What is being exorcised at the end of August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson
?
At the end of The Piano Lesson, Sutter’s ghost is being exorcised from the home. The exorcism isn’t a simple ejection of Sutter, it’s a battle between the Charles and the Sutters, black against white. Berniece’s playing of the piano empowers Boy Willie in his fight, as he is channeling the energy of his ancestors.
5.
What aspect is most effective in the play? How did the playwright make this so effective?
The train passing by during the exorcism. I think it was a very subtle yet effective way to introduce The Ghosts of the Yellow Dog into the intense spiritual battle against Sutter.
6.
What aspect is most ineffective
in the play? How did the playwright make this so ineffective
?
The most ineffective part to me is Lymon’s consistent obsession with women. His motives don’t line up with the rest of the characters, although he is one of the few who are not in the Charles family so he may not view their struggles as his own.
7.
Connect The Piano Lesson
with any story we’ve read so far this semester via themes. What theme(s) do they share?
The Piano Lesson
connects well with “Cultural Appropriation” very well as they both have
a physical object at the center of the theme.
The Piano Lesson
used the piano as an item that had a subjective perspective depending on how the family viewed legacy. It could be a burden or anchor that is meant to be overcome, or a connection to the past that must be held onto. The Confederate flag in “Cultural Appropriation” could be viewed similarly as something that is discriminative and divisive or a symbol of unity and a general sense of pride of all peoples. In the end, the characters in both stories end up using the items as a tool to unify people and create a faction to fight the opposing force or idea.
8.
Name the crisis action, or the pivotal action or choice made by the protagonist in the play.
The crisis action of
The Piano Lesson
would be when Boy Willie battles Sutter’s ghost. Avery was performing an exorcism to cleanse the house and Boy Willie was taunting Avery and Berniece’s ideology of Sutter’s presence. He goes on a frenzy, sort of like mockery, with
the holy water, throwing it around the house. On his way up the stairs, he is thrown down and choked by Sutter’s spirit.
9.
What is the resolution of the play, or how the central conflict is resolved?
Berniece gets on the piano, playing a song to summon her ancestor’s strength to aid in the struggle. The ritual of returning the ghosts of the past resolved the central conflict of how one deals with their legacy. A majority of the play leaned towards Boy Willie’s outlook on legacy, which had a more aggressive and vengeful approach. Berniece wanted to hold onto her ancestors' memories and heirlooms to remember their sacrifices and the suffering they endured, and that living (or dead) connection is what ultimately relieved them of Sutter’s haunting in the end.
10. Close your eyes. What are the two or three most important images for the play?
Poetry
Read Camille Rankine’s poem “History” from the Poetry for ENGL 114 collection. Compare and contrast this poems with Wilson’s play The Piano Lesson
.
1.
In your opinion, how does this poem align with the play?
2.
If you were to turn this poem into a short story, how would you characterize the protagonist?
3.
What images are most effective in the poem? How does the poet make this image so effective
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