The Piano Lesson

Multiple Choice

1. D (Act I, Scene 1)

2. B (Act I, Scene 1)

3. A (Act I, Scene 2)

4. C (Act I, Scene 2)

5. C (Act II, Scene 1)

6. A (Act II, Scene 2)

7. D (Act II, Scene 3)

8. A (Act II, Scene 4)

9. B (Act II, Scene 5)

10. D (Act II, Scene 5)

Long Answer

1. Berniece believes that if Maretha doesn’t know about the piano’s history, she can play it without waking the spirits and feeling the pain of what it cost the family. She imagines Maretha becoming a piano teacher and having a better life without the drag of the piano’s sad, violent past. (Act I, Scene 1)

2. Berniece is playing it again, and she needs it to keep out evil spirits like Sutter’s ghost and communicate with their ancestors. Witnessing the power of their ancestors when Berniece plays the piano convinces Boy Willie that it is more important to keep it in the family than to use it to buy land. (Act II, Scene 5)