Piano+Lesson+Study+Guides

=The Piano Lesson Study Guide= 1. Where and when does the first act open? 2. Describe Boy Willie, Lymon, Doaker Charles, and Berniece (according to the stage directions). 3. Who is Wining Boy? 4. Why does Boy Willie want to sell the piano? 5. Doaker says Berniece will never sell the piano. Why? 6. Who is Sutter? 7. Who is Avery Brown? 8. Who does Berniece see upstairs? How does Boy Willie react? 9. Who is Crawley? Whom does Berniece blame for Crawley’s death? 10. Summarize Avery’s dream of the three hobos. Who could the three hobos represent?
 * Act 1, Scene i **

11. Who was Cleotha Holman? How does Wining Boy find out about her death? 12. Who was Cleotha Holman? How does Wining Boy find out about her death? 13. How long ago (before the time when the play opens) did the Ghosts of the Yellow Dog get Sutter? 14. About how many people did the Ghosts of the Yellow Dog get? List some of their names. 15. For what were Boy Willie and Lymon put in the penitentiary? 16. According to Wining Boy, what’s the “difference between the colored man and the white man”? 17. Tell the history of the piano – according to Doaker – from “slavery time” 18. Who took the piano? 19. Who are the “Ghosts of the Yellow Dog”? 20. Boy Willie justifies his desire for land by appealing to his father’s experience. Explain. 21. Berniece says, “You killed Crawley just as sure as if you pulled the trigger” Explain. 22. How does Boy Willie respond and say that he is not responsible for Crawley’s death?
 * Act 1, Scene ii **

23. Who was the first person to see Sutter’s ghost? 24. Berniece says she will talk to Avery about their relationship when what happens? 25. Why doesn’t Berniece play the piano? 26. What does Avery promise to do? 27. What is Lymon looking for in his life? 28. What does Lymon give to Berniece? 29. How much can Boy Willie get for the piano? 30. How does Doaker react when Boy Willie tries to move the piano? 31. How did the “Yellow Dog” get its name? 32. Why does Boy Willie want to buy land? 33. As Boy Willie again starts to move the piano, what does Berniece do? 34. As Boy Willie rushes upstairs to fight Sutter’s ghost, what does Avery finally say? 35. What does Berniece do as Boy Willie fights with Sutter’s ghost? 36. Whom does Berniece call on for help? 37. How does the play end?
 * Act 2 **

Adapted from www.crookcounty.k12.or.us/.../TPL%20-%20Study%20Questions.doc (no, the answers aren't there)