The Piano Lessons
by Lucretia Peabody Hale (Roots)
Comprehension
Read and answer
1. Read the following sentences. Write if they are True (T) or False (F).
a. Elizabeth Eliza bought a piano from the postmaster's daughter. [F]
b. The family asked the porters to place the piano with its back to the room. [F]
c. Mr. Peterson liked to sit on the veranda and listen to Elizabeth Eliza play the piano. [F]
d. During fall, Elizabeth Eliza practiced only once a day. [T]
e. The lady from Philadelphia had a quick solution to the Peterkins' problem. [T]
2. Look at the pictures in the story carefully. Describe how the following characters look. One has been done for you.
=
|
Mr Peterkin |
He is a middle-aged man with bright red cheeks. Mr.
Peterkin is clean-shaven, wears spectacles and is always smiling. |
|
Mrs Peterkin |
She is few years younger than Mr Peterkin. She has a
pretty face. Her head is always covered with a red piece of cloth. She has a face
with confusion and surprises. |
|
Solomon John |
He is the elder son of the Peterkins. He has long hair.
He wears spectacles. He has longer arms. He has a grumpy face. |
|
Agamemnon |
He is the youngest child and the second son of the Peterkins. He has tomboy type hair cut. He is sporty. Always makes his presence among the elders. He is cooperative to his sister to turn round the piano. |
|
Elizabeth Eliza |
She is the eldest child and the only daughter of the
Peterkins. She is slim and beautiful. She has tied a bun on her head with her
hair. She loves to play and learn piano. |
Reference to context
3. "... which Solomon John could do with his long arms."
a. Who is Solomon John?
= Solomon John is the elder son and the Second child of the Peterkins.
b. What is the word 'which' referring to?
= The word 'which' is referring to opening the window beside the piano.
c. Who thought this about Solomon John?
= The narrator thought this about Solomon John.
d. Why would Solomon John's long arms be useful in this situation?
= Solomon John's long arms would be useful in this situation because the piano was kept right next to the window. The piano occupied quite a space. So it was not easy to reach the window for everyone.
4. "Only poor Elizabeth Eliza had her back to the moon."
a. Where was Elizabeth Eliza?
= Elizabeth Eliza was playing the Piano.
b. Why did she have her back to the moon?
= She sat on the veranda and playing the piano through the window. The piano was kept in the room. That is why she had her back to the outside.
c. What does the word 'only' tell us here?
= The word 'only' tells us that everybody except Elizabeth Eliza could see the moon. Mr Peterkin sat on his sofa in the room facing the piano. He could see the moon through the window and the door. Other members of the family liked to sit on the veranda. They could easily see the moon up above the sky.
d. Why does the author call Elizabeth Eliza 'poor'?
= The author calls Elizabeth Eliza 'poor' because she could not enjoy the natural beauty of the moonlit night. She is playing the piano making the atmosphere more enjoyable for the rest of the family. But she could neither enjoy the nature nor the music fully like others.
5. "Elizabeth Eliza practised in the mornings with her cloak on."
a. Why did Elizabeth Eliza practised 'in the mornings with her cloak on'?
= Elizabeth Eliza practised 'in the mornings with her cloak on' because to the harsh weather of the winter.
b. Did she practice at any other time of the day too? Why/Why not?
= She did not practice at any other time of the day. Because it was winter. The weather was too cold outside. She had to sit on the veranda to play the piano. So it was almost impossible to sit outside and play the piano in the winter evenings.
c. Did she have an audience when she played the piano in the morning?
= No, She did not have an audience when she played the piano in the morning. She only had the postmaster's daughter teaching her how to play the piano.
d. What does this line tell you about Elizabeth Eliza?
= Elizabeth Eliza had to suffer the cold of the winter morning. Still she practised wearing a cloak. She is very passionate about learning piano. She loves to do that. She has dedication to learn.
6. "But why don't you turn the piano round?"
a. Who says this to whom?
= The Lady from Philadelphia says this to Elizabeth Eliza.
b. What is the occasion of this question?
= It was winter. It was much cold outside. It was very tough for Elizabeth Eliza to sit on the veranda and practise the piano. She could not sit in the evening. She only practised in the mornings is spite of shivering cold. In this situation she spoke of this trouble to the Lady from Philadelphia.
c. What does the person being spoken to do after this?
= Elizabeth Eliza went home directly, and, with the help of Agamemnon and Solomon John, turned the piano round.
Reflect and answer
7. What idea of the Peterkin family do you get from the story? Write in 3-4 sentences.
= The Peterkin family is a very happening family. They are fond of music. They are fond of the beauty of nature. They appreciate the hobbies of their daughter. They are cooperative. But they do not have very little common sense to place the piano properly.
8. The lady form Philadelphia was really clever - do you agree with this statement? Give reasons for your answer.
= Comparison with the members of the Peterkin family, the lady from Philadelphia was really clever. The porters had placed the piano with its back turned towards the middle of the room, standing close against the window. Elizabeth Eliza had to play it through the window sitting outside on the veranda. They just had to turn the piano round. It is a very simple idea which did not come to their mind. The Lady from Philadelphia gave that idea to Elizabeth. This does not mean that she is really clever. She just have a common sense.