The notes about The Piano Lesson in the Blackboard lesson folder are meant to instigate
critical thinking about the play. After you look at the topic choices below, review those notes and questions about the text. Hopefully the questions and prompts below will give you some ideas of what to write about. You do not need to answer all the questions in the prompts below. They are only there to get you thinking about the topic choices.
1. Review the literary elements associated with drama. Analyze how one or a few of these
elements contribute to an understanding of the play. Your thesis should make an assertion about what considering that element helps you understand.
2. Compare/Contrast the Hallmark film version and a stage version of the play. Staged
versions of the play can be found in YouTube. What are the differences and what can you
conclude as your thesis about the differences? Some things to consider: According to an
interview with August Wilson,
creating a filmed version of the play allowed for “opening up the play.” What does he mean by that and how does the film version do so? What is the overall effect of the “opening” up? Does it change the story or add to the story?
