The Piano Lesson | Short Essay Assignments

Short Essay Questions

The 60 short essay questions listed in this section require a one to two sentence answer. They ask students to demonstrate a deeper understanding of the text. Students must describe what they've read, rather than just recall it.

Short Essay Question - Act 1, Scene 1, Part 1

1. How do Boy Willie and Lymon end up in Pittsburgh?

2. What reaction does the family have to Boy Willie's sudden arrival at their doorstep?

3. What does Boy Willie claim has happened to the man named Sutter?

4. What conflict arises between the siblings surrounding the future of the piano?

5. What reason does Berniece give her brother for wanting him out of the house?

6. Whose ghost does Berniece think that she sees, and what does it...
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