Jamie Smith Assignment 3

In Lawrence’s “Piano,” he uses consonance to help convey the tone of the poem. The “s” sound is used frequently in the first five lines. Phrases such as “small, poised,” “insidious mastery of song,” and “vista of years,” cultivate a soft, gentle tone. Lawrence is recalling the sweet memories of his childhood, and he portrays his childhood as sweet through the mildness and softness of the repeated “s” sound. In line six, he uses three “b” sounds, conveying a much harsher tone of the bitter-sweetness of recalling such a happy time. He returns to the soft “s” for three more lines, once again recalling the gentleness of his childhood. Finally, he utilizes harsher sounds such as “sh” in “childish” and “st” in both “cast” and “past.” These harsh sounds reflect the pain of transitioning from childhood innocence and sweetness to the harsher reality of adulthood, and the ache of the sweeter, softer memories that are now long gone.

"The artist speaks to our capacity for delight and wonder, to the sense of mystery surrounding our lives, to our sense of pity and beauty, and pain." --Joseph Conrad

This statement expresses a belief about art that is similar to mine. I believe the purpose of art is to creatively portray life, its emotions, and its mysteries. Art is intended to pass on emotion from the artist to the viewer, so that the two can have a connection through time within this piece of art that they can both relate to emotionally. This is well-said in Conrad’s quote when he discusses humans’ “sense of pity and beauty, and pain.” Additionally, I believe art also functions as an outlet for the imagination. Artists use their work to explore questions and thoughts that no one knows the answer to and therefore can only be interpreted through art. Conrad shares this belief, seen when he says artists appeal to our “sense of mystery.” I believe these two ideas are the most important concepts in art, and Conrad shares that belief.