Death of a Salesman test review
75 Point Test (50 Multiple Choice/ 1 Essay)
 Reading comprehension of the play
 Articles about Miller and Tragedy
 Comparison of classical and modern, character traits, Impact of play, themes,
Motifs
 Study Questions
1) What are the connotations associated with the title? How does the title relate to
the themes of the play?
Death of A Salesman—the idea that the job of the traveling salesman no longer
exists. He has been replaced with progress and technology. He is no longer vital or
needed.
Reference to Dave Singleton who died the death of a salesman—people came from
miles around to pay respect at his funeral. He was well-liked and admired.
Reference to Willy whose final sale is his life for the insurance policy money.
Reference to anyone who has a dream and tries to make it in the world, but fails by
having the wrong dreams.
Death of a dream and death of the American Dream
Death of traditional values
2) Is Death of a Salesman a true tragedy? How has the idea of tragedy evolved from
Aristotle to Miller?
Arthur Miller believes that the common man is as apt a hero as a king because we can
relate to him.
Aristotle believes that a reversal of circumstance occurs whereas Miller says that
tragedy occurs when a character is willing to lay down his life to maintain personal
dignity.
Miller says that tragedy occurs when a character misses accomplishing his joy.
Aristotle focuses on the unities and plot whereas Miller believes that conflict is
important only when one understands the character.
3) How is Willy the protagonist? How might an argument be made for Biff as the
protagonist?
Willy: he is the character who lays down his life in order to maintain his personal
dignity. He misses accomplishing his joy.
Biff: he is the character who is dynamic—he has the enlightenment that they had all
the wrong dreams.
4) What is Willy’s tragic flaw and how does it lead to his downfall?
Willy’s tragic flaw—having the wrong dreams. “His inherent unwillingness to
remain passive in the face of what he conceives to be a challenge to his dignity or
image of his rightful status.”—In other words, he fights the world of corporate
America for his place in it, even though he should pursue a life in the country where
he can build things.
5) How is this play a social commentary?
Showcases the American Dream as a false hope for some. Willy does not achieve his
success even though he works hard. Arthur Miller is criticizing the American
Dream—man has to sell out in order to make it in the corporate world. Charley did
not have the “tragic flaw” Miller spoke about because he was satisfied with his life.
6) In what way is Happy similar to Willy?
Both are disillusioned about the business world. Both have the wrong values.
Neither has accomplished joy. Willy doesn’t know himself and neither does Happy.
7) Who is the dynamic character in the play? Why?
Biff: he is the character who is dynamic—he has the enlightenment that they had all
the wrong dreams.
Dynamic Character: A character who changes as the result of an experience.
8) Describe the importance of the following symbols: stockings, football, pen,
sample cases, velvet slippers, garden seeds, diamonds, rubber hose, tape recorder,
etc.
9) Describe the importance of the following motifs: building things, broken
appliances, flute music, “boxed in,” “woods are burning,” working with one’s
hands
Building Things: Willy and Biff are both good at working with their hands. This is
what they should do for a living—not sales.
Broken Appliances: The refrigerator and car breaks down before it is paid for, just
like Willy. He cannot make the last payment on the house because he is a broken
man after losing his job.
Flute Music: Signals a return to the past / flashback. Willy’s father was a traveling
salesman who sold flutes.
“Boxed in”/ “Woods are Burning”: Both these indicate how Willy is suffocating
under the capitalistic world he lives in. Nothing will grow or thrive—not his
business, not the planted seeds, and not his boys.
10) What are the fundamentals of the American Dream?
Respect, Power, Acceptance
11) Why is it ironic that Happy turns out just like Willy?
Happy was largely ignored by Willy
12) How is this play similar to Oedipus?
Both have enlightenment as an aim
Conflict is an important element
13) How is this play different from Oedipus?
Oedipus is a king and Willy is a common man
14) What is Willy’s problem, according to Linda?
He is exhausted
15) Why is Willy upset with Biff?
Biff sees through Willy – he feels shame for having been discovered cheating on his
wife. All his hopes (seeds of the future) rested with Biff becoming successful.
16) Why is Biff upset with Willy?
Biff discovered his father in the hotel room with the woman
17) Why is Linda upset with Biff and Happy?
They do not show Willy respect. They argue with him and ignore him.
18) What is Ben’s purpose in the play?
Ben represents the ruthless world of business in which you cannot play fair to
succeed. Willy admires him, but he is not ruthless enough. Also, it indicates how
Willy is following the wrong dream—he cannot be successful like Ben because he is
not like Ben. Willy’s foil.
19) What does Miller say is the knowledge gained from tragedy?
knowledge of the right way to live
20) What does Miller believe man fears?
Being displaced –forced out—“the inherent disaster in being torn away from our
chosen image of what and who we are in this world.”
21) Why can a common man be heroic?
Common man shares the same hopes and dreams. He is more relatable. “The
commonest of men may take on that stature to the extent of his willingness to throw
all he has into the contest, the battle to secure his rightful place in his world.”
Common man best understands the fear of displacement
Issues of nobility do not raise our passion
22) What is the TRAGIC FEELING according to Miller?
When we are in the presence of a character who is ready to lay down his life in order
to maintain his personal dignity.
23) What did Willy’s father sell?
Flutes
24) Who guides/aides Willy?
Charley and Ben
25) Which character is dynamic?
Biff
26) Who is Willy’s foil?
Charley and Ben
27) What is the play’s universal appeal?
The common man best understands the struggle of finding one’s place in the world.
28) What are references to lying and cheating?
Willy and the woman
Biff and the fountain pen and football
Happy and all the women
Ben who does not fight fair
29) How is the theme of disillusionment of the American Dream shown?
Willy misses accomplishing his joy of becoming successful – he is displaced by
technology and those around him.
30) How is the theme of the individual and society shown?
Willy is the “LOW man” on the totem pole of society. He is a “dime a dozen” and
ignored. He does not fulfill his image for himself
31) How is the theme of the individual versus self shown?
Willy fights against his own image---doesn’t know who he is