DEATH OF A SALESMAN
QUIZ - Act I
(60 pts.)
1.
In the beginning of the play, the audience is immediately aware of the fact that Willy has a problem. What is the first
problem we learn about?
2.
How does Willy escape from reality?
3.
Identify the speaker of this quote and explain its significance. "Work a lifetime to pay off a house. You finally own it, and
there's nobody to live in it."
4.
Who is Linda? What is her function in the story so far?
5.
Name two (2) symbols that Miller uses to show the constraints of life.
6.
Why does Willy keep going back to the year l928?
7.
Describe Willy Loman's physical appearance in 1942. How does this outward facade relate to his inner conflicts? Discuss
three (3) of Willy's problems and explain why these are problems for Willy AND his family.
8.
Describe the character of Biff. Discuss three (3) of his problems.
9.
Who is Happy? Describe his personality.
10. Who are Charley and Bernard? What is their function in the story?
11. Who is Ben? What is his function in the story?
12. Name one motif in the story and tell what it means.
DEATH OF A SALESMAN
QUIZ ON ACT I - 75 pts./5 pts. ea.
SPRING SEMESTER 1998
1.
Who is Willy Loman? Name 2 personality traits and give examples from the text where Willy displays these traits.
2.
In the beginning of the play, the audience is immediately aware of the fact that Willy has a problem. What is the first
problem that we learn about?
3.
How does Willy escape from reality?
4.
Identify the speaker of this quote and explain its significance: "Work a lifetime to pay off a house. You finally own it, and
there's nobody to live in it."
5.
Who is Linda? Name two of her personality traits and give specific examples from the text where she displays these traits.
6.
Name one symbol that Miller uses to show the constraints of life.
7.
What is a motif? Describe one motif from the play so far.
8.
Why does Willy keep going back to the year 1928?
9.
Describe Willy's physical appearance in 1942. How does this outward facade relate to his inner conflicts?
10. Discuss/Explain two of Willy's problems.
11. Who is Biff? Name two of Biff''s personality traits and give two examples from the text where he displays these traits.
12. Who is Happy? Name one of his problems.
13. Who are Charley & Bernard? What is their function in the story?
14. Who is Ben? What is his function in the story?
15. Describe how Willy is hurting himself. How do Biff and Linda react?
DEATH OF A SALESMAN MOVIE
Starring Dustin Hoffman
THINK ABOUT DIRECTOR'S INTERPRETATION OF THE PLOT, THEME, AND 4 MAIN CHARACTERS!!!
1.
Notice music in the beginning. What is the instrument? What mood does it suggest?
2.
Hoffman's interpretation of Willy: Notice Hoffman's portrayal of Willie. Listen to his voice. How does his appearance
and his low nasal voice enhance his character?
3.
"Some people accomplish something." How does this statement relate to Miller's themes?
4.
What year was the chevy that Willy used to talk about?
5.
What kind of cheese does Willy like?
6.
What bothers Willy about apartment life? Explain this motif.
7.
Where does Biff want to be and what does he want to do?
8.
Notice Willy's dress. Describe it.
9.
What is different about the background in the scene where they throw the football? How does this relate to one of the
themes?
10. What is the real story of Willy's life in 1928?
11. "A man who can't handle tools isn't a man." Explain.
12. Where did Ben die?
13. How did Ben make his fortune?
14. What did Willy's father do? Connect this to theme of story.
15. Critical scene in kitchen. Linda, Biff, Happy. "He's put his whole life into you. Attention must be paid." Reread this
scene. Explain why this scene is so important.
16. What is the significance of the planting of seeds? Cite an instance when this occurs and explain the symbolism.
17. What is the tone that Linda uses with Ben? Why?
18. Does man create his own destiny/fate? Why? How does this question relate to Willy?
19. What was printed on Biff's sneakers? What happened to the sneakers and why?
20. What happened at Willy's meeting with Howard?
21. What is the significance of Charlie lending Willy money? What is confusing about this scenario?
22. Where is Bernard going? What is Miller's message about the way Bernard handles this admirable task?
23. Notice foreshadowing - "Worth more dead than alive."
24. What happened in the restaurant scene? What does Biff tell his dad?
25. Why does Biff cry when he sees woman in Willy's room? How does this scene connect to one of Miller's themes?
26. What is Willy's accusation against Biff for all of Biff's failures?
27. Explain the last scene when Willy, Linda, Biff, and Happy are in the kitchen. Biff says he is through with lying. He says
"I'm nothing; burn the phony dream.
28. Notice Biff blames his father for everything - for pumping him up too much. Are Biff's problems his father's
responsibility?
29. In the end Willy throws money and then plants seeds? Interpret these actions.
30. At the end, Willy realizes that Biff really loves him. Do they love each other too much? Miller may be telling us that love
is essential, but it can be crippling if it crosses a certain boundary. Explain how this idea applies to Willy & Biff.
31. The requiem - Go over Linda's final speech. Why didn't anyone come? What is the significance that their debt is almost
gone, but there is no one to enjoy it? How does this final scene relate to the theme illusion v. reality.
DEATH OF A SALESMAN
IN-CLASS ESSAY TEST - 60 MIN.
This test is a essay test similar to one you will get in college English. However, because
this is your first timed writing, I will allow and encourage the use of the following:
dictionary, thesaurus, notes. OUTLINE FIRST. Your essay must have an introduction,
several support paragraphs, and a conclusion. You must have a strong thesis statement at
the end of your first paragraph. Each of your body paragraphs must contain 3 specific
examples that support your ideas. I WILL DEDUCT FOR FRAGMENTS AND RUNON SENTENCES. CHECK YOUR MECHANICS & SPELLING. PROOFREAD
CAREFULLY. You may make neat revisions. Unlike a college test, I would like you to
turn in your outline with the test. You must write on every other line of a sheet of
notebook paper and please do not write on the back. When turning in your test, staple
everything together (essay on top, outline on bottom) and be sure you have your name on
the front page.
QUESTION:
In the play Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller carefully traces man's inability to deal with
the disappointments in life. He reveals the tragedy of man in our competitive society
through the characters of Willy, Linda, Biff, and Happy. In a well-developed and wellorganized essay, trace the theme of illusion v. reality through each of these characters. Be
sure to use specific references from the text and use quotes where applicable. You must
use quotes properly and use MLA parenthetical notation for reference. Do not just
THROW quotes in but introduce them in a logical format and clearly show through your
analysis how these lines support your thesis. Use at least ONE quote per character.
DEATH OF A SALESMAN
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1.
Name the themes that come to mind from the movie.
2.
Is Willy a tragic hero? Did Willy die a hero? Is this another illusion - he sacrificed his life to give money to his family, or
was his suicide the easy way out.
3.
Analyze Willy's motivation for committing suicide. List reasons.
4.
Discuss the relationship between Willy & Linda. Pros & cons.
5.
Discussion relationship between Willy & Biff. How was it dysfunctional?
6.
Biff blames his father for his problems - how do you feel about this?
7.
Discuss the internal and external conflicts that Willy & Biff face.
8.
Is Linda a help or a hindrance to Willy? Dissect the character of Linda - give examples from the text. Why does Linda
seem to resent Ben?
9.
Is suicide ever an answer? Think of Hamlet's "To be or not to be" soliloquy.
10. Is man responsible for his fate/destiny? At what point is man no longer accountable for his problems.
11. What are some of the symbols Miller uses to enhance his message?
DEATH OF A SALESMAN
GROUP PROJECTS
GOAL: 5 performances/day; 2-3 days to work on in class; each group will sign up for performance date.
Note: Each part of project is worth 50 pts. Your serious effort and hard work will be properly rewarded; in other words, no
messing around!!!! Individual students will be docked points for time off task. Each group member must present orally, and
the written part of the assignment must be done collaboratively.
IN PAIRS: Write a script for one of the following scenarios and perform it for the class. You will receive 2 separate
grades for this project; (1) Script writing (50 pts.); the script must contain dialog, setting, stage directions, props, AND, OF
COURSE, CORRECT MECHANICS & SPELLING; (2) Oral presentation (50 pts.); 5-10 minute skit. YOU MAY USE
YOUR SCRIPT BUT KNOW YOUR LINES WELL ENOUGH THAT YOU CAN MAKE EYE CONTACT WITH YOUR
AUDIENCE. You must present in a dramatic manner; e.g., facial expression, gestures, volume, etc.. Use props to set your
stage. Feel free to bring in music, costumes, etc., whatever you need to capture the interest of your audience.
1.
CRISIS HOTLINE - Write and perform 2 scenes. You have 2 actors; the crisis intervention specialist and the client. Write
a scenario about someone who is contemplating suicide. Suggested motivations are: divorce, job loss, serious illness,
debt, guilt over a previous action, rejection by a lover, depression, addiction, mid-life crisis, etc. Your character decides at
the last minute to call the crisis hotline. In Sc. 1, he describes his problem. It is the specialist's job to successfully dissuade
this person by emphasizing reasons to live. The specialist and this character must also analyze why the client experiences
these problems and how he can overcome them. In Sc. 2, you will write and perform a soliloquy given by the client. He
will consider all that has happened and reflect on his next course of action that will put him on the road to recovery.
Suggested props: bulletin bd with poster of Crisis hotline - call 1-800-CRISIS; 2 phones; paper for notes; a board to
separate the speakers, etc.
2.
THE PSYCHIATRIC WARD IN THE HOSPITAL: Write & perform 2 scenes. You have 2 actors: the staff psychiatrist
and Willy Loman. The staff psychiatrist is sent to counsel Willy. In the first scene, you will have Willy candidly telling the
doctor about his problems. Willy must present at least two of his problems to the doctor. The doctor and he must
thoroughly discuss Willy's motivation for suicide and why he made his last-minute decision to seek help instead. Then the
doctor must offer viable solutions for Willy's problems and set out a realistic plan for him to follow. For the 2nd scene,
which you will also perform, you must write a soliloquy for Willy. Willy will react to his doctor's advice by weighing the
pros & cons of the plans, and then Willy will resolve his conflict. (Please be realistic) Suggested props: chairs put
together for a couch; pillow; doctor's white coat; IV, clipboard or pad of paper for doctor to take notes, etc.
AUDIENCE RESPONSIBILITY: Critique each performance. Write short notes to your actors or actresses on good points
and with sensitivity cite areas for improvement. SIGN YOUR NAME.
GRADING:
Script: 50 points.
1. You must have an introduction that clearly explains the background for the upcoming scenario. In a well-written intro,
describe the characters, their personalities, the setting, and the conflict. (See Salesman script for format.)
2. Dialog - See setup for script writing in Salesman book.
3. Proofread carefully. MECHANICS & SPELLING COUNT. Do you present your ideas logically and clearly? Are your
characters believable? Do they arouse your audience's emotions (catharsis)?
 Organization/format (10 pts.)
 Spelling
(10 pts.)
 Mechanics
(10 pts.)
 Creativity
(20 pts.)
TOTAL
(50 pts.)
Oral Presentation: 50 points.
1. Volume
2. Expression/confidence
3. Gestures/eye contact
4. Diction
5. Creativity
TOTAL
(10 pts.)
(10 pts.)
(10 pts.)
(10 pts.)
(10 pts.)
(50 pts.)
DEATH OF A SALESMAN
ORAL PRESENTATION
Criteria
Pts. Possible
Volume
Expression/confidence
Gestures/Eye contact
Diction
Creativity
10
10
10
10
10
TOTAL
50
Pts. Earned
DEATH OF A SALESMAN
BIO ON ARTHUR MILLER
Miller:
 Born in New York l0/17/15
 Studied at Univ. of Michigan
 Before becoming a playwright, he worked various types of jobs such as a farm hand and labor jobs
around New York harbor
 From jobs, he learned about the life of the simple man of America
 Simple/common man is subject of his works; e.g., A view from the Bridge, waterfront work; The
Misfits, farm hand work
 at one time married to Marilyn Monroe
CONCERN FOR COMMON MAN
 first successful play All My Sons - investigates basic assumptions about capitalistic society
 capitalism - economic system in which all or most of the means of production & distribution as land,
factories, railroads, etc., are privately owned and operated for a profit, under fully competitive
conditions; characterized as concentration of wealth; growth of great corporations, increased
government control
 Death of a Salesman is a drama of common man being defeated by a society which drains the common
man of his energy and then drops him
 Miller's concern for fate of common man caused him to get involved in theoretical possibilities of
communism; he was subsequently investigated by House Un-American Activities committee in 1947
and was cleared completely by this committee.
 so Miller an advocate for underprivileged man
 relate to the Crucible; Miller investigated during McCarthyism
 Death of Salesman won Pulitizer Price as best play of 1949
 Miller wrote an essay entitled "Tragedy of the common man" in which he offers his theory of the
common man as a fit subject for tragedy
 two types of music - blaring music & sweet, joyous music
 Present time: Willy walks w/stooped shouldars suggesting weariness of old man
 but in past - lively & confident
 structure of play: pleasure of past/drams or hopes of past = intensify agonies of present
 Note: identifying mark of man's success through his career
Notes:
Willy Loman
 traveling salesman
 worked for Wagner firm for 34 yrs
 61 yrs old;
 dreamer
 cannot fact reality
 dreams are in Biff
 had an affair w/woman who made him feel important
 concerned w/personal appearance & popularity
 distorted system of values
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depressed/suicidal
Willy cannot endure love so kills himself
man possessed and destroyed by a dream
life based on success story of silly values
success in this day & ages lies in initiative and creativity; Willy has neither b/c he pedals things made
by someone else
Loman - low man
Willy's whole life is a mess; teachers "anything goes so long as you're well-liked." When Biff steals a
football, Willy says coahc will congratulate him on his initiative;; his sons steal lumber, he sends them
to show Ben what "fearless characters" they are
Willy - petty, vicous little man but we sympathize w/him b/c he's a human being and a terrible thing is
happening to him.
his values and ultimate failure are the values and failures of American society
"Miller's vision of tragedy - a system that "eats the oranges and throws the peel away—a man is not a
piece of fruit"
Linda Loman
 Willy's wife
 deeply loves him
 makes excuses for him
 believes in her man despite everything but subconsciously she seems to wish to destroy Willy as an act
of revenge; e.g., failure to remove hose
 archetype of the eternal wife, faithful and acquiescent
 her keeping Willy from facing reality ultimately destroys Willy; she assures that he is well-liked and
has great personal attractiveness
 Willy comes first in her life; but for Willy, Biff comes first
Biff
 oldest son; now 34 yrs old
 former football star
 poor grades
 appears to be different from father but really isnot
 sees Willy as a fake
 believes in personal attractiveness - lost in illusions about himself - wrapped up in self-importance;
wants to be well-liked e.g., flunk exam, did Biff make class laugh
 dynamic character - changes - sympathizes w/dad at end; he loves his father; sees him as a weak man
but had some good in him; "Willy had the wrong dreams, he never knew who he was
 steals
 can't find himself/dreamer
 makes excuses
 knows about father's affair
 steals
Happy
 younger brother
 craves attention
 lives in brother's shadow
 personal attractiveness - as we meet him he boasts of sexual conquests & sexual attractivness
 rejected b/c maybe he doesn't have enought "personal attractiveness" to fit Willy's dream
 Hap cannot see through false dreams; he carries on Willy's dream "I'm gonna show you and everybody
else that Willy did not die in vain. He had a good dream. . ."
Charlie
 successful; works hard
 is not well liked
 is not personally attractive but is successful
 antithesis of Willy's beliefs
 realist
Bernard
 son of Charlie
 lawyer
 works hard
 realist
Ben
 Willy's successful brother
 the ideal for Willy
 adventurer
 end justifies he means; don't fight fair
 crutch for Willy
Author's style
 Seems like flashbacks but really they are the mind & memory of Willy Loman from the years 1928 to
1942. Represents what is going on in Willy's mind and how it contributes to the future. Willy's mixes
up the past & present. These changes in time are used to show the pleasures of the past, the dreams or
hopes of the past, and how these aspects of the past contribute to the agonies of the present. Now
Willy is in an inescapable situation. Collision of illusion & reality is destroying Willy.
 define dramatic irony - words or acts of a character in play may carry a meaning unperceived by the
character but understood by the audience. Usually a character's own interests are involved in a way he
or she cannot understand. The irony resides in the contrast between the meaning intended by the
speaker and the different significance seen by others. The reader enjoys being let in on the secret but
the character does not know the secret. Actors are blind to the facts known to the spectator or reader.
Motifs
 Ben - Willy's ideal
 Flute - Ben's dad makes & sells his things v. Willy who tries to sell something he doesn't make; he
also tries to sell himself
 stockings - abused wife; guilt; affair
 boxed in - bricks of city v. west - openness outdoors
 personal attractiveness/well-liked
 stealing
 Willy's delusion that he is a great salesman; his salary; on commission = debt
 time - time if running out for Willy & Biff
DEATH OF A SALESMAN
STUDY QUESTIONS
Act I
Sc 1
 Describe Willy, Linda
 what happened to W? Can't drive; car kept going on shoulder
 Note Linda's excuses
 Willy daydreams a lot
 Shattered dreams - you work a lifetime to pay off a house; there's no one to live in it.
 What's wrong w/Biff? 10 years no job
 Linda excuses Biff - finding himself
 blocked in - p. 17 symbolism - constraints of life; competition overpopulation
 Relationship b/t Biff & Willy? Don't get along. Happy more like Linda
 p. 22-23 - Biff admits he has wasted his life
 p. 23 Happy lonely
 go out west - no boundaries
 illusion v. reality
 p. 24 - phony everyone around is false
 Happy pumps up Biff
 What does Oliver accuse Biff of? Stealing basketballs
 Willy - talks to himself
 Linda pumps up W
 Happy pumps up Biff
 Biff never found place in life
 W - lives in dream world
Sc 3
 Willy contradicts himself - in dreams Biff perfect; but in life - no
 Why does W keep going back to 1928?
Sc. 4
 When Biff does not study, how does Willy react? He thinks studying is unnecessary for Biff b/c Biff
has an athletic scholarship and he has personal attractiveness & is well-liked.
 What does W tell the boys is most important in life? Well liked/personal attractiveness = Biff accepts
W's value system - this is Biff's problem for lack of success
 Uncle charley works hard - the antithesis of Willy/Bernard is the antithesis of Biff
 describe Bernard
Sc. 5
 what is ironic b/t Bernard & Biff? Biff studies & achieves success even though he's not personally
attractive; Biff is a failure even though he is attractive.
 Name some of Biff's values from Willy: stealing, personal attractiveness, etc.; thus, Biff has never
formulated his own positive value system
 do you think the scenes from the past are authentic? How great really was Biff in football?
Remember, these memories are from Willy's point of view
 What does Biff accuse Willy of? Blowing him so full of hot air that he can't take orders from anyone
 what do you think of Willy's philosophies?
 Based on Willy's value system, why is willy's unsuccessful in his job? He's trying to sell himself
instead of his product. He loses his self-respect; he cheats on Linda; when he can't sell himself, life is
meaningless.
 What is pathetic about this scene? They owe more than Willy makes
 Note: Linda mends silk stockings; Willy questions why people don't like him
 What does Willy say about how he looks
 Linda's response
 In this scene he goes from ecstasy to despair
 examples: greatest car when boys polish but "god dam chevy" b/c of carburetor - mood swings.
 Willy's lies/exaggeration - W can't face reality of his poor sales
 when W faces reality "People don't talke to me." Linda reinforces illusion by telling him he's wonder.
How is Linda a hindrance to Willy?
 Or does Linda also fail to see W's limitations?
 Silk stockings - Linda darns while woman in hotel has new ones
Sc. 6
 why does W tell Linda he will make it up to her? guilt. Cheating or low income?
 why does W fell antagonism towards Biff? Biff failed math; then came to Boston to find W & finds
W in bed w/woman. He goes back to illusion to punish Biff for flunking but really b/c he found W in
bed w/woman
 What does Willy do when Bernard criticizes W? He defends Biff. No one can talk about Biff but
Willy. Why?
 what is wrong w/willy's comment "I never told Biff anything but decent things"? willy can't see the
destructiveness of his ideas.
Sc. 7
 what is a motif?
 what does Ben represent to Willy? He's his ideal—Something Willy wants to be but can't.
 What is different b/t Ben & Charley? Ben just seems to be successful very easily while charley
worked hard and is the practical success. Ben has no ethics; Charley plays by the rules.
 Jungle? Jungle of life.
 Can Willy's boys help him to retire & take care of him? No, b/c they do not have secure jobs and are
DREAMERS; thus, Willy has no place to turn for help "the woods are burning"
 Describe Charley - He is opposite of everything Willy believes in; e.g., not well built, no personal
attractiveness, not adventurous, not well liked BUT is successful.
 why can't W accept a job from Charley? If W accepts, he would have to admit that his philosophy of
life is wrong. Willy can't see it or refuses to see it.
 Who is Biff so important to Willy? Biff represents to Willy all W's hopes & dreams for success. He
keeps Willy alive.
 Is W's idea about Biff unlike any parent's love? What do you think about this?
 Symbolism - Ben is always in a hurry; always looking at watch - what does it mean? W has run out of
time. Can W still accomplish anything?
Sc 8
 what was Ben's dad's job? Made flutes and sole them around the country. He took his family w/him.
 What advice does Ben's say to Biff? "Never fight fair with a stranger—you'll never get out of the
jungle that way." What does this mean?
 what job does Willy give his sons? Steal lumber from construction project. Why? To show Ben how
fearless & rugged his boys are? Manly??stealing?
 charley's response? Jails are full of fearless people.
 Sum up these ideas? What's wrong?
 Can W get out of jungle? No, he's trapped.
Sc 9
 After Linda catches W talking to Ben what odd thing does W do? Goes for walk in house slippers.
 What does Linda say to Biff about Willy? He must learn to respect W. and the company has put W on
straight commission (no salary)\
 How does Linda rebuke Biff? Says company is no worse than the boys - why?
 To hide his salary cut, what does W do? Borrows $50 a week from Charley to supplement his pay to
hide truth from Linda
 Why does L. tell Biff W is trying to commit suicide –car wreck looks deliberate; rubber hose attached
to gas pipe in basement
 L. lays blame on Biff - W's life is in Biff's hands
 Note: when Biff is away, W functions better. But when Biff writes he's coming home, Willy's
inadequacies/dreams close in. All W's dreams revolve around Biff.
 Linda - wife figure - Willy deserves attn & respect
 Why does L do something about W trying to commit suicide?
Sc 10
 Notice daydreams - Loman brother dreams
 How much does Biff want for job? How much does W tell him to request? $10,000 -- $15,000 start
big.
 During conversation when Linda interjects ideas, what is W's response? W yells at her, "STOP
INTERRUPTING." What does this tell us about W? When Biff is around, no one else counts. Lack
of respect.
 what is Biff's response? Doesn't like it; wants to defend her, why?
 Biff says, "when did you get so clean?" What is he alluding to? W's hotel affair. By W. yelling at
Linda he takes his guilt out on L and justifies his actions b/c he sees L as beneath him. Abuse.
 How does W contradict himself when he gives Biff advice about job? 1st business suit; no jokes; say
as little as possible/then tell jokes, personality important; be like Willy Loman
Sc. 11
 Plumbing - everything falling to pieces - atomization/entropy
 Willy is immersed in his dreams; tells of Biff's greatness
 How does H gain attn? I'm losing weight; I'm getting married.
 what does B do at the end of scene? Removes rubber hose.
ACT II
Sc 1
 Why does Willy think of planting seeds? In the middle of classical tragedy as with drama, in the
middle everything seems hopeful. Planting seeds signify new life/new beginnings. Also the planting
of seeds signifies W's need to leave something material
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why is Willy happy - Biff is going to look for a job
what does Willy plan to do? tell Howard he nees a NY job.
notice of list of bills, this is the last payment of the mortgage
debt motif - car & refrigerator repair bills
"they time those things—they time them so when you finally paid for them, they're all used up"
(Willy) - what does this mean? Life is closing in
 motif - mending of stockings - Willy's guilt
Sc 2
 Describe scene w/Howard
 How does it end
 who is Dave Singleton? Willy's ideal dream - very popular; can pick up many orders from sales/when
he died people from all over came to funeral
 "You can't eat the orange and throw away the peel"—a man is not a piece of fruit. This is what is
happening to Willy—company uses him & gets ride of him.
 willy has lied a lot to boys about his commission - now Howard tells W to go to boys for help. W
can't say his boys are no good. Willy is trapped; he has nowhere to go.
Sc 3
 Why is this scene ironic compared to less scene? Ben offering W a great opportunity/in preceding
scene W was fired. Linda reminds W how well he is doing w/Wagner firm/nor true.
 thus, even past, W lost opportunities b/c he was trapped in his own lies
 W grows things so he can touch something
Sc 4
 Willy shows his emotional immaturity in this scene. He has placed too much value on this one game.
Sc. 5/6
 what does W ask of charley?
 Notice Biff was a popular athelete/but not nothing. Bernard is a success. Bernard is not bragger even
though he is going to court to argue a big case - doesn't have to brag because he is a doer
 Why does W turn down Charley's job offer? When is W going to grow up? W can't work for C b/c C
is not personally attractive and he takes no excessive interest in his son. To work for C W would have
to admit his life has been failure. He would have to give up his personal values. Remember the quote
"the mark of the immature man . . ." (Catcher)
 Suicide is suggested here/a man is worth more dead than alive—W thinking of insurance policy
 Isn't it remarkable? What does W mean? Charley is his only friend and W realizes the truth.
Sc 7
 what happened when B met w/Oliver? O didn't even remember Biff.
 what does B realize? His whole life has been a lie/he wants to tell W how he stole O's fountain pen
and how earlier he had stolen O's basketballs. Biff's seeing himself for who he really is makes him
steal. W told Biff that stealing made him a fearless character.
 What does H say? Lie - tell W something nice - illusion
Sc 8
 what happens when B tries to tell W what happened? W won't let him; instead he tells him how things
probably went. Notice W tells them he was fired.
 why is B shocked? Realization of how a company treats its workers
 what does B try to do w/willy? Make w see reality. (1) Biff never worked as a salesmen w/Oliver. W
lives so much in dream world that Biff can't talk to him
 "woods are burning" - things are closing in on W
Sc 9
 Failure - Biff's failure in math
 When B failed math he goes to Boston—what does he discover? W w/woman. Break of W & B's
relationship
 As B talks W dreams - he thinks B is spiting him
 As Biff tries to face reality, he sees W more realistically.
 Happy denies his father - remember H is the rejected son; now H is rejecting his father
Sc 10
 Climax - We know W fired; Biff steals - this scene represents W's break/failure w/Biff
 This scene beginning of Biff's trouble. When Biff sees his father realistically w/this woman and not
idealistically as he did growing up, he sees Willy's values as false. Biff should have now rejected his
father's values & established his own. But Biff is a lost person who cannot think independently.
 "I don't have a thing to plant" - W sees things closing in on him; he has nothing tangible to leave
Sc 11
 When Linda throws their flowers on floor, what does she say? They wouldn't treat a stranger the way
they treated their father - Biff realizes he is scum; he wants his dad to realize the same; Biff feels if
they can look at each other honestly, then they could both make a life for themselves.
 H is a liar. He tells L that they all had a good time.
Sc 12
 why is W planting seeds? Talks about $20,000 life insurance policy.
 How does W analyze his actions? He would be a coward to "stand here the rest of my life ringing up a
0"
 Ben agrees that you can feel $20,000 in your hand
 W thinks everyone will come to his funeral and then Biff would respect him and stop spiting him.
 W thinks - where else can a man go if he has lost his job? He must die.
Sc 13
 "you blew me so full of hot air I could never stand taking orders from anybody."—motif
 Biff begins to understand himself & makes these confessions to W who will not listen
 Tells dad to burn phony dreams before something happens
 Irony - as B attempts to make W see through his phony dreams, W is convinced his dreams are right
 when W sees B crying, W thinks B needs him (illusion); now W has motive to commit suicide b/c he
will now be leaving something for Biff
Sc 14
 jungle - jungle of death; only in death can W penetrate jungle b/c he is so trapped by life of illusions;
W has no other choice
Requiem
 no one came to funeral - commentary on W's pathetic life & illusions/final proof that W was not well
liked and that his dreams were phony
 first time in 35 yrs they are clear of debts
 L made last payment on the house that day, but no one there to live in it
 what about Happy - he is lost (illusions) - he thinks he is going to become the next manager
 Hope for Biff
DEATH OF A SALESMAN
IN-CLASS ESSAY TEST - 60 MIN.
5 PARAGRAPH ESSAY
SPRING, 1998
This test is an essay test similar to one you will write in college exams. However, because
this is your first timed writing, I will allow and encourage the use of the following:
dictionary, thesaurus, notes, book. Male a brief OUTLINE FIRST. Your essay must have
an introduction, WITH THE THESIS AS YOUR LAST SENTENCE, three (3) support
paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each of your body paragraphs must contain (two) 2 specific
examples that support your ideas.
I WILL DEDUCT FOR FRAGMENTS AND RUN-ON SENTENCES. CHECK YOUR
MECHANICS & SPELLING. PROOFREAD CAREFULLY. You may make neat
revisions. Unlike a college test, I would like you to turn in your outline with the test.
You must write on every other line of a sheet of notebook paper, and please do not write
on the back. When turning in your test, staple everything together (essay on top, outline
on bottom) and be sure you have your name on the front page.
QUESTION:
*In the play Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller carefully traces man's inability to
deal with the disappointments/harsh realities of life. He reveals the tragedy of man
in our competitive society through the characters of Willy, Linda, Biff, and Happy.
In a well-developed and well-organized essay, trace the theme of illusion versus reality
through three (3) of the four characters. EACH BODY PARAGRAPH WILL BE ABOUT
ONE CHARACTER. Be sure to use specific references from the text and use quotes
where applicable. You must use quotes properly and use proper MLA in-text citation
format for reference (Miller 33). Do not just THROW quotes in but introduce them in a
logical format and clearly show through your analysis how these lines support your thesis.
Use at least ONE quote per character.
*HINT: The material in bold may be reorganized for use in your intro. 2nd HINT: If you
look carefully, you may be able to use a specific section from the above for your thesis
statement at the end of your intro.