Death of a Salesman Project Assignment
Due: Monday, March 26
Action plan due: Monday, March 12
In-class work days: March 19, 21, 23
Section A: Choose one (test grade)
1. Each of the major characters in Death of a Salesman - Willy, Linda, Happy, Biff - have their own dreams. Create a
poster in which you draw the dreams of each of the characters in Death of a Salesman. The poster must be created in a
large piece of posterboard, and everything you draw should be able to be justified by evidence in the play. Include at
least one quotation from the play for each character's dream - you can incorporate the quote as part of the drawing, or
as a caption for the drawing. To get full credit, you must present the poster to the rest of the class and explain your
thinking behind your drawing.
2. Imagine you are in charge creating the soundtrack of a modern film version of Death of a Salesman. Put together a 10song soundtrack for the play. What songs would you choose? Why? There are no limitations to the types of songs you
may want to use, but you will need to justify the reason you used them. Each song should include a short paragraph of
justification as to why you chose it - Does it follow one of the play's themes? Does it work particularly well for what is
going through the mind of a character? (etc.) The better your justification (using specific lyrics, why an instrumental
piece that you chose creates suspense, etc), the better your grade. Choose at least three songs that could be used during
certain scenes (identify the song and scene) - the rest could be just songs that follow the general theme(s) of the
soundtrack and film. To get full credit, you must present the soundtrack to the class, and include at least 2 sound clips
from your soundtrack (CD player will be provided for the presentation).
3. Choose one character from the play, and write six journal entries in the voice of their character from six important
days in the life of that character. The dates you select from the character's lives could be from before, during, or after
the time of the play. The entire journal should span around 3-5 pages, depending on the size of your writing. To get full
credit, you must read two of the journal entries aloud to the class.
4. Choose one character from the play and create a timeline for that character's life. The timeline should reflect the
major events in that character's entire life, both before and after the time the play takes place. Be creative with both the
back-story and the after-story - how did these characters end up the way they did when we met them, and how did they
end up after the play is over? Be able to justify how the evidence in the play made you believe this is what did or will
happen to your particular character. The timeline should be completed on a piece of posterboard or large construction
paper. To get full credit, you must present the timeline to the class and explain all parts of the timeline.
5. Design a production of Death of a Salesman. You must have a set design and all necessary costumes (present-day
scenes and flashbacks). Sets and costumes can be drawn by hand or on the computer (you may use Google SketchUp or
similar programs) and must be in color. In the text of the play, Miller gives us an idea of what the sets and characters
look like, but do not just copy the stage directions. Create your own concept; you may use any time period and style as
long as you can justify it. Provide a two-page rationale for the choices you make. To get full credit, you must give a twominute presentation about your production design.
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If you choose not to present your project, the maximum number of points you can receive is 89.
Section B: Choose two. Any essay written should be at least two pages typed and double-spaced (50 points each; quiz
grade)
1. Write the next chapter to the play. What happens to the Lomans? What becomes of each character?
2. Watch and write a film review one of these film versions of Death of a Salesman: the 1985 version directed by Wolker
Schlondorff or the 2000 version directed by Kirk Browning. How does the director make certain decisions with the play
that may differ from your own when reading the play?
3. Write an essay about any character/relationship in the play that you find particularly interesting.
4. Discuss the importance of the flashback scenes in the play. Write a flashback scene that could be incorporated into
the play.
5. “Willy’s death shows that the American dream is a phony dream.” Discuss this idea and find other examples of the
American dream. Create a poster that exhibits the American dreams both failed and those achieved.
6. Research Arthur Miller’s life and create a Powerpoint reflecting your research.
7. Write a scene, complete with stage directions, examining an exchange between Charley and Bernard regarding Willy’s
behavior. (To be set into the play after the exchange between Willy and Charley in the office Act II).
8. Create a video or Powerpoint collage of the American Dream and how it has changed over the years. Use parts of old
TV shows, commercials, old photos, interviews, etc.
9. Willy has died. Write a 2-page monologue in which either Happy or Biff is describing what his father was like to one of
their children who never met their grandfather.
10. Aristotle maintains that characters should have four qualities:
1. goodness—their dialogue reveals their moral choices, and they choose good over evil
2. appropriateness (i.e., their characteristics don’t challenge our deeply-held assumptions or expectations;
men are “masculine” and women are “feminine,’ for example
3. verisimilitude—they are lifelike rather than superhuman; we can believe they might be real people
4. consistency—once a character’s traits are established he/she should not act unexpectedly “out of
character.
Analyze Willy’s character in light of Aristotle’s criteria. What are his moral choices? Does he make the “good” choice? Is
Willy’s behavior “appropriate” (within a range of expectations, does he act like a husband and a father is “supposed” to
act)? Is Willy a lifelike, believable character? What are some of his traits, his individual ways of thinking, speaking, or
behaving that remain consistent throughout the play?
Section C: Choose three. Each must be at least one page long, typed and double-spaced. (Classwork grade each)
1. Analyze whether the characters of the Loman family are dynamic (undergoes an important inner change throughout
the play) or static (experiences no inner change).
2. Explore details in the play that suggest Willy’s lack of self-awareness.
3. Most of the time, you can infer what people are like by the things they say and the way they act. Draw some
conclusions about several of the major characters in the play (think of descriptive characterizations like “idealistic,”
“optimistic,” “deluded,” “competitive,” “immoral,” etc.—think of your own) and then trace what action or dialogue in
the play supports leads you to this interpretation of character.
4. Explore details in the play that illustrate Happy’s “overdeveloped sense of competition.” Observe also those details
that give audiences a sense of how he came to have this character flaw.
5. A simplistic conclusion to draw about Willy is that he’s suffering because of senility or Alzheimer’s. Develop a more
complex interpretation of the play that demonstrates how Willy’s problems are psychological rather than physical—that
he’s suffering from emotional distress rather than physical disease.
6. Consider Willy’s brother, Ben. “I went into the jungle at the age of 17 and came out at the age of 21. And, by God, I
was rich!” What does this boast tell us about Ben’s character? In one scene he “blindsides” Biff, saying, “Never fight fair,
boy. You’ll never get out of the jungle that way.” From this incident and other details in the play, what can you infer
about Ben’s moral code? Is it his personal, individual code, or does it seem to reflect American culture in some larger,
broader way? How do Ben’s morals compare to Willy’s? Does Willy misinterpret or distort Ben’s example or was it
corrupt to begin with?
7. Linda is left alone at the end of the play, standing with her children and Charley by Willy’s grave. In her last moments
with him, she confesses that she simply doesn’t understand why he’s left her alone. The last image is of her lifting her
hands in question. Why hasn’t her steadfast love been able to see Willy through? Does the audience understand what
Linda doesn’t (dramatic irony)? In what ways has Linda been blind about Willy?
8. When Biff defines himself as a “$1.00/hr. man” and Willy as just another “hard working drummer who fell on the ash
heap,” is he being fair to himself and Willy? Is he seeing the truth, or is he deliberately pouring acid on Willy’s dreams?
Biff insists that Willy never “knew himself.” Do you agree with him? Why or why not?
9. Why does Willy insist that the basis of success is to be “well-liked”? Is he right or wrong? His whole life he’s strived to
be loved, but has had very little success—especially professionally. What about this philosophy makes Willy especially
vulnerable as a salesman? What role has his childhood played in his emotional weakness? How has this weakness led to
tragedy?
10. In what way does the father/son relationship shared by Charlie and Bernard provide a foil (a provocative contrast)
for the relationship between Willy and Biff?
11. Some have accused Arthur Miller of writing an overly depressing play. Miller’s reply is to the effect that he’s sorry if
the salvation of the son isn’t satisfying enough for some people. Do you think Biff is saved at the end of Death of A
Salesman? Why or why not?
12. Aristotle maintains that the end of the action, the conclusion of the plot, should flow organically from the characters’
behavior and personalities. Character—not coincidence or divine intervention—is what determines fate. In a well
plotted drama, understanding the sequence of cause and effect—the chain of consequence that leads inexorably to the
tragic end—is crucial. Questions: Does Willy’s final act, his suicide, make sense in light of his behavior throughout the
play? Does it follow logically or does it come as a surprise? How has Miller prepared the audience for this outcome?
13. Consider the significance of the family’s last name: Loman. In what ways do each of the characters live up (or down,
as the case may be) to the expectation carried by the name “low man?”
14. Explain the meaning of Linda’s words to her sons regarding Willy: “So attention must be paid. He's not to be allowed
to fall in his grave like an old dog. Attention, attention must finally be paid to such a person."
Death of a Salesman Project Assignment
Action Plan
Name ________________________________________________________________________
My chosen assignments (circle or highlight):
Section A:
1
2
3
4
5
Section B:
1
6
2
7
3
8
4
9
5
10
Section C:
1
8
2
9
3
10
4
11
5
12
6
13
7
14
How I will use my time:
On March 19, I will work on: ____________________________________
On March 21, I will work on: ____________________________________
On March 23, I will work on: ____________________________________
At home, I will work on: ________________________________________
Death of a Salesman Project Assignment
Action Plan
Name ________________________________________________________________________
My chosen assignments (circle or highlight):
Section A:
1
2
3
4
5
Section B:
1
6
2
7
3
8
4
9
5
10
How I will use my time:
On March 19, I will work on: ____________________________________
On March 21, I will work on: ____________________________________
On March 23, I will work on: ____________________________________
At home, I will work on: ________________________________________
Section C:
1
8
2
9
3
10
4
11
5
12
6
13
7
14