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TeacherVision Staff
Last edited: January 23, 2020
Enhance reading comprehension with a with a guide that provides questions, exercises, and assignments that guide students' reading and understanding of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman.
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WRITING RESPONSES- Do you agree with Willy, who believes that contacts and personality are what make a salesman a success, or with Charley, who believes that a salesman must have confidence in his product and the ability to sell it? Select an opinion to agree with, and give evidence to support your belief.
- Biff says, "He had the wrong dreams." What was wrong about Willy's dreams? Was there a right dream for Willy? Is Willy ever a success? Explain. What dream could Willy have followed successfully?
- Who is Willy's foil in the play? Explain how that person serves as a foil for Willy, noting specific differences between them.
- How do you define tragedy? According to your definition, is Death of a Salesman a tragedy? Is it a tragedy according to the classic definition? Explain how it is or isn't.
- List Willy's slogans in life. Describe how his slogans match his character.
- In a five-paragraph essay, identify three instances of irony in the play and explain what is ironic about each.
- Define your idea of success - what it is, how it can be achieved, of what value it is to the person achieving it. Write it as an editorial for your school newspaper.
- Write an obituary for Willy Loman that could appear in his town's newspaper.
- The recent film version starring Dustin Hoffman differs from the staged version in having numerous sets. Compare the filmed version to the staged version described in your book. Does the film resemble a stage play in any way? Miller says the media of film in itself changes the play. How is this true?
- Read Eudora Welty's "Death of a Traveling Salesman."* How is the isolation and loneliness of Welty's salesman similar to Miller's? How is it different?
- Read Irwin Shaw's "The Eighty-Yard Run."* Darling's golden moment on the practice field is the turning point in his life. How is that success similar to Biff's? How is Biff's life different from Darling's?
- Read Walter D. Moody's "The Know-It-All Salesman."** To what extent does Willy Loman fit Moody's description? How have Willy's flaws gotten in the way of his sales?
- Interview four or five salespeople for different companies. Find out what they think is necessary for success in sales. Give an oral report on your findings.
- Read some biographical information about Arthur Miller. What are the subjects of his other writings? What have critics said about his importance in modern drama? In what ways are his experiences reflected in his writings?
- Research the signals which suicide victims usually give. What typical signals did Willy give? Could Willy have been prevented from killing himself? What resources are available in your community to help potential suicide victims?
- Improvise some dialogue that could have been exchanged between Biff and Bernard, or another character, which reveals something about their personality differences.
- Make a sketch of the stage set as you envision it from Miller's description at the start of the play.
* included in the Viking Critical Library edition
** excerpted in the Viking Critical Library edition
