Death of A SalesmanAct 1- (Pages 1-51)

Journal 1 (Before Reading)

• The American Dream has been encompassed as a "life that is better, richer, and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each affiliated with ability or achievement" regardless of social class or circumstances of birth. Diane’s American Dream seemed to come true. She had a good job, saved money. Are you in compliance with this definition? What is your “American Dream”?

Literature Terms

• You will need at least seven literature term examples for ACT 1, which spans from page 1 to page 51.

• Use a variety of your literature terms. You need not list them in verbatim from the text…paraphrasing is acceptable.

Journal 2

• After seeing the provided pictures and reading the first portion of Death of a Salesman, how would you define the American Dream? Is it different for each person? Is the American Dream the same today as it was in the 1940s and 1950s?

Themes for Act I – Part I

• Discuss and give two examples for the theme of “The American Dream” from Act 1. Make sure and use specific details from the play to support your examples and discussion.

Themes for Act I- Part I

• THE AMERICAN DREAM–While many critics have presented this

as an attack on American values– it is clearly not what Arthur Miller intended. It is an exploration of the betrayal of those values and the cost of this in human terms. Basically, Willy completely internalized the values of his society that he judges himself by standards rooted in social myths rather than human necessity.

Act I Questions1. Why is Willy home, and why is Linda apprehensive

about his arrival? Be specific. 2. Why is Willy contemptuous towards Biff? From his

description of Biff, what can we deduct about Willy? Give specific examples of the times that Willy is the most annoyed with Biff.

3. How has the neighborhood deteriorated and why does it matter? Think about the American Dream.

4. Happy agrees to go out West and then abruptly changes his mind… why? How is this a characteristic of Willy as well?

5. Postulate how Linda and the boys feel about Willy. Why do you think that is?

Characters in Act I Part I• Willy Loman – an aging salesman, he suffers from

depression and anxiety about his failing career. As the play progresses, Willy loses the ability to distinguish between past and present.

• Linda Loman – Willy’s wife, she is his defender and attempts to salvage her family. She defends Willy at all costs, even if it means indulging his fantasies and denying his suicidal thoughts.

• Biff Loman – The Loman’s oldest son, he has been estranged from Willy for fifteen years. He represents failed potential and is unable to hold a job. He knows Willy’s secret.

• Happy Loman – Loman’s younger son, he is a womanizer, driven by sexuality. He exaggerates his authority at his job.

• Ben Loman - Willy’s older brother, he made a fortune in Africa. He appears only in Willy’s memories and fantasies.

• Willy’s former lover - she is only in Willy’s memories.• Bernard – Willy’s neighbor’s son– he is all that Willy wanted

Biff to be.

Journal 3

• How have your parents/family helped you to evolve into the person that you have become and help you as you have flourished and become the person that you ultimately want to be?

Remember Your Literature Term Focuses

• Irony- The contrast between what is expected to and what actually exists or happens. Three types- Dramatic, Situational, and Verbal.

• Foreshadowing- A writer’s use of hints or clues to indicate events that will occur later in a narrative. This technique often creates suspense and prepares the reader for what is to come.

• Conflict- The struggle between opposing forces and is the basis of plot in dramatic and narrative literature. Two types– Internal and External.

• Tragic Hero- A central character in a drama who is dignified or noble. A tragic hero possesses a “tragic flaw” that brings about or contributes to his or her downfall. The tragic hero recognizes his or her own flaw and its consequences, but only after it is too late to change the course of events.

Act I Questions

• Willy seems to have a very empathetic relationship with his brother Ben. He seems to want to make Ben happy at all costs, yet he has an innate feeling of jealousy. Explain Ben and Willy’s relationship and are there any similarities to Biff and Happy’s relationship?

• What kind of men do you discern Ben wants Willy to raise? Why? Is Willy on track for accomplishing that?

• Biff seems to know something about Willy that no one else does. What can you speculate that it is? How does this affect Biff’s opinion about Willy?

• Linda asserts that Willy’s life is in Biff’s hands… do you believe this to be a true and fair statement?

• Do you believe that Willy feels encumbered by his dreams?

Journal 4

• Is the American Dream more of callous joke than a reality? Why?

• Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman is often referred to as the great American tragedy. It is referred as a tragedy for the simple reason that Willy Loman has a constant need to evaluate himself against a flawed society or the flawed “American Dream”

Reflection for Act 1- Part 1

Wounds suffered in the past sometimes never heal.

Consider the above statement and analyze its validity in relation to the play so far.