Death of a Salesman notes (1st edition)

Summary notes on the contemporary societal context and beliefs/values that are at the heart of the play; also explores Miller's inspiration for the play. Knowledge of both the former and latter is key to grasping a full understanding of the play and its message.

Why is Willy home? Why is Linda alarmed that he's home? He says that he is too tired to finish his trip. He says he was falling asleep and swerving off the road. Linda is worried about Willie in general. She thinks he works too hard and should not be traveling any more. She attributes Willie's swerving to bad steering in the car. She is also worried that he has smashed up the car again when he first returns. Why is Willy annoyed at Biff? How does he describe biff? What does this tell u...

Hastings Refirgerator Willy's belief that well advertised proudcts are the best. Sneakers Biff's dreams-then he burns them (unfulfilled dream) Alaska Timberland Willy's missed opportunity with Ben Jungle Ben's success and the mystery behind how he became so rich. Mended Stockings Willy cheating (flashback) Fearless Characters Something Willy admires, his two sons Burning Woods Willy's crumbling dreams Green Velvet Slippers Dave Single...

Linda informs Willy that one more mortgage payment remains on the house. How long have they been paying it? How old was Biff when these payments began? (Page 54) 25 years. Biff was 9 years old when the payments began. Identify the speaker of the followings lines: "'Will you stop mending stockings?'" What is the symbolic significance of the stockings? (Page 55) Willy. The stockings remind Willy of his mistress in Boston. When Linda speaks with Biff on the phone, why does she t...

who is the author Arthur Miller, who is the salesman Willy Loman how many acts 2 and a requiem who are the characters Willy Loman, Linda, Biff, Happy, Bernard, The woman, Charley, Uncle Ben, Howard Wagner, Jenny, Stanley, Miss Forsythe, Letta. where does the action takes place Willy Loman's House, yard and various places he visists in in New york and Boston. how olds is Willy Loman past sixty who is Willy's wife Linda what id the name of...

"A melody is heard, played upon a flute. It is small and fine, telling of grass and trees and the horizon" -Stage directions Flute= eerie, associated with dreams and nature, not drawing attention to itself Horizon= hope is far away/ long gone "Towering, angular shapes behind it, surrounding it on all sides" "Angry glow of orange" -Stage directions Skyscrapers, intimidating, urbanisation Makes Willys home seem small and vulnerable Hostile environment, Willy belittled (no more ...

What does the description of the setting suggest about the mood of this play? Small house surrounded by tall buildings suggests that the mood is depressing and nostalgic. How does Linda define her role as a wife and mother? She defines her role as a housewife, she obeys him, & she protects him from himself Describe the relationship between Biff and Happy. Biff & Happy are brothers and are thinking about living together and working together. What is wrong with Willy? Why d...

WILLY: a young man with such—personal attractiveness, gets lost. Literary Device: Hyperbole, Conflict (Man vs. Man), Meaning: • Willy's reflections suggest complete faith in the notion that in America, anyone who works hard and is personally compelling is destined to succeed. • Beyond that, they have a right to succeed. By the end of the play, however, it becomes apparent that that isn't necessarily true. • Willy's reflections suggest complete faith in the notion that popularity ...

Willy Loman An insecure, self-deluded traveling salesman. He believes wholeheartedly in the American Dream of easy success and wealth, but he never achieves it. Nor do his sons fulfill his hope that they will succeed where he has failed. When his illusions begin to fail under the pressing realities of his life, his mental health begins to unravel. The overwhelming tensions caused by this disparity, as well as those caused by the societal imperatives that drive him, form the essential conflict o...

Why has Willy returned home early at the beginning of the play? He had difficulty driving & almost crashed. Describe Willy. He's blunt, arrogant, angry, & suicidal. He wants to be loved. Describe Linda & explain how she treats Willy. She's Willy's wife & she admires him. She's also caring. How does Willy describe his son, Biff? He describes Biff as a lazy bum. Why has Biff come home & what's bothering him? He poses his return home as a choice to leave the ra...

WILLY: a young man with such—personal attractiveness, gets lost. Literary Device: Hyperbole, Conflict (Man vs. Man), Meaning: • Willy's reflections suggest complete faith in the notion that in America, anyone who works hard and is personally compelling is destined to succeed. • Beyond that, they have a right to succeed. By the end of the play, however, it becomes apparent that that isn't necessarily true. • Willy's reflections suggest complete faith in the notion that popularity ...

"Work a lifetime to pay off a house. You finally own it, and there's nobody to live in it." (15 Willy to Linda The dream of success is hard to achieve and when finally achieved, it is too late or took to long "Bernard can get the best marks in school, y'understand, but when he gets out in the business world, y'understnad, you are going to be five times ahead of him." (33) Willy to Biff and Happy Willy has high expectations for his boys, but in reality and in the future, they ar...

who is the author Arthur Miller, who is the salesman Willy Loman how many acts 2 and a requiem who are the characters Willy Loman, Linda, Biff, Happy, Bernard, The woman, Charley, Uncle Ben, Howard Wagner, Jenny, Stanley, Miss Forsythe, Letta. where does the action takes place Willy Loman's House, yard and various places he visists in in New york and Boston. how olds is Willy Loman past sixty who is Willy's wife Linda what id the name of...

Death of a Salesman exam |69 questions and answers.

Willy Loman is a 25 year old door to door salesman False Linda his wife loves him and admires his drive to make g is dreams come true True Willy feels that he is in top of things and in control in the first scene False The boys are happy and successful in their jobs making money and being well liked False Neither if the boys live at home True Biff and Will don't get along because Willy is frustrated that Biff does not have higher ambitions for himself Tr...

Where did Biff go early that morning? to go see Mr.Oliver What did Willy resolve to talk about with Howard? about the job in New York What is the result of Willy's conversation with Howard? he basically gets fired "You can't eat the orange and throw the peel away -- a man isn't a piece of fruit!" Explain why Willy said that. he spent his prime years working for them and now has no use for them so they fire him "This is no time for false pride, Willy. . . . Y...

Describe the first impression which the audience is given of Willy Loman. Troubled; because he cannot drive without being distracted. "I just couldn't make it Linda"- defeated, despair, ashamed. Desperate guy asking for help. What comment does Willy make about the scenery during his drive home, and how is this significant? Nature is distracting to him; he has a connection with nature. How does Willy contradict himself during his opening remarks about Biff? Willy refers to Bif...

Be ____________ and you'll ___________ _________. (Willy) Be liked and you'll never want He's a ________ way out there in the __________, _____________ on a ___________________ and a ___________. (Charley, about Willy) He's a man way out there in the blue, riding on a shoeshine and a smile. There was the ________ ________ I __________ met who ________ the ____________. (Willy, about Ben) There was the only man I ever met who knew the answers. I think it's just that _...

Willy Loman is a 25 year old door to door salesman False Linda his wife loves him and admires his drive to make g is dreams come true True Willy feels that he is in top of things and in control in the first scene False The boys are happy and successful in their jobs making money and being well liked False Neither if the boys live at home True Biff and Will don't get along because Willy is frustrated that Biff does not have higher ambitions for himself Tr...