Exam (elaborations)
Death of a Salesman Act 2
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Death of a Salesman Act 2
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Name: Score:13 Multiple choice questions
Definition 1 of 13
Biff, Will & Happy are in Death of a Salesman. Biff explains to Happy that he didn't get the money,
and Happy encourages his brother to lie to Willy. Willy arrives. Biff tries to tell Willy that he didn't
get the money and that he stole a fountain pen from Bill. However, Happy is at the same time
lying to Willy that Bill warmly welcomed Biff. Willy apparently accepts Happy's version. Biff later
confronts Willy about his suicide attempt. Willy takes this as an indication that Biff loves him and
celebrates by committing suicide to give his family his life insurance.
Why doesn't Willy want to see Linda? Why does he think Biff is spiting him? Why does Biff
show him the rubber hose?
Why does Biff confront Willy and Happy?
Why did Biff go to Boston? What does he discover when he sees the Woman? Why is it that
Biff never went to summer school? Why can't he believe in his father?
Why does Linda tell the boys, "Get out of here, both of you, and don't come back!"?
, Definition 2 of 13
Willy goes to Charley's office to borrow money meets Bernard, Charley offers him a job and Willy
is again furious at the 'insult'. Willy sees Biff's admission as a sign that Biff likes him and decides to
leave him the money he will be 'magnificent'. Willy is amazed to see that Bernard has done so well
for himself. He is surprised to know that Bernard is a lawyer, that he has a case pending in D.C.,
and that he knows people who own their own tennis court in their houses. When Willy tries to
embellish Biff in front of Bernard, he finds no other choice but to, sort of, give up. Hence, in an act
of complete humbleness, Willy asks Bernard
Willy: What- what's the secret?
Bernard: What secret, Willy?
Willy: How- how did you? Why didn't he ever catch on?
Here is when the most important conversation in the play occurs. Both, Willy and Bernard agree
that, after that one Ebbet's Field game, Biff ends up flunking Math, and ruining his chances for
college, unless he goes to Summer school. It is then when Biff starts his deep disconnect with the
rest of the world. Bernard tells Willy that, after Biff flunked Math in High School, Biff was more
than willing to go to Summer school and re-do the class. However, right after Biff visits Willy in
New England, everything in Biff's life changes. Willy is shocked to hear this revelation.
This is when we find out exactly what happened that day: Biff had gone to New England to vent
with his father the fact that he flunked Math, only to realize that his Dad was there with a mistress.
The image of "The Willy Loman" that had fed his ego is now, officially, dead. In turn, Biff's own self-
perception dies with it as well. After all, he is just a creation of his father's own missing ego.
Hence, the encounter with Willy and the mistress is the triggering event that ruins and changes
Biff's life, for good.
What is Willy's impression of Bernard when he sees him in his father's office? Why does
Willy exaggerate Biff's importance? Why does Bernard ask what happened after the game
at Ebbets Field?
What is Willy's philosophy? How does Biff as a football hero embody his father's dreams?
Why does Charley say Willy hasn't grown up?
Why won't Willy work for Charley? Why is Willy able to ask Charley for money? How is
Charley's view of what a salesman needs different from Willy's view?
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