In Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller has created a contemporary tragic hero and theme. Willy Loman, derived from Miller’s observations of human behavior of known people, possesses an image of himself which he cannot fulfill within ethical bounds. Tragedy lies in his inability to evaluate himself justly and in the effects of his “dream” image on others. The flow lies in this mistaken view of his rightful status in his world, in his confusion between dreams and reality. Students will be drawn into greater awareness of the need for an individual ethical code.

Students review the of elements of tragedy. They form a response to literary criticism. They conduct a study of setting, symbolism, point of view, and mini-motifs. They analyze character behavior. They compose themes on a given set of topics. Students make comparisons with other dramatic works.

Supplementary materials include tests with answer keys and vocabulary lists.