Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller

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.

About the Series:

Novel/Drama curriculum units contain complete lesson plans with preliminary and follow-up work, teacher notes with plot summary, background, and rationale, ready-to-use worksheets, and suggested answers for student questions. These study guides encourage the development of thinking, reading, speaking, research, and writing skills as well as critical thinking skills such as analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.