THE DEATH OF A

SALESMAN,ACT 1
BY: ARTHUR
MILLER
OBJECTIVES:
•Note important details from the
movie viewed.
• Identify the elements of a play.
•Appreciate the importance of
hardwork.
WHAT IS THE RELATION OF THE WORD HARDWORK TO
THE FOLLOWING PICTURES? EXPLAIN.
AMERICAN DREAM
The American Dream is a national ethos of the United States, the set of ideals
(democracy, rights, liberty, opportunity and equality) in which freedom includes the
opportunity for prosperity and success, as well as an upward social mobility for the
family and children, achieved through hard work in a society with few barriers. In the
definition of the American Dream by James Truslow Adams in 1931, "life should be
better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to
ability or achievement" regardless of social class or circumstances of birth.[1]
The American Dream is rooted in the Declaration of Independence, which proclaims
that "all men are created equal" with the right to "
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness ."[2] Also, the U.S. Constitution promotes
similar freedom, in the Preamble: to "secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and
our Posterity".
HISTORY
The meaning of the "American Dream" has changed over the course
of history, and includes both personal components (such as home
ownership and upward mobility) and a global vision. Historically the
Dream originated in the mystique regarding frontier life. As the
Governor of Virginia noted in 1774, the Americans "for ever imagine
the Lands further off are still better than those upon which they are
already settled". He added that, "if they attained Paradise, they
would move on if they heard of a better place farther west".[3]
 ARTHUR MILLER

Arthur Miller, in full Arthur Asher Miller,(born October 17, 1915, New York ,U. S.- where his
father owned a successful manufacturing business. The Great Depression, however, brought
financial ruin onto his father, demonstrating to the young Miller the insecurity of modern
existence. He is an American playwright, who combined social awareness with a searching
concern for his characters’ inner lives. He is best known for Death of a Salesman (1949). He died
on February 10, 2005, in Roxbury, Connecticut. He was 89 years old. He died of heart failure.
UNLOCKING OF DIFFICULTIES

______ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____

UNLOCKING OF DIFFICULTIES

J O V I A L
• - full of or showing high spirited merriment
__________ __________ ___________ ___________ ____________ __________ ___________ ___________ _____________
 M E R C U R I A L

-liable to sudden unpredictable change

___________ ___________ ____________ ____________ ____ _______ ___________ __________ __________ __________ ___________
 E N T H R A L L E D

- filled with wonder and delight

_____________ ______________ _____________ _______________ ______________ _____________ __________
 L A C O N I C

- brief or short
________________ ________________ __________________ ________________ _________________ __________________
 D I S P E L

- force to go away
______________ _______________ ______________ _______________ _______________ _______________
 R E M I S S

- falling in what duty requires

__________ ________ ________ ________ ________ _______ ______ _____ _____
 I N C I P I E N T

- only partly in existence

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS:
Literal
1. Who is Willy Loman?
2.What kind of job did Linda want for her husband?
3. Who were Willy’s two adult sons? Describe each
of them.
ANALYTICAL/CRITICAL
4. Why were the two boys disgusted with their father?
5.Are Willy’s action believably motivated? Why or
why not?
6. Do you consider Willy Loman a failure? At what
point in the play did you make up your mind
about Willy’s success or failure?
7. What learning point did you get from the play?
INFERENTIAL
8. If you were Willy Loman, would you have done
the same thing? Why or why not?
 
IDENTIFY THE ELEMENTS OF PLAY THAT YOU HAVE WATCHED BY FILLING IN THE GRAPHIC
ORGANIZER BELOW.
 

THE DEATH OF A SALESMAN, ACT 1

SETTING CHARACTERS
PROBLEM/CONFLICT

MAJOR EVENTS

ENDING/RESOLUTION

THEME
 RUBRIC FOR GROUP DIFFERENTIATED TASK
1.Task 2.Attractiv 3. 4.Time TOTAL
Accomplish e/Colorful/ Presentati Managem  
ment Lively on ent  
(No (Uses Delivery (Finished  
reminders attractive and within  
needed to colors, Confidenc expected  
complete alive e time)
group goals) performan    
ces)    
 
 

5 20
5 5 5
GROUP DIFFERENTIATED TASKS

ARTISTS GROUP
Objective: Using stage directions to describe a play
setting.
ACTORS GROUP
Objective: Interpreting characterization of major
characters.
WRITERS GROUP
Objective: Writing about key events.
Complete the statement below based on the
lesson learned during the discussion.
In this lesson, I learned that…
I realized from the selection that…
 
ASSIGNMENT

Write a short essay about your dreams in

life.