Death of a Salesman : Authur Miller

GENERAL
1. Briefly summarize the plot of the novel you read, and explain how the narrative fulfills the author's purpose (based on your well-informed interpretation of same).
Death of a Salesman is an attack on the American Dream cliché. The novel focuses on the Loman family, namely Willy Loman – the father. Willy, above everything else, holds appearances, popularity and his salesman title as priorities even though he has not completely acquired these characteristics. He has created this false image that he and his family are successful but in reality they are on the edge of poverty. He faithfully believes that they will soon get their “big break” that they so greatly “deserve”. But as his mirage slowly begins to crumble and he begins to see he is really a failure, he slowly goes insane – has flashbacks and talks to his self-created apparitions. In the end he dies as a failure in the eyes of society (shown by the lack of guests at his funeral).

2. Succinctly describe the theme of the novel. Avoid cliches.
The theme of this novel is that of the American Dream. Willy believes that the key to success is through attractiveness and likeability however these ideals are very superficial and contrast with the real path to the American Dream – through hard work. When the American Dream doesn’t present itself to Willy he goes through a state of psychological degradation.

3. Describe the author's tone. Include a minimum of three excerpts that illustrate your point(s).
The author’s tone mocks Willy and his unrealistic and materialistic view of the American Dream.
“He [Willy] never knew who he was.”
“I realized what a ridiculous lie my whole life has been!”
“And what goes through a man's mind, driving seven hundred miles home without having earned a cent”

4. Describe a minimum of ten literary elements/techniques you observed that strengthened your understanding of the author's purpose, the text's theme and/or your sense of the tone. For each, please include textual support to help illustrate the point for your readers.
-Diction: uses powerful words to intensify the story and make it more dramatic
-Syntax: uses periodic sentences to hold on to the readers’ attention “but now his old friends...they're all dead, retired”
-Rhetorical question: questions the character’s situation they’re in and also helps to portray the author’s tone
-Flashback: Willy often flashes back to better times in his life when he can’t accept his current unsuccessful situation.
-Anaphora: Willy often repeats “He is not just liked, but well-liked” which shows his materialistic views
-Antithesis: Charley is Willy’s neighbor and unlike Willy is successful, humble, and generous.
-Apostrophe: Willy often creates these illusions in his mind and attempts to talk to them.
-Cliché: the infamous American Dream that Willy tries to obtain.
-Dialect: the author makes the language used seem like it is from a big city like New York through use of slang.
-Symbols: diamonds as wealth and Willy’s failure as a salesman.
CHARACTERIZATION
1. Describe two examples of direct characterization and two examples of indirect characterization. 
Why does the author use both approaches, and to what end (i.e., what is your lasting impression of the character as a result)?

•  Happy and Biff described as strong, well-built men for labor and this contradicts with their office setting. Miller uses direct characterization to set the mood and the setting of the characters.
• Biff is extremely sarcastic. He feels bitter about his past and his relationship with Willy. Everything that comes out of Happy’s mouth is positive, and he’s always trying to smooth situations over and keep everyone at peace. 
• The author uses indirect and direct characterization to both set the setting and to establish the network of characters in the story.

2. Does the author's syntax and/or diction change when s/he focuses on character?  How?  Example(s)?

•  Everything that Happy says is positive so the author needs to change his diction and syntax to match the characters personality. If the author used sarcastic words for Happy, the audience wouldn't be able to tell exactly the personality of a character.

3. Is the protagonist static or dynamic?  Flat or round?  Explain.

• For the most part, Willy doesn't change during the play; therefore, Willy is a static character. Willy's inability to grasp reality, his poor parenting, and his constant lying to his wife all show that he doesn't really change during the play.
  

4. After reading the book did you come away feeling like you'd met a person or read a character?  Analyze one textual example that illustrates your reaction.

• I felt like I read a character because Willy's failure is so unrealistically rigged in my opinion. If a man has as much potential as Willy, there should be no reason for him to fail, rather, it should lead him to success easily. Most of the people with potential that I know, make it to the top someday. And Willy's insecurity just doesn't add up either.