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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. According to Charley, what is the only thing Willy has in the world?

2. What metaphor about Willy does Linda use in her phone conversation with Biff?

3. What make of car does Willy currently drive?

4. For how long was Linda unable to contact Biff?

5. How does Willy pay for Biff's radio correspondence course?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Willy's mood when he leaves for his interview with Howard Wagner?

2. What does the audience learn about Linda from her great confrontation with her sons in Act 1?

3. In what sense is Willy ironic when he comments that it is obscene for Biff not to have found himself by the age of thirty-four?

4. In what way is the contrast between Willy's dreams and reality expressed in his conversation with Linda?

5. In what way does the commercial world intrude into the wire recorder demonstration?

6. How does Biff respond to Happy's question about his plans for the future?

7. What important idea in the play is referenced by Linda's words, 'He could be--anything--in that suit!"?

8. What is revealed about Willy during his hallucinatory return to the past?

9. What is the importance of Howard Wagner's new wire recorder?

10. Explain the significance of Ben's words, "I have many enterprises, William, and I have never kept books."

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the nature and importance of friendship, making close reference to relationships in Death of a Salesman. Make sure to analyze the relationships between Willy and his sons, the sons and each other, and Willy and Linda.

Essay Topic 2

"Willy Loman's problem is not that he had the wrong dream, but that the dream was not large enough." To what extent do you agree with this statement?

Essay Topic 3

"As a salesman, Willy Loman was like a low-ranking priest in the religion of commerce, with all its fake values and promises." Discuss with close reference to Death of a Salesman.

(see the answer keys)

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