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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. What is Willy doing in the garden?

2. What is the guaranteed proposition Willy refers to as he "speaks" to Ben?

3. Biff speaking to whom when he says "'I know who I am, kid."

4. What are the types of seeds Willy is planting?

5. Where does the Woman retreat to in the Boston hotel?

Short Essay Questions

1. Is Charley's summation of Willy and his life as a salesman an accurate one?

2. What cautions does Ben advise concerning Willy's plan to commit suicide?

3. How does Biff feel about lying to his father about the Bill Oliver interview?

4. Account for Willy's anger towards Biff.

5. Why does Linda want to prevent the boys speaking to their father?

6. Explain Happy's refusal to go with Biff and make a life for themselves in the country.

7. How does Happy think Biff should handle telling Willy the bad news when he arrives at the restaurant?

8. Did Willy Loman die in vain?

9. How is the fact of Willy's severe disintegration communicated to the audience?

10. Which personal qualities does Happy reveal when Miss Forsythe enters the restaurant and he talks to her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"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 2

"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.

Essay Topic 3

"Death of a Salesman shows us, in a moving way, how disastrous it is if people lack the ability or to accept change in themselves and in the social and economic world." Discuss this statement, making close reference to the play.

(see the answer keys)

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