Name _____________________________________ Date______
Eng. 5-6 Mr. Solomon
Death of a Salesman by A. Miller
Act 1 Study guide Questions
Answer the following in complete sentences on a S.S.O.P.W.A.F.H.
Sc. 1 - 12 - 19
1) Describe Willy Loman.
2) Where was Willy headed? Why did he return home?
3) Who is Linda?
4) Describe the neighborhood where Willy and Linda live
5) When does Willy contradict himself about Biff?
6) If you were counseling Linda, what would you advise her about Willy?
Sc. 2 19 – 27
1) Who are Biff and Happy?
2) What type of jobs do or did each of these men have?
3) Both men seem unhappy. Why is Biff unhappy? Why is Happy unhappy?
4) How do both men sow a “dishonest trait”?
5) What conversation would Linda have with Biff and Happy about their father?
Sc. 3 – 27 – 38
1) How do we (as readers of this play) know that this scene is a flashback?
2) What do we learn about Willy? Biff? Happy?
3) Who is Bernard?
4) What do you see as Willy’s view over being “well liked”?
5) What type of lifestyle do Willy and Linda appear to have?
6) Willy discusses “self doubts” (he is showing a low self-esteem) with Linda. What are some of his concerns?]
7) If you were a co-worker of Willy’s, what advice would you give him about his concerns?
Sc. 3a – 38 – 39
1) What does this scene show us about Willy? How does it compare to Happy’s comment about manufacturers on page 25?
Sc. 4 – 39 – 40
1) Page 40 shows Willy’s temper. Explain Willy’s anger. Why does he react this way? How does it compare to his actions in Sc. 3a?
Sc. 5 - 41 – 52
1) What does Willy reveal to Happy?
2) Who is Ben?
3) Who is Charley?
4) What type of friendship do Charley and Willy appear to have?
5) Re- read the rest of the scene with Ben and Charley carefully.
Remember, it is written as if it was happening in Willy’s mind.
6) What do we learn about Ben?
7) What petty crimes do Biff and Happy commit? How does Willy react to Linda?
To Bernard?
8) This scene is often viewed as part memory, part dream and part reality. Which parts do
you see as which? Explain in 1-2 full paragraphs
Sc. 6 – 52 –
1) What do we learn about the relationship between Willy and Biff?
2) What does Linda explain to Biff and Happy about Willy’s job?
3) What does Linda explain about Willy dying?
4) What do Biff and Happy argue about?
5) What is the “two-million dollar” idea?
6) Biff and Willy have a strong conflict. How do they both appear to be alike?
7) Happy is caught in the middle of the conflict between Willy, Linda and Biff. Write a brief
conversation between Linda and Happy about the conflicts within the family. Have Happy
express his feelings about his father and brother.