1. How would you describe Miller’s language – poetic? wordy? visceral?

2. Describe the ideas of “hunger” or “hunting” as they apply to this play.

3. What is the turning point?

4. How does Willy’s guilt about his relationship with The Woman dictate his actions and his relationships?

5. What is the significance of the line which Willy speaks to Howard: “You can’t eat the orange and throw the peel away – a man is not a piece of fruit.”?

6. What is the significance of the “burning woods?” What are positive and negative aspects of trees in the play?

7. What are some other symbols in the play not discussed above?

8. How does Willy’s home function as a metaphor for his ambitions?

9. Arthur Miller has said that the structure and form of Greek Drama have influenced his writing. What other influences did he have?

10. In addition to what has been described above, what are the elements of the play which make it universal?

11. Expand upon the comments above on the themes of the play. Discuss some of them in relation to other works by Arthur Miller (especially All My Sons).

12. Do you agree with the character analyses given above? What would you add?

13. Why does Willy reject Charley’s job offer?

14. During both world wars, Americans were encouraged to grow “Victory Gardens.” This trend happened as a result of people’s fears about food shortages and rising prices. Discuss the notion of the Victory Garden and how it could relate to the motif of the garden in Death of a Salesman.

15. The names of the characters in the play have been chosen carefully. What is their significance (Loman, Singleman, Biff, Happy, etc.)?

16. Discuss the notion of mythic figures in the play? What purpose to they serve for or against Willy?

17. Discuss the role of sports – how do attitudes toward sports shape feelings which Biff, Willy and Happy have about themselves?

18. What is the role of women in the play? Discuss the play from a feminist perspective, especially in regard to the idea of the American Dream and to the theme of family loyalty.