Death of a Salesman Act I Test Study Guide

What did Biff steal from Bill Oliver's store?

A carton of basketballs

Who is Charley?

A long-time friend of Willy

Who is the oldest in this play?

Ben

In the first scene with Linda, Willy contradicted himself twice. About what did he contradict himself?

He called Biff lazy, but later describes him as hardworking. Later he contradicts himself about the windshield of the car.

Represents Willy's loss of hope; he is using the tube to try and commit suicide.

Rubber hose

How does Linda treat her husband Willy?

She is loving, enabling, caring, patient, and loves her husband unconditionally.

What is Linda's reaction to Willy's complaints about himself?

She makes excuses for him.

Why was his wife Linda alarmed that he came home?

She was afraid that he got into another accident.

Willy associates Ben's wealth and material possessions with:

Success as a man

Ben is Willy's idea of success, he is perfection and is idolizes it. Ben specifically tells Willy to go against the status quo and instead Willy follows the American Dream and stays placid in the path of achieving success. What metaphor does the author use to represent Ben's successful life?

The Jungle

What does Willy want young Bernard to do for Biff?

Willy wants Bernard to give Biff answers for a test.

Willy is so consumed by his memories of the ________ (good and bad) that he cannot properly function in the present.

past

Willy must borrow money because he is too ashamed to admit his failure. This represents his ___________________.

shame

Where did Ben end up when he went looking for his father?

Africa

Where did Willy's father go after he abandoned his family?

Alaska

The _______________ is an ideal - it must be recognized as such, it is not realistic and not completely attainable. Though you may come close, it will always elude you.

American Dream

Why does Willy believe his sons will be more successful than Bernard?

Bernard is "liked, but not well liked."

What seems to be the problem between Biff and Willy?

Biff is unsettled and hasn't made anything of himself yet, this distresses Willy.

Why did Biff stop working for Bill Oliver?

Biff stole a carton of basketballs from him.

His memories of his old car mark a time when things were simpler and when Willy was more optimistic; the purchase of the car was a symbol of status, of success/ When he bought it he never for a moment thought he wouldn't be able to pay it off. What kind of car was this?

Chevrolet (Chevvy)

Where does the Loman family live?

Brooklyn

What sport does Biff play in his heyday?

Football

What do Happy and Biff decide to do?

Go into business together

Why is Happy Loman perhaps less self-assured than Biff?

Happy has never tasted the success that Biff has.

What does Happy do that makes his mother call him "A Philanderer"?

He chases women for sport.

What happened to Willy after he got a little above Yonkers?

He forgot he was driving and ran his car off the road.

Who is Ben?

He is Willy's elder brother who apparently became very successful at a young age.

Why was Willy annoyed at his son Biff?

He is annoyed because he has done nothing with his life.

Happy says, "I don't know what to do about him [Willy], it's getting embarrassing." What is he referring to?

He is referring to Willy's mental lapses into a dream world.

Willy says, "The man knew what he wanted and went out and got it! Walked into a jungle, and comes out, at the age of twenty one, and he's rich..." about whom it he talking?

He is talking about Ben.

Linda tells the boys that Willy won't be all right. When the boys ask why he won't, what is her reply?

He is trying to kill himself.

What is unusual about the way in which Willy relates to reality?

He loses himself in flashbacks of the past.

In the beginning of the play, why did Willy go home?

He was tired and kept driving off the road.

What did Biff do in the West before returning home?

He worked on a farm/ranch

What surprises Biff about his mother?

Her hair turning grey.

Who does Willy think has come to visit him?

His brother Ben

What is Willy really having the most trouble coping with in the play?

His deteriorating sales career and income.

Willy is more comfortable living in this place than the real world.

His imaginary and delusional world of fantasy

The main character is a salesman who, after thirty four years with the company, has been taken off salary and is experiencing some personal and financial difficulties. What is his name?

His name is Willy Loman

Where does Happy work?

In a store

Why does Bernard not help Biff cheat on the Regents exam?

It is a state exam, and Bernard could be arrested.

How has the neighborhood changed?

It is now surrounded by large apartment buildings.

What does Happy's thinking tell you about his character as a man?

It shows that Happy is more concerned about his own welfare than Willy's health.

What subject did Biff fail in High School?

Math

What does Willy sell on the road?

Miller does not specify this

For what region is Willy responsible in his sales?

New England

Willy's inability to properly see his problems, to properly admit his role in his own problems, has pushed him to the point of __________________.

madness

Who are Biff and Happy?

They are Willy's sons. Neither are very settled or responsible.

Willy's income has been greatly reduced because the company:

Took away his salary and now pay him only on commission.

Linda says, "Attention, attention must be paid to such a person." What does she mean?

Willy deserves our attention, our interest, and caring. Even though he is misguided, he is trying to muddle through life as well as he can.

What does Linda tell the boys which stuns them?

Willy has been trying to kill himself.

Why does Charley tell Willy "the jails are full of fearless characters"?

Willy has just sent his sons across the road to a new construction site to steal more building supplies. Willy is proud of their fearlessness, but Charley sees a more practical side to it, that what the boys are doing is wrong.

Biff feels _____________________ by Willy and, as a result, lives his life running away from his problems as he feels like no one is there to help him.

abandoned; deserted

What did Willy's father sell?

flutes that he made by hand