Death of a Salesman exam 69 questions
and answers
ACT I - Describe the first impression which the audience is given of Willy Loman. (pg 5) - answer
Overwhelmed, exhausted, helpless, and clustered. Smashed the car. Wife is concerned. Good
insight of who he is as a person. Brutal honesty.
What comment does Willy make about the scenery during his drive home, and how is this
significant? (pg 6) - answer Beautiful with big trees. Couldn't keep his mind focused on one
thing (driving). Easily distracted. Thinks nature is comforting.
How does Willy contradict himself during his opening remarks about Biff? (pg 8) - answer
Originally calls him lazy, but three lines later calls him not lazy not lost.
Describe Willy's reaction to the American cheese? What commentary is Miller making about his
character here? (pg 8) - answer He says he doesn't like change and wants his usual Swiss
cheese. The cheese is representative of his inability to accept the changing world around him.
How does the open window reflect Willy's attitude towards his environment? (pg 8) - answer He
finds comfort in nature and likes the fresh air and outdoors. He sees the window as closed. He
closed himself in and can't physically see the open window. The window is symbolic of his open-
mindedness. They were closing a lot of the farmland in Brooklyn and opening more apartment
buildings.
When Willy reflects on the past on the top of p. 9, what attracts him? - answer Nature was so
beautiful to him and reflects the relationship with Biff. He misses the flowers that were chopped
down and the relationship with his son.
When comment does Willy make about the Chevvy on p. 10? - answer He realizes now that
earlier today he thought he was driving his old 1928 red Chevvy. Linda is more grounded but is
not aware of his different cars. He's very irritable and misses his old car.
, What is the significance of Biff's comment to Happy: "I can't get near him"? (pg 12) - answer Biff
is very bitter and says Willy is always mocking and criticizing him. There's fear of telling his
father what he wants to do and longing of their past relationship. Biff cares about Willy and tries
to rekindle the relationship but is frustrated.
How does Biff's remark about wasting his life reflect his personality? (pg 13) - answer Biff tells
Happy that he's had 20-30 jobs and once he gets comfortable he thinks it's not going anywhere
and moves on. He wants to make his future but doesn't know what to do with himself. Every
time he comes back home, he realizes he wasted his life and he's unsettled. Home represents
what his life could have and should have been, in large part, because of his father.
How does Happy's comment about his friend in Long Island reflect the priorities of life? (pg 13) -
answer Happy's friend built an estate and immediately sells it because he can't settle. Happy
feels the same way as his friend. They're both unfulfilled and unsatisfied. The frustration they
have is with the present. Happy has a good job and pays his rent but he's unsettled.
How does Biff use Happy's Long Island friend to support his effort to convince him to go out
West? (pg 14) - answer Biff tries to convince Happy to go out west with him. Happy refuses and
says he knows he'll never be content but he's not ready to give it all up. He's envious of his
friend because everyone worships him and he makes $52,000 a year. Misery loves company.
How does Willy's comment about Biff and his relationship with girls reflect his relationship with
his son? (pg 17) - answer Willy is in disbelief over his son's relationship with girls (where they
fawn over him and pay for him). He says "That so?" implying he's promoting something that's
not very good. His relationship with his son is not so much father-son but like friends. Willy
encourages Biff in ways he shouldn't (taking advantage of girls, stealing a football, failing math).
Willy can't discipline him.
How does Willy's advice to Happy about how to clean the car windows reflect the difference
between his relationship with Biff versus his relationship with Happy? (pg 17) - answer Willy
expects more strenuous work from Biff. He purposely gives Happy the easiest job and tells Biff
to teach him (like he could do it better). We don't know much about Happy as a child.
and answers
ACT I - Describe the first impression which the audience is given of Willy Loman. (pg 5) - answer
Overwhelmed, exhausted, helpless, and clustered. Smashed the car. Wife is concerned. Good
insight of who he is as a person. Brutal honesty.
What comment does Willy make about the scenery during his drive home, and how is this
significant? (pg 6) - answer Beautiful with big trees. Couldn't keep his mind focused on one
thing (driving). Easily distracted. Thinks nature is comforting.
How does Willy contradict himself during his opening remarks about Biff? (pg 8) - answer
Originally calls him lazy, but three lines later calls him not lazy not lost.
Describe Willy's reaction to the American cheese? What commentary is Miller making about his
character here? (pg 8) - answer He says he doesn't like change and wants his usual Swiss
cheese. The cheese is representative of his inability to accept the changing world around him.
How does the open window reflect Willy's attitude towards his environment? (pg 8) - answer He
finds comfort in nature and likes the fresh air and outdoors. He sees the window as closed. He
closed himself in and can't physically see the open window. The window is symbolic of his open-
mindedness. They were closing a lot of the farmland in Brooklyn and opening more apartment
buildings.
When Willy reflects on the past on the top of p. 9, what attracts him? - answer Nature was so
beautiful to him and reflects the relationship with Biff. He misses the flowers that were chopped
down and the relationship with his son.
When comment does Willy make about the Chevvy on p. 10? - answer He realizes now that
earlier today he thought he was driving his old 1928 red Chevvy. Linda is more grounded but is
not aware of his different cars. He's very irritable and misses his old car.
, What is the significance of Biff's comment to Happy: "I can't get near him"? (pg 12) - answer Biff
is very bitter and says Willy is always mocking and criticizing him. There's fear of telling his
father what he wants to do and longing of their past relationship. Biff cares about Willy and tries
to rekindle the relationship but is frustrated.
How does Biff's remark about wasting his life reflect his personality? (pg 13) - answer Biff tells
Happy that he's had 20-30 jobs and once he gets comfortable he thinks it's not going anywhere
and moves on. He wants to make his future but doesn't know what to do with himself. Every
time he comes back home, he realizes he wasted his life and he's unsettled. Home represents
what his life could have and should have been, in large part, because of his father.
How does Happy's comment about his friend in Long Island reflect the priorities of life? (pg 13) -
answer Happy's friend built an estate and immediately sells it because he can't settle. Happy
feels the same way as his friend. They're both unfulfilled and unsatisfied. The frustration they
have is with the present. Happy has a good job and pays his rent but he's unsettled.
How does Biff use Happy's Long Island friend to support his effort to convince him to go out
West? (pg 14) - answer Biff tries to convince Happy to go out west with him. Happy refuses and
says he knows he'll never be content but he's not ready to give it all up. He's envious of his
friend because everyone worships him and he makes $52,000 a year. Misery loves company.
How does Willy's comment about Biff and his relationship with girls reflect his relationship with
his son? (pg 17) - answer Willy is in disbelief over his son's relationship with girls (where they
fawn over him and pay for him). He says "That so?" implying he's promoting something that's
not very good. His relationship with his son is not so much father-son but like friends. Willy
encourages Biff in ways he shouldn't (taking advantage of girls, stealing a football, failing math).
Willy can't discipline him.
How does Willy's advice to Happy about how to clean the car windows reflect the difference
between his relationship with Biff versus his relationship with Happy? (pg 17) - answer Willy
expects more strenuous work from Biff. He purposely gives Happy the easiest job and tells Biff
to teach him (like he could do it better). We don't know much about Happy as a child.
