Arthur Miller -- Death of a Salesman

Death of a Salesman is widely regarded as one of, it not THE, best plays written by an American. Written in a fit of inspiration and polished off in less than six weeks, this play opened in 1949 and now has been produced in every major country including China and in more than thirty languages. Below, I have links to the study questions, the synopsis of the play, and brief introductions to themes, symbols, techniques, and major ideas of the play. They should all help you better understand and more thoroughly enjoy the play.

Plays are written with the intention of being performed in front of an audience. A good idea might be to watch a live performance, if possible or rent out a video (my favorite is the Dustin Hoffman, John Malkovich version). All of the video stores in Salina have a copy.

As a final touch, I have a webpage with helpful hints to the test and essay. This could be a great aid to you.

Best of luck and as always: If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions on how to improve the website:

Contact Jay Edwards

[Meaning and Art] [Motifs] [Character Analysis]

[Verbal and Symbolic Technique] [Narrative Technique]

[Genre] [Synopsis] [Study Questions] [The Tragic Hero]

[Tragic Flaws] [An American Tragedy] [Language]

[Quiz]

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