Death of a Salesman

Question 1

expressionism

Answer 1

exaggeration or distortion used to reveal an INNER TRUTH

• memory distortion = Willy remembering things different to how they actually happened

Question 2

expressionist features

Answer 2

SETTING

• abstract or dream like
• props are sparse or symbolic (rubber hose, the seeds, the diamonds)

ACTION
- EPISODIC often represented in stages of life as a series of visions

CHARACTERS
- nameless/represent roles in society

Question 3

Absurdism features:

Answer 3

CONTRADICTION
‘the trouble is he’s lazy’ ‘Biff is not lazy’

non naturalistic, symbolic acts

fractured time structure
use of non rational events (manifestations of Ben)

• lack of dramatic resolution (although Willy’s death is relieves the loman’s of financial strain, the price of this was Willy’s life. Happy preps to perpetuate a dream that Willy’s death exposes to be futile.