Opening scene - Willy's 1st daydream

Question 1

A melody is heard on a flute ‘it is _____ and _____ , telling of _____ and _____ and the _____’

Answer 1

“It is SMALL and FINE, telling of GRASS and TREES and the HORIZON”

Question 2

What colour / light imagery is used around the houses?

Answer 2

‘blue light of the sky falls upon the house’ vs ‘surrounding area shows an angry glow of orange’

Question 3

What does the light illuminate?

Answer 3

‘solid vault of apartment houses around the small, fragile seeming home’

Question 4

SD; ‘An _____ of the _____ _____ to the _____ , a dream rising out of _____’

Answer 4

‘An AIR of the DREAM CLINGS to the PLACE , a dream rising out of REALITY’

Question 5

SD; ‘_____ light of the _____ falls upon the house’

‘_____ area shows an _____ _____ of _____’

Answer 5

‘BLUE light of the SKY falls upon the house’

‘SURROUNDING area shows an ANGRY GLOW of ORANGE’

Question 6

SD; ‘_____ _____ of apartment houses around the _____, _____ seeming home’

Answer 6

‘SOLID VAULT of apartment houses around the SMALL, FRAGILE seeming home’

Question 7

How does Linda feel towards Willy?

Answer 7

Linda ‘more than loves him, she admires him’

Question 8

What are some of Linda’s excuses to why Willy was not able to drive?

Answer 8

• Steering was not properly fixed
• Needs glasses
• ‘Your mind is overactive, and the mind is what counts, dear’

Question 9

Linda; ‘Your mind is _____, and the _____ is what _____, _____’’

Answer 9

‘Your mind is OVER-ACTIVE, and the MIND is what COUNTS, DEAR’

Question 10

What does Willy say about his thoughts?

Answer 10

‘I have such thoughts, I have such strange thoughts’

Question 11

Willy; ‘I have such _____, I have such _____ _____’

Answer 11

‘I have such THOUGHTS, I have such STRANGE THOUGHTS’

Question 12

Why does Willy say that he is not needed in New York?

Answer 12

‘They don’t need me in New York. In the New England man. I’m vital in New England’

Question 13

Willy; ‘They _____ _____ me in New York. In the _____ _____ man. I’m _____ in _____ _____’

Answer 13

‘They DON’T NEED me in New York. In the NEW ENGLAND man. I’m VITAL in NEW ENGLAND’

Question 14

That morning who did Willy criticise for working on a farm?

Answer 14

Biff

Question 15

What does Willy say about Biff’s work ethic?

Answer 15

‘Biff is a lazy bum’

‘such a hard worker’

Question 16

What does Linda think about Biff’s aspirations, redirecting Willy’s ideas?

Answer 16

‘I think he’s still lost, Willy. I think he’s very lost’

Question 17

Linda; ‘I think he’s _____ _____, Willy. I _____ he’s _____ _____’

Answer 17

‘I think he’s STILL LOST, Willy. I THINK he’s VERY LOST’

Question 18

What does Willy think about Linda?

Answer 18

‘You’re my foundation and my support, Linda’

Question 19

Willy; ‘You’re my _____ and my _____, Linda’

Answer 19

‘You’re my FOUNDATION and my SUPPORT, Linda’

Question 20

What do the stage directions say about Biff?

Answer 20

‘he has succeeded less and his dreams are stronger and less acceptable than Happy’s’

Question 21

SD; ‘[Biff] has _____ _____ and his _____ are _____ and less _____ than Happy’s’

Answer 21

‘he has SUCCEEDED LESS and his DREAMS are STRONGER and less ACCEPTABLE than Happy’s’

Question 22

What does Biff say about what he wants?

Answer 22

‘I don’t know what the future is. I don’t know - what I’m supposed to want’

• ironic as he knows exactly what he wants

Question 23

Biff; ‘I don’t know what the _____ is. I don’t _____ - what I’m _____ to _____’

Answer 23

‘I don’t know what the FUTURE is. I don’t KNOW - what I’m SUPPOSED to WANT’

• ironic as he knows exactly what he wants

Question 24

What does Happy say about his brother upon his reminiscing of life on the farm?

Answer 24

‘You’re a poet, you know that, Biff? You’re a - you’re an idealist!’

Question 25

Happy; ‘You’re a _____, you _____ that, Biff? You’re a - _____ an _____!’

Answer 25

‘You’re a POET, you KNOW that, Biff? You’re a - YOU’RE an IDEALIST!’

Question 26

Biff thinks that he is like a ‘_____’

Answer 26

‘I’m like a boy…. I just - I’m like a boy’

Question 27

What does Happy say about what he is working for?

Answer 27

‘I don’t know what the hell I’m workin’ for’

Question 28

Biff; ‘with _____ _____,’ dreams about the Loman Brothers running a ranch

Answer 28

VAST AFFECTION

Question 29

Biff; ‘we’d have _____ to _____’

Answer 29

We’d have SOMEONE to TRUST

Question 30

What is Happy’s ‘crummy characteristic’?

Answer 30

Sleeping with the fiancée of his colleagues

Question 31

Who does Biff want to borrow money from and what does he wonder he this person thinks?

Answer 31

Oliver

Biff wonders if Oliver still thinks that he stole a carton of Basketballs

Question 32

Happy; ‘you’re _____ _____ Biff’

Answer 32

‘you’re WELL LIKED Biff’

Question 33

What happens from the Opening scene to Willy’s 1st daydream?

Answer 33

• Scene is in Brooklyn, flat boxed in with other apartment houses. Props positioned and imaginary lines set
• Willy comes in after a long day, set down suitcases whilst Linda gets up to greet him
• Linda is concerned as to why Willy came back so soon
• Willy reveals that he kept on daydreaming and nearly hit a boy
• That morning Willy had criticised Biff for working on a farm
• Sons wake up and reminisce about the old days and potential future
• Biff plans to ask oliver for some money to buy a ranch and wonders if he still thinks if Biff stole the Basketballs