Monday
Hook, Housekeeping
& Homework
MONDAY
Have out your novel (fictional text) to read 
Quietly read for approx. 5 minutes
Remember…
• no electronics out/on during reading time
• you are receiving credit for being on time,
• ready to read with your choice, independent reading novel,
• and actively reading during the given time.
• If you do not have your book with you, must read something else.
If you finish reading a book, let me know. You’ll need to fill out a ½ sheet review
and post it in the room!
If you are absent, come in another time that week to make-up reading.
Homework: Read you choice novel!
Past, Present, Future
• Death of a Salesman
• Finish Respond to Essential Questions (poster)
• Model Essay
• Death of a Salesman
• Write a Statement of Theme
• No School for Seniors
• Death of a Salesman
•
•
•
•
Historical/Biographical Lens: Model & Activity
Archetypal Lens: Model & Activity
Psychoanalytical Lens: Model & Activity
Feminist Lens: Model & Activity
MONDAY
Drama Through a Critical Lens
Standards
2. Reading for All Purposes
1. Literary criticism of complex texts requires the use of analysis, interpretive, and evaluative strategies
Objective: to analyze the drama Death of a Salesman through the 5 critical lenses we’ve studied: archetypal,
historical/biographical, feminist, Marxist, and psychoanalytical.
Relevance:
• By interpreting complex texts, providing evidence, and communicating ideas, we are not only practicing the skills need in any
workplace or postsecondary setting, but also we are examining aspects of ourselves and others and how these as well as social and
historical events impact the way in which we communicate.
• By learning to examine situations from different perspectives, we open ourselves to recognizing, understanding, explaining, and
judging the ways in which we, as well as others, conduct ourselves, in order to more productively function in an every changing
world.
Inquiry Questions:
What strategies are most useful when reading, understanding, making personal connections to, and analyzing texts ?
What is critical theory? What do we ask ourselves when viewing a text through different lenses?
How does one’s perspective influence the reading of a text? How does reading from a particular perspective influence what is seen as
important within a text and how characters, events, and theme are understood?
How is literature a voice of social commentary?
Activity: Develop & Apply
Purpose: to examine the central messages revealed in the play in order to consider what critical lenses to use for analysis
Tasks:
1. Individually, complete the theme sheet. (see next)
Think about the pre-reading activities we did and information in your reading/viewing packet!
What is the American Dream? How is it characteristic of American ideals and philosophy? What are the differences between the materialistic and the idealistic values
associated with the American Dream?
What is your definition of salesman? How is a salesman different from someone in another occupation? What attitudes do you think a salesman should have to be
successful? What attitudes would hinder him?
What effect do the expectations of parents have on the behavior of their children? In what ways might parental expectations be beneficial? In what ways might they be
detrimental?
America has long been known as a land of opportunity. Out of that thinking comes the "American Dream," the idea that anyone can ultimately achieve success, even if he
or she began with nothing. In Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, we follow Willy Loman as he reviews a life of desperate pursuit of a dream of success. In this classic
drama, the playwright suggests to his audience both what is truthful and what is illusory in the American Dream and, hence, in the lives of millions of Americans. Unusual
in its presentation of a common man as a tragic figure, the play received the Pulitzer Prize as well as the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award when it was produced and
published in 1949
Outcome: Share and compare
What is revealed in this play about what it means to be a human being in this world?
Instruction: Obtain
Examples of theme statements include…
•
•
•
•
•
Humankind has always struggled with temptation.
Hope can help a person to survive any dark time.
Courage is an important ingredient in expressing one’s individuality.
We must acknowledge internal darkness before defeating evil forces.
People are not always who they say they are.
These are theme statements because they show the meaning of the work being
analyzed as well as the writer's unique interpretation of that work.
You will need to include a statement of
theme for the play Death of a Salesman
in your essay.
The lenses you use till support this statement.
How to write one…
Tuesday
• No school for seniors!
Hook, Housekeeping
& Homework
WEDNESDAY
Have out your novel (fictional text) to read 
Quietly read for approx. 5 minutes
Remember…
• no electronics out/on during reading time
• you are receiving credit for being on time,
• ready to read with your choice, independent reading novel,
• and actively reading during the given time.
• If you do not have your book with you, must read something else.
If you finish reading a book, let me know. You’ll need to fill out a ½ sheet review
and post it in the room!
If you are absent, come in another time that week to make-up reading.
Homework: Read you choice novel!
Past, Present, Future
• Death of a Salesman
• Respond to Essential Questions (poster) & Model Essay
• Write a Statement of Theme
• No School for Seniors
• Death of a Salesman
• Historical/Biographical Lens: Model & Activity
• Death of a Salesman
• Archetypal Lens: Model & Activity
• Psychoanalytical Lens: Model & Activity
WEDNESDAY
Drama Through a Critical Lens
Standards
2. Reading for All Purposes
1. Literary criticism of complex texts requires the use of analysis, interpretive, and evaluative strategies
Objective: to analyze the drama Death of a Salesman through the 5 critical lenses we’ve studied: archetypal,
historical/biographical, feminist, Marxist, and psychoanalytical.
Relevance:
• By interpreting complex texts, providing evidence, and communicating ideas, we are not only practicing the skills need in any
workplace or postsecondary setting, but also we are examining aspects of ourselves and others and how these as well as social and
historical events impact the way in which we communicate.
• By learning to examine situations from different perspectives, we open ourselves to recognizing, understanding, explaining, and
judging the ways in which we, as well as others, conduct ourselves, in order to more productively function in an every changing
world.
Inquiry Questions:
What strategies are most useful when reading, understanding, making personal connections to, and analyzing texts ?
What is critical theory? What do we ask ourselves when viewing a text through different lenses?
How does one’s perspective influence the reading of a text? How does reading from a particular perspective influence what is seen as
important within a text and how characters, events, and theme are understood?
How is literature a voice of social commentary?
Activity: Develop & Apply
Purposes:
• To identify how a peer author organized an historical/biographical analysis of a novel
• To research the historical context of the play Death of a Salesman and the biography of the
author in order to consider what critical lenses to use for your analysis
Tasks:
1. Read and annotate (based on the questions) the model body paragraph
2. Using the Internet and other sources, do some initial research on the time period and
author; take notes on the activity sheet and/or the essential questions graphic organizer
Outcome: Will you analyze the play through this lens? Why or why not? If so, how?
How does this information relate to or contribute to a theme in this play?
What is revealed in this play about what it means to be a human being in this world?
Hook, Housekeeping
& Homework
THURSDAY
Have out your novel (fictional text) to read 
Quietly read for approx. 10 minutes
Remember…
• no electronics out/on during reading time
• you are receiving credit for being on time,
• ready to read with your choice, independent reading novel,
• and actively reading during the given time.
• If you do not have your book with you, must read something else.
If you finish reading a book, let me know. You’ll need to fill out a ½ sheet review and
post it in the room!
If you are absent, come in another time that week to make-up reading.
Homework: Read you choice novel!
Work on selected lens activity from today!
Past, Present, Future
• Death of a Salesman
• Write a Statement of Theme
• Historical/Biographical Lens: Model & Activity
• Death of a Salesman
• Archetypal Lens: Model & Activity
• Psychoanalytical Lens: Model & Activity
• Death of a Salesman
• Feminist Lens: Model & Activity
• Marxist Lens: Model & Activity
THURSDAY
Drama Through a Critical Lens
Standards
2. Reading for All Purposes
1. Literary criticism of complex texts requires the use of analysis, interpretive, and evaluative strategies
Objective: to analyze the drama Death of a Salesman through the 5 critical lenses we’ve studied: archetypal,
historical/biographical, feminist, Marxist, and psychoanalytical.
Relevance:
• By interpreting complex texts, providing evidence, and communicating ideas, we are not only practicing the skills need in any
workplace or postsecondary setting, but also we are examining aspects of ourselves and others and how these as well as social and
historical events impact the way in which we communicate.
• By learning to examine situations from different perspectives, we open ourselves to recognizing, understanding, explaining, and
judging the ways in which we, as well as others, conduct ourselves, in order to more productively function in an every changing
world.
Inquiry Questions:
What strategies are most useful when reading, understanding, making personal connections to, and analyzing texts ?
What is critical theory? What do we ask ourselves when viewing a text through different lenses?
How does one’s perspective influence the reading of a text? How does reading from a particular perspective influence what is seen as
important within a text and how characters, events, and theme are understood?
How is literature a voice of social commentary?
Activity: Develop & Apply
Purposes:
• To identify how a peer author organized an analysis of archetypes in a novel
• To examine the archetypes used in the play Death of a Salesman in order to consider what critical
lenses to use for your analysis
Tasks:
1. Read and annotate (based on the questions) the model body paragraph
2. While reviewing the play, complete the archetypes activity sheet
Before we begin this activity sheet, let’s take a look at another lens model and activity,
and then you can select which one to focus on in class today. (see next)
Outcome: Will you analyze the play through this lens? Why or why not? If so, how?
How do your ideas relate to/support a theme in this play?
What is revealed in this play about what it means to be a human being in this world?
Archetypal Essential Questions:
•
•
•
•
What common patterns do you see in the plot?
What common character types do you see?
What common or symbolic settings do you see?
What symbolic objects, animals or colors are used?
• How do your ideas relate to/support a theme in this play?
Activity: Develop & Apply
Purposes:
• To identify how a peer author organized an psychoanalytical analysis
• To specifically examine the play Death of a Salesman through a psychoanalytical lens in order to
consider what critical lenses to use for your analysis
Tasks:
1. Read and annotate (based on the questions) the model body paragraph
2. While reviewing the play, complete the psychoanalytical activity sheet
Spend the remainder of class completing one of the two activity sheets
for the lenses presented today.
I will collect 1 of 3 at the beginning of class tomorrow. These will not be accepted late.
Outcome: Will you analyze the play through this lens? Why or why not? If so, how?
How do your ideas relate to/support a theme in this play?
What is revealed in this play about what it means to be a human being in this world?
TURN IN
Turn in 1 of the 3 (hist.bio., arch., or psych.) completed activity sheets into the
basket.
Make sure your name and period are on it!
These will not be accepted late.
Hook, Housekeeping
& Homework
FRIDAY
Have out your novel (fictional text) to read 
Quietly read for approx. 10 minutes
Remember…
• no electronics out/on during reading time
• you are receiving credit for being on time,
• ready to read with your choice, independent reading novel,
• and actively reading during the given time.
• If you do not have your book with you, must read something else.
If you finish reading a book, let me know. You’ll need to fill out a ½ sheet review and post it in the
room!
If you are absent, come in another time that week to make-up reading.
Homework: Read you choice novel!
Work on selected lens activity from today!
Make sure you know which 3 lenses you plan to use AND have ideas
to start writing your draft Monday!
Past, Present, Future
FRIDAY
• Death of a Salesman
•
•
•
•
Write a Statement of Theme
Historical/Biographical Lens: Model & Activity
Archetypal Lens: Model & Activity
Psychoanalytical Lens: Model & Activity
• Death of a Salesman
• Feminist Lens: Model & Activity
• Marxist Lens: Model & Activity
• Death of a Salesman
• Prompt – Rubric - Draft Thesis and Essay
• Word Process – Incorporating Quotes - Peer Edit
• Final copy! Turnitin.com AND Hard Copy due Thursday, April 20th by 3:15 PM!
Drama Through a Critical Lens
Standards
2. Reading for All Purposes
1. Literary criticism of complex texts requires the use of analysis, interpretive, and evaluative strategies
Objective: to analyze the drama Death of a Salesman through the 5 critical lenses we’ve studied: archetypal,
historical/biographical, feminist, Marxist, and psychoanalytical.
Relevance:
• By interpreting complex texts, providing evidence, and communicating ideas, we are not only practicing the skills need in any
workplace or postsecondary setting, but also we are examining aspects of ourselves and others and how these as well as social and
historical events impact the way in which we communicate.
• By learning to examine situations from different perspectives, we open ourselves to recognizing, understanding, explaining, and
judging the ways in which we, as well as others, conduct ourselves, in order to more productively function in an every changing
world.
Inquiry Questions:
What strategies are most useful when reading, understanding, making personal connections to, and analyzing texts ?
What is critical theory? What do we ask ourselves when viewing a text through different lenses?
How does one’s perspective influence the reading of a text? How does reading from a particular perspective influence what is seen as
important within a text and how characters, events, and theme are understood?
How is literature a voice of social commentary?
Activity: Develop & Apply
Purposes:
• To identify how a peer author organized an feminist lens analysis
• To specifically examine the play Death of a Salesman through a feminist lens in order to
consider what critical lenses to use for your analysis
Tasks:
1. Read and annotate (based on the questions) the model body paragraph
2. While reviewing the play, complete the feminist activity sheet
Before we begin this activity sheet, let’s take a look at another lens model and activity,
and then you can select which one to focus on in class today. (see next)
Outcome: Will you analyze the play through this lens? Why or why not? If so, how?
How do your ideas relate to/support a theme in this play?
What is revealed in this play about what it means to be a human being in this world?
Activity: Develop & Apply
Purposes:
• To identify how a peer author organized a Marxist analysis
• To specifically examine the play Death of a Salesman through a Marxist lens in order to consider what critical
lenses to use for your analysis
Tasks:
1. Read and annotate (based on the questions) the model body paragraph
2. While reviewing the play, complete the Marxist activity sheet
Spend the remainder of class working through one of the two activity sheets
for the lenses presented today.
Outcome: Will you analyze the play through this lens? Why or why not? If so, how?
How do your ideas relate to/support a theme in this play?
What is revealed in this play about what it means to be a human being in this world?
I will collect 1 more of 5 at the beginning of next class.
These will not be accepted late.