Death of a Salesman
Writing Prompts
Directions: Choose ONE of the following AP writing prompts and write an essay.
Prompt 1: Willy Loman’s desire to plant a garden is a recurring motif in Death of a Salesman. In the
opening scene, he laments that “you can’t raise a carrot in the back yard”; near the play’s end, when Biff
confronts him, he is still attempting to plant a garden.
In a well-organized essay, examine how Willy’s recurring references to gardening and planting combine to
provide important insight into his character.
Prompt 2: In broad terms, a “tragedy” is a work in which the main character is brought to ruin, usually
as a consequence of a predominating weakness or tragic flaw. According to Aristotle, the fall of the
protagonist creates pity and fear in the audience, and the release of these emotions provides
catharsis. Typically, a tragic hero is a person who is highly renowned and prosperous, a description that
does not apply to the aptly named Willy Loman. However, many critics have characterized Death of a
Salesman as an American tragedy.
In a well-organized essay, explain why the play should or should not be classified as a tragedy, supporting
your position with specific evidence from the play.
Prompt 3: Death of a Salesman uses stream of consciousness and flashback as literary techniques to tell
the story of Willy Loman and his family. The structure of the play, although at times confusing, gives a
unique perspective into the characters and their lives.
In a well-organized multi-paragraph essay analyze Miller's use of flashbacks and stream of consciousness
to tell the story in Death of a Salesman. Consider how the use of flashback and stream of consciousness
contribute to the audience’s understanding of the play and how they play may have been different if it
used the traditional dramatic structure.
Guidelines for your essay
● Follow the format of a literary analysis that is found in your Honors 10 Handbook
● introduce the full name of the author and title of the work in the introduction (always italicize the
title)
● use the author’s last name for the remainder of the paper
● make a claim (a thesis) regarding the literature - remember to use key words from the prompt in
your claim
● use specific details and examples from the book in your supporting paragraphs
● create strong transitions between sentences and paragraphs
● do not include plot summary
● eliminate personal tone (“I think…” or “In my opinion,” for example)
Formatting Requirements
● Follow MLA format (heading, header, spacing, etc.) Use your handbook.
● Turn it in to turnitin.com by the due date and time indicated
● Bring a hard copy to class with you on the due date (NO EXCUSES)