Death of a Salesman

Reading Check and Short Answer questions on key points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

Act I, Scenes 1-6

Reading Check

1. What is Willy Loman’s job?

2. Where does young Biff get his new football?

3. What does young Biff promise to do for Willy?

4. How does Willy describe his earnings to Linda?

5. Why does Willy think people don’t like him?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What is Willy Loman’s relationship to the past and present?

2. Why is Linda Loman worried about Willy, and what advice does she give him?

3. What is Willy Loman’s relationship with his son Biff?

4. For what does Willy seem to depend on his sons, particularly Biff?

5. Why is Bernard worried about young Biff?

6. What is noticeable about Willy’s lines regarding the Chevy and Hartford?

7. What does the shadow of the woman dressing and thanking Willy for stockings suggest?

Paired Resource

“About Dementia”

• Willy Loman exhibits some symptoms and characteristics of dementia. The CDC gives an overview of the condition.
• In thinking about the theme Contradictions and the Denial of Reality, does the CDC’s description apply to Willy Loman?
• Consider whether you agree or disagree with a dementia diagnosis for this character.