““The American Dream”The American Dream”

According to many, “The American According to many, “The American Dream” is the capitalist belief that if Dream” is the capitalist belief that if you work hard enough you can be a you work hard enough you can be a success in America.success in America.

Do you agree or disagree with that Do you agree or disagree with that definition of “The American Dream”? definition of “The American Dream”? Explain why.Explain why.

““Restoring the American Restoring the American Dream”Dream”

Time Magazine Time Magazine November 1, 2010November 1, 2010Introduction Going Global Recapturing

the DreamWhat We Need to Do Now

The Work Ahead

What is the current state of the American Dream and the American middle class?

To what extent have America’s corporations gone global?

How has globalization affected the American economy?

What would be the wrong way to go about improving the American economy?

What are some possible solutions for improving the American economy?

How would each of the following strategies help the American economy?

-Shift to investment

-Training and education

-Fiscal sanity

-Benchmarks

What is wrong with America’s current system of government?

How did the term “American Dream” originate?

Can the American Dream be restored? If so, how?

Homework: Due Next Homework: Due Next ClassClass Write a one-page essay Write a one-page essay

(handwritten) in response to the (handwritten) in response to the question, What does the question, What does the American Dream mean to you?American Dream mean to you?

Pay attention to:Pay attention to:– Clarity of ideas and supportClarity of ideas and support– Organization/structureOrganization/structure– Spelling/grammarSpelling/grammar

Opening ActivityOpening Activity

We will be reading the play called We will be reading the play called Death of a SalesmanDeath of a Salesman..

Write a prediction of what you Write a prediction of what you think the play will be about. think the play will be about. Consider different meanings of Consider different meanings of the word “death.”the word “death.”

Essential QuestionsEssential Questions What is a tragedy, and why do we enjoy What is a tragedy, and why do we enjoy

watching it?watching it? Is there anything to criticize about our American Is there anything to criticize about our American

capitalist system?capitalist system? How do society’s values influence one’s ideas of How do society’s values influence one’s ideas of

success?success? How does one attain success in one’s life?How does one attain success in one’s life? How do one’s parents influence one’s own How do one’s parents influence one’s own

values, worldview, and morals?values, worldview, and morals? Is there such a thing as the American Dream, Is there such a thing as the American Dream,

and do people ever attain it?and do people ever attain it?

Setting of Setting of Death of a Death of a SalesmanSalesman Time: Time:

– Late 1940sLate 1940s– Structure: Structure:

Most action takes place during 24 hours Most action takes place during 24 hours between Monday night and Tuesday nightbetween Monday night and Tuesday night

Daydreams/flashbacks into past occur Daydreams/flashbacks into past occur frequentlyfrequently

Requiem takes place a few days after Requiem takes place a few days after Tuesday nightTuesday night

Place:Place:– Brooklyn, NYBrooklyn, NY– Various places in New York and BostonVarious places in New York and Boston

Author’s Comments on Author’s Comments on Daydreams/Flashbacks Daydreams/Flashbacks

““There are no flashbacks in this There are no flashbacks in this play but only a mobile play but only a mobile concurrency of past and concurrency of past and present…because in his present…because in his desperation to justify his life desperation to justify his life Willy Loman has destroyed the Willy Loman has destroyed the boundaries between now and boundaries between now and then.“ then.“

-Arthur Miller-Arthur Miller

Salesmen in the late Salesmen in the late 1940s1940sObstacles:Obstacles: WWII (ended in WWII (ended in

1945)1945) Women went to workWomen went to work Struggling economyStruggling economy DistrustDistrust Beginning of Beginning of

television television commercialscommercials

http://www.youtube.com/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7t9YlMxWoEwatch?v=m7t9YlMxWoE

Establishing the Set Establishing the Set ActivityActivity Read the staging directions on p. Read the staging directions on p.

11-12.11-12. Create a sketch of the set (with Create a sketch of the set (with

color).color). Write whether the set seems Write whether the set seems

positive or negative, and include positive or negative, and include key words/phrases from the text key words/phrases from the text that show the mood.that show the mood.

AssignmentAssignment Read the “Introduction” and “The Read the “Introduction” and “The

Playwright” sections in your Playwright” sections in your Death of a Death of a SalesmanSalesman Study Guide. Study Guide.

Answer the following questions in Answer the following questions in complete sentences (will be turned in).complete sentences (will be turned in).1.1. Why does Why does Death of a Salesman Death of a Salesman impact impact

audiences?audiences?

2.2. What historical events may have influenced What historical events may have influenced Miller in writing Miller in writing Death of a SalesmanDeath of a Salesman??

3.3. What are some connections between What are some connections between Milller’s life and Milller’s life and Death of a SalesmanDeath of a Salesman??

Casting for Casting for Death of a Death of a Salesman: Salesman: Group AssignmentGroup Assignment

Choose a modern actor to play each of the Choose a modern actor to play each of the characters in the Loman family (Willy, Linda, characters in the Loman family (Willy, Linda, Biff, and Happy), and then choose one Biff, and Happy), and then choose one additional character. (5 CHARACTERS TOTAL!) additional character. (5 CHARACTERS TOTAL!)

Create a PowerPoint slide for each character.Create a PowerPoint slide for each character.– Write down each of the characters’ names Write down each of the characters’ names

and who will play them. and who will play them. – Include at least 3 sentences or bullet points Include at least 3 sentences or bullet points

explaining why the actors would be right for explaining why the actors would be right for the role you’ve put them in. the role you’ve put them in.

– Also, include a picture of each of the actors. Also, include a picture of each of the actors. The finished PowerPoint will be presented to The finished PowerPoint will be presented to

the class.the class.

Willy Loman: Willy Loman: Anthony Hopkins Anthony Hopkins

At the age of 73, he At the age of 73, he can pass for being can pass for being Willy’s age, 63.Willy’s age, 63.

Although he is from Although he is from Wales, he can speak Wales, he can speak with an American with an American accent.accent.

He is strong in intense, He is strong in intense, dramatic roles and in dramatic roles and in playing insane playing insane characters characters (The Mask (The Mask of Zoroof Zoro, , The Silence of The Silence of the Lambsthe Lambs))..

Comedy vs. TragedyComedy vs. Tragedy

Comedy:Comedy:– LightLight– Happy endingHappy ending

Tragedy:Tragedy:– SeriousSerious– Unhappy endingUnhappy ending

Is Is Death of a SalesmanDeath of a Salesman a a comedy or tragedy?comedy or tragedy?

Elements of TragedyElements of Tragedy

Comic Relief - Comic Relief - A bit of humor injected into A bit of humor injected into a serious play to relieve the heavy tension a serious play to relieve the heavy tension of tragic eventsof tragic events

Tragic HeroTragic Hero - A privileged, exalted - A privileged, exalted character of high repute, who, by virtue of character of high repute, who, by virtue of a tragic flaw and fate, suffers a fall from a tragic flaw and fate, suffers a fall from glory into sufferingglory into suffering

Tragic FlawTragic Flaw - A character trait that leads - A character trait that leads the tragic hero to his/her own downfall or the tragic hero to his/her own downfall or destructiondestruction

How does How does Death of a Salesman Death of a Salesman incorporate incorporate these elements of tragedy?these elements of tragedy?

Requiem p. 137-139Requiem p. 137-139

Requiem= Mass celebrated for the Requiem= Mass celebrated for the deaddead– Epilogue= Postscript or addition Epilogue= Postscript or addition

after the endingafter the ending Takes place a few days after Willy’s Takes place a few days after Willy’s

deathdeath

Study Questions p. 137-Study Questions p. 137-139139

1.1. Why is it a surprise to Linda that Why is it a surprise to Linda that Charley and Bernard are the only Charley and Bernard are the only people from outside the family to people from outside the family to show up at Willy’s funeral?show up at Willy’s funeral?

2.2. What is Biff’s understanding of his What is Biff’s understanding of his father’s life, and how is it different father’s life, and how is it different from Happy’s understanding of his from Happy’s understanding of his father’s life?father’s life?

3.3. Why are the last words of the play, Why are the last words of the play, “We’re free”?“We’re free”?

Elements of DramaElements of DramaWhen characters When characters speakspeak in a play, their words can be… in a play, their words can be…

1. Dialogue - Two or more characters conversing with each other

2. Monologue - A single character (on stage with others) speaking without another character’s response

3. Soliloquy - A single character (on stage alone) thinking out loud; a way of letting the audience know what is in the character's mind

4. Aside - A single character speaking words directly to the audience or privately to another character; not “heard” by other characters

1

2 3

4

When characters speak When characters speak in a play, their words can in a play, their words can be…be… Dialogue -Dialogue - Two or more Two or more

characters conversing with characters conversing with each othereach other

Monologue Monologue - A single - A single character (on stage with character (on stage with others) speaking without others) speaking without another character’s responseanother character’s response

SoliloquySoliloquy - A single - A single character (on stage alone) character (on stage alone) thinking out loud; a way of thinking out loud; a way of letting the audience know letting the audience know what is in the character's what is in the character's mindmind

““Tragedy and the Common Man”Tragedy and the Common Man” After reading the essay, answer one of the After reading the essay, answer one of the

following questions in a Claim, Evidence, following questions in a Claim, Evidence, Interpretation paragraph.Interpretation paragraph.

1.1. What causes readers to have “the tragic What causes readers to have “the tragic feeling” about a character?feeling” about a character?

2.2. What causes characters to develop a What causes characters to develop a “tragic flaw”?“tragic flaw”?

3.3. Why do readers tend to feel more Why do readers tend to feel more passionately about a common tragic passionately about a common tragic hero than they feel about a noble or hero than they feel about a noble or high-ranking tragic hero?high-ranking tragic hero?

4.4. Why does tragedy tend to show “more Why does tragedy tend to show “more optimism than comedy”?optimism than comedy”?