Art Of DramaENG 245 R 1

• Setting

• Characters

• Motivation

• Dialogue

• Conflict

• Plot/Rising Action

• Climax(highest point of dramatic tension))

• Resolution(how things are worked out)

• Theme

• Motif (recurring thematic element)

• Symbols

Dramatic Elements To Be Considered:

A: Hey.B: Hello.A: Do you want a mint?B: No thanks.A: Sure.B: Wait, why?A: No special reason.B: Oh.A: Want one?B: OK, thanks.A: Thank you.

A. You’re late.

B. I know. I couldn’t help it.

A. I understand.

B. I thought you would.

A. I have something to give you.

B. Really?

A. Yes, this.

In your group, prepare two presentations of each of the following scenes. Consider the variation in the

dramatic elements for each presentation.

Death of A SalesmanBy Arthur Miller

The First Great American Tragedy

• Painful conflicts within one family

• Painful conflicts within one family

• Larger issues involving American national values.

• Painful conflicts within one family

• Larger issues involving American national values.

• Blind faith in the American Dream

• Painful conflicts within one family

• Larger issues involving American national values.

• Blind faith in the American Dream

• Myth constructed around capitalist materialism

Major Characters

Major CharactersWilly Loman:

Major Characters

•insecure, self-deluded traveling salesman.

Willy Loman:

Major Characters

•insecure, self-deluded traveling salesman.

•believes strongly that being well liked is the key to the American Dream of economic success.

Willy Loman:

Major Characters

•insecure, self-deluded traveling salesman.

•believes strongly that being well liked is the key to the American Dream of economic success.

•At age 61, it is clear that Willy has not achieved the dream.

Willy Loman:

Major Characters

•insecure, self-deluded traveling salesman.

•believes strongly that being well liked is the key to the American Dream of economic success.

•At age 61, it is clear that Willy has not achieved the dream.

•He’s also disappointed in the fact that his sons, especially Biff, have been unsuccessful in their lives.

Willy Loman:

Major Characters

•insecure, self-deluded traveling salesman.

•believes strongly that being well liked is the key to the American Dream of economic success.

•At age 61, it is clear that Willy has not achieved the dream.

•He’s also disappointed in the fact that his sons, especially Biff, have been unsuccessful in their lives.

•The tensions in Willy’s life have taken their toll. We see him as exhausted and out of touch.

Willy Loman:

Major Characters

•insecure, self-deluded traveling salesman.

•believes strongly that being well liked is the key to the American Dream of economic success.

•At age 61, it is clear that Willy has not achieved the dream.

•He’s also disappointed in the fact that his sons, especially Biff, have been unsuccessful in their lives.

•The tensions in Willy’s life have taken their toll. We see him as exhausted and out of touch.

Lee J. Cobb

Willy Loman:

Major Characters

•insecure, self-deluded traveling salesman.

•believes strongly that being well liked is the key to the American Dream of economic success.

•At age 61, it is clear that Willy has not achieved the dream.

•He’s also disappointed in the fact that his sons, especially Biff, have been unsuccessful in their lives.

•The tensions in Willy’s life have taken their toll. We see him as exhausted and out of touch.

Lee J. Cobb Dustin Hoffman

Willy Loman:

Major Characters

•insecure, self-deluded traveling salesman.

•believes strongly that being well liked is the key to the American Dream of economic success.

•At age 61, it is clear that Willy has not achieved the dream.

•He’s also disappointed in the fact that his sons, especially Biff, have been unsuccessful in their lives.

•The tensions in Willy’s life have taken their toll. We see him as exhausted and out of touch.

Lee J. Cobb Dustin Hoffman

Brian Dennihy

Willy Loman:

Linda Loman

Linda Loman

•Willy’s loyal and long suffering wife.

Linda Loman

•Willy’s loyal and long suffering wife.

•She has persevered through all of Willy’s dreams and schemes.

Linda Loman

•Willy’s loyal and long suffering wife.

•She has persevered through all of Willy’s dreams and schemes.

•Sometimes she buys-in but most often she maintains a high sense of reality.

Linda Loman

•Willy’s loyal and long suffering wife.

•She has persevered through all of Willy’s dreams and schemes.

•Sometimes she buys-in but most often she maintains a high sense of reality.

•Throughout she is unconditional in her love and support for her husband.

Scene 1Willy returns home following an abbreviated

business trip to New England

Willy ( Lee. J. Cobb)/ Linda (Mildred Dunnock)p. 10-12

“The way they boxed us in here.”

Scene 1Willy returns home following an abbreviated

business trip to New England

Why has Willy returned home?

Willy ( Lee. J. Cobb)/ Linda (Mildred Dunnock)p. 10-12

“The way they boxed us in here.”

Scene 1Willy returns home following an abbreviated

business trip to New England

Why has Willy returned home?

What are Willy’s inner conflicts?

Willy ( Lee. J. Cobb)/ Linda (Mildred Dunnock)p. 10-12

“The way they boxed us in here.”

Scene 1Willy returns home following an abbreviated

business trip to New England

Why has Willy returned home?

What are Willy’s inner conflicts?

Why is Willy constantly longing for the past?

Willy ( Lee. J. Cobb)/ Linda (Mildred Dunnock)p. 10-12

“The way they boxed us in here.”

Scene 1Willy returns home following an abbreviated

business trip to New England

Why has Willy returned home?

What are Willy’s inner conflicts?

Why is Willy constantly longing for the past?

Describe Willy’s relationship with Linda?

Willy ( Lee. J. Cobb)/ Linda (Mildred Dunnock)p. 10-12

“The way they boxed us in here.”

Scene 1Willy returns home following an abbreviated

business trip to New England

Why has Willy returned home?

What are Willy’s inner conflicts?

Why is Willy constantly longing for the past?

Describe Willy’s relationship with Linda?

Willy ( Lee. J. Cobb)/ Linda (Mildred Dunnock)p. 10-12

“The way they boxed us in here.”

Biff Loman

Biff Loman

•The Loman’s older son.

Biff Loman

•The Loman’s older son.

•High school star who didn’t live up to expectations.

Biff Loman

•The Loman’s older son.

•High school star who didn’t live up to expectations.

•Has been a victim of Willy’s over-expectation.

Biff Loman

•The Loman’s older son.

•High school star who didn’t live up to expectations.

•Has been a victim of Willy’s over-expectation.

•Has fallen on his face at every turn, often involving theft.

Biff Loman

•The Loman’s older son.

•High school star who didn’t live up to expectations.

•Has been a victim of Willy’s over-expectation.

•Has fallen on his face at every turn, often involving theft.

•Has been fatally effected by “what happened in Boston.”

Happy Loman

Happy Loman

•The Loman’s younger son.

Happy Loman

•The Loman’s younger son.

•Has lived in Biff ’s shadow.

Happy Loman

•The Loman’s younger son.

•Has lived in Biff ’s shadow.

•Presents himself as more important and successful than he really is.

Happy Loman

•The Loman’s younger son.

•Has lived in Biff ’s shadow.

•Presents himself as more important and successful than he really is.

•Low sense of morality.

Happy and Biff Loman

P. 12-18“He’s going to get his license taken away.....”

Happy and Biff Loman

P. 12-18“He’s going to get his license taken away.....”

Setting(s) significance

Happy and Biff Loman

P. 12-18“He’s going to get his license taken away.....”

Setting(s) significanceExplain the edits in this scene-

Happy and Biff Loman

P. 12-18“He’s going to get his license taken away.....”

Setting(s) significanceExplain the edits in this scene-

Compare & Contrast these boys. Irony?

Happy and Biff Loman

P. 12-18“He’s going to get his license taken away.....”

Setting(s) significanceExplain the edits in this scene-

Compare & Contrast these boys. Irony?Plot points?

Happy and Biff Loman

P. 12-18“He’s going to get his license taken away.....”

Setting(s) significanceExplain the edits in this scene-

Compare & Contrast these boys. Irony?Plot points?

Character flaws?

Happy and Biff Loman

P. 12-18“He’s going to get his license taken away.....”

Setting(s) significanceExplain the edits in this scene-

Compare & Contrast these boys. Irony?Plot points?

Character flaws?What’s going on with Willy?

Happy and Biff Loman

P. 12-18“He’s going to get his license taken away.....”

Setting(s) significanceExplain the edits in this scene-

Compare & Contrast these boys. Irony?Plot points?

Character flaws?What’s going on with Willy?

Charley

Charley

•Willy’s next door neighbor.

Charley

•Willy’s next door neighbor.

•Owns a successful business and tries to help Willy through his crises.

Charley

•Willy’s next door neighbor.

•Owns a successful business and tries to help Willy through his crises.

•Although Willy is jealous of Charley’s success, he knows in his heart that Charley is his only friend.

Ben

Ben

•Willy’s wealthy older brother.

Ben

•Willy’s wealthy older brother.

•Appears only in Willy’s daydreams.

Ben

•Willy’s wealthy older brother.

•Appears only in Willy’s daydreams.

•A symbol of the success that has eluded Willy.

Charley/Benp. 30-33 Charley: “What’re you doin’ home.”

Charley/Benp. 30-33 Charley: “What’re you doin’ home.”

Conversation with involvement.

Charley/Benp. 30-33 Charley: “What’re you doin’ home.”

Conversation with involvement.(complication of Willy’s relationship to Charley)

Charley/Benp. 30-33 Charley: “What’re you doin’ home.”

Conversation with involvement.(complication of Willy’s relationship to Charley)

Significance of the ceilingImportant Omission:

“A man who can’t handle tools is not a man.”

Charley/Benp. 30-33 Charley: “What’re you doin’ home.”

Conversation with involvement.(complication of Willy’s relationship to Charley)

Significance of the ceilingImportant Omission:

“A man who can’t handle tools is not a man.”

Thematic importance of Ben’s references.

Charley/Benp. 30-33 Charley: “What’re you doin’ home.”

Conversation with involvement.(complication of Willy’s relationship to Charley)

Significance of the ceilingImportant Omission:

“A man who can’t handle tools is not a man.”

Thematic importance of Ben’s references.

Howard Wagner

Howard Wagner

•Inherited the Wagner Company from his father and is now Willy’s boss.

Howard Wagner

•Inherited the Wagner Company from his father and is now Willy’s boss.

•Willy thought highly of Howard’s father, but not so much toward Howard.

Howard Wagner

•Inherited the Wagner Company from his father and is now Willy’s boss.

•Willy thought highly of Howard’s father, but not so much toward Howard.

•Howard treats Willy badly and eventually fires him.

Howard P. 57-61

God knows Howard, I never asked a favor of any man.

Howard What is Willy’s mission in seeing Howard?

P. 57-61

God knows Howard, I never asked a favor of any man.

Howard What is Willy’s mission in seeing Howard?

What is the significance of the tape recorder demo

prior to this scene?

P. 57-61

God knows Howard, I never asked a favor of any man.

Howard What is Willy’s mission in seeing Howard?

What is the significance of the tape recorder demo

prior to this scene?

What non-verbal clues do we get to Howard’s

character?

P. 57-61

God knows Howard, I never asked a favor of any man.

Howard What is Willy’s mission in seeing Howard?

What is the significance of the tape recorder demo

prior to this scene?

What non-verbal clues do we get to Howard’s

character?

Mythology of Dave Singleman-- (84 years old)

P. 57-61

God knows Howard, I never asked a favor of any man.

Howard What is Willy’s mission in seeing Howard?

What is the significance of the tape recorder demo

prior to this scene?

What non-verbal clues do we get to Howard’s

character?

Mythology of Dave Singleman-- (84 years old)

Significance:“A man is not a piece of fruit!”

P. 57-61

God knows Howard, I never asked a favor of any man.

Howard What is Willy’s mission in seeing Howard?

What is the significance of the tape recorder demo

prior to this scene?

What non-verbal clues do we get to Howard’s

character?

Mythology of Dave Singleman-- (84 years old)

Significance:“A man is not a piece of fruit!”

P. 57-61

God knows Howard, I never asked a favor of any man.

The Woman

The Woman

•Willy’s mistress.

The Woman

•Willy’s mistress.

•Her attention boosted Willy’s fragile ego.

The Woman

•Willy’s mistress.

•Her attention boosted Willy’s fragile ego.

•Biff ’s discovery of her fatally damaged his relationship with Willy and halted his own aspirations.

Bernard

Bernard

•Charley’s son

Bernard

•Charley’s son

•As a boy growing up, Bernard was ridiculed by Willy for studying too hard.

Bernard

•Charley’s son

•As a boy growing up, Bernard was ridiculed by Willy for studying too hard.

•Bernard was a good friend to Willy’s sons and regarded Biff as a hero.

Bernard

•Charley’s son

•As a boy growing up, Bernard was ridiculed by Willy for studying too hard.

•Bernard was a good friend to Willy’s sons and regarded Biff as a hero.

•As an adult, Bernard has become an extremely successful lawyer.

Bernard

•Charley’s son

•As a boy growing up, Bernard was ridiculed by Willy for studying too hard.

•Bernard was a good friend to Willy’s sons and regarded Biff as a hero.

•As an adult, Bernard has become an extremely successful lawyer.

•Bernard’s success is difficult for Willy to accept.

The Woman/Bernardp. 26 bottom-p.29

Linda: “To me you are. The handsomest.”

The Woman/Bernardp. 26 bottom-p.29

Linda: “To me you are. The handsomest.”

What are Willy’s motivations for taking a

mistress?

The Woman/Bernardp. 26 bottom-p.29

Linda: “To me you are. The handsomest.”

What are Willy’s motivations for taking a

mistress?

How does Willy’s “likability” factor

contribute to this scene?

The Woman/Bernardp. 26 bottom-p.29

Linda: “To me you are. The handsomest.”

What are Willy’s motivations for taking a

mistress?

How does Willy’s “likability” factor

contribute to this scene?

Consider the stockings as a theatrical device.

The Woman/Bernardp. 26 bottom-p.29

Linda: “To me you are. The handsomest.”

What are Willy’s motivations for taking a

mistress?

How does Willy’s “likability” factor

contribute to this scene?

Consider the stockings as a theatrical device.

Willy’s response to Bernard and Biff

The Woman/Bernardp. 26 bottom-p.29

Linda: “To me you are. The handsomest.”

What are Willy’s motivations for taking a

mistress?

How does Willy’s “likability” factor

contribute to this scene?

Consider the stockings as a theatrical device.

Willy’s response to Bernard and Biff

Discuss your reactions to your assigned clip.

Present to the class a brief analysis of the clip as it pertains

to the characters and their motivations. Use the slide

questions as a base.

In your groups:

Clip # 1- p. 10 Willy/LindaClip # 2- p. 12 Biff/Happy

Clip # 3 - p. 30 Charley/BenClip # 4- p. 57 Howard

Clip # 5-p26- The Woman/Bernard