Essay #2 Death of a Salesman
English 1B – Brownell
Overview. Writers have often explored the theme of the American Dream in literature. In Horatio Alger’s Ragged Dick, a boy overcomes his impoverished circumstances, rising to prosperity through thrift and enterprise. In contrast, in the play Death of a Salesman, playwright Arthur Miller explores the life of an “everyman” chasing greatness while negotiating the trials and tribulations of life and his own inner demons.
In your second essay, you will be analyzing Death of a Salesman, examining motifs (recurring symbols) for interpretive clues about the play’s message about success and self-realization. Turn your examination of theme and motifs into a thesis-driven essay.
Final Draft Due Wednesday,
September 23rd
Value: 15% of Overall Grade
Prompt:
What is an important theme in Death of a Salesman, and what motifs and symbols reinforce this theme? How does the theme transcend time by addressing contemporary issues that still plague our culture and society? Select at least one
motif (recurring symbol) from the “idea box” below to pair with the argument you create about the play. (This will allow for a more unique and cohesive argument.)
Idea Box
Planting / Gardening Absent Father/ Parent Cars / Driving Sports (Football) Debt / Appliances / House / Household Furnishings Technology Create Your Own!
Wives / Female Gender Roles Affairs / Adultery Music Jail / Imprisonment Brothers and competition Frontier (Alaska / Africa)
Arthur Miller
Due Dates:
Brainstorm Due Friday, September 18th by 11:59 p.m. in Canvas
Outline Due Friday, September 18th by 11:59 p.m.
Rough Draft Due Monday, September 21st by 11:59 p.m.
Peer Review Due Tuesday, September 22nd by 11:59 p.m. (Note 1:
the peer review is not assigned to you until 5 minutes past
midnight AFTER the rough draft upload cut-off time. Note 2: if you
do not upload your rough draft by the cut-off time, Canvas
CANNOT assign you a peer review unless you email me)
Final Draft Due Wednesday, September 23rd by 11:59 p.m.
Requirements: Use MLA style Include a properly formatted Works Cited page 1700 words minimum; no more than 2000 words Essay pattern (introduction, body paragraphs, conclusion) Cohesively analyze a theme and symbols in Death of a Salesman Use evidence from the play (quotes and paraphrase) AXES or BEEF paragraph development Thesis should unite the theme to at least one motif selected from the “Idea Box” Discuss in one paragraph or more how the theme relates to a fallacy of argument or a bias as defined in the handout (in Canvas) or the book, You Are Not So Smart Use a minimum of THREE research sources Do not cite Wikipedia, Gradesaver, Sparknotes, Shmoop etc. Plagiarism similarity report should be 15% or less
