Curriculum / ELA / 7th Grade / Unit 14: Death of a Salesman (2020) / Lesson 14

Death of a Salesman (2020)

Lesson 14

ELA

Unit 14

7th Grade

Lesson 14 of 14

Objective

Explain how Willy Loman can be defined as a tragic hero.

Readings and Materials

Book: Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller — Entire text

Fishtank Plus

Unlock features to optimize your prep time, plan engaging lessons, and monitor student progress.

Target Task

Tasks that represents the peak thinking of the lesson - mastery will indicate whether or not objective was achieved

Discussion Prompt

Why might Willy Loman be defined in literature as a tragic hero? Make sure to include a description of their tragic flaws in your answer.

Key Questions

Questions about the text that will help guide the students understanding

What is a tragic hero?
Why is Willy Loman characterized as a tragic hero? Should he be? Explain your answer.

Notes

Suggestions for teachers to help them teach this lesson

You may want to include a mini lesson on tragic heroism during today’s lesson.
- A tragic hero is a literary character who makes an error in judgment or has a fatal flaw that brings on a tragedy.
- Famous Greek philosopher Aristotle (384–322 BC) shared his view of what makes a tragic hero in his Poetics. Aristotle points out that the change of fortune should be not from bad to good but, reversely, from good to bad. According to Aristotle, a tragic hero is thought to be a man whose misfortune comes to him "not through vice or depravity but by some error of judgment."
- In Sophocles's Oedipus the King, for example, Oedipus kills a man without knowing that the man in question is his father, then marries his mother out of ignorance. Ignorance is his tragic flaw.

Common Core Standards

W.7.2 — Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content

Writing Standards

W.7.2 — Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content

Lesson 13

Lesson Map

Arthur Miller Biography

Explain Arthur Miller’s motive for writing Death of a Salesman, based on his biography.

RI.7.2

Death of a Salesman pp. 11 – 23

Analyze the purpose of the stage directions.

RL.7.5 RL.7.6

Death of a Salesman pp. 23 – 33
“Movie clip”

Explain Miller’s repeated symbolism of nature in Act I.

RL.7.4

Death of a Salesman pp. 34 – 41

Analyze how Miller uses juxtaposition of the stockings to symbolize his inability to provide for his family.

RL.7.4 RL.7.5

Death of a Salesman pp. 42 – 57

Analyze how Linda’s dialogue contributes to the playwright’s critique of American culture (of capitalism).

RL.7.5

Death of a Salesman pp. 58 – 69

Analyze how Biff and Happy’s dialogue contributes to the mood.

RL.7.5

Death of a Salesman pp. 70 – 84

Explain how Arthur Miller’s belief about American culture (capitalism) seeps into this scene between worker and boss.

RL.7.2 RL.7.4

Death of a Salesman pp. 84 – 94
“Ferris Bueller's Day Off - Opening Monologue”

Explain how the author uses monologue to develop the theme of popularity and reputation.

RL.7.2 RL.7.5

Death of a Salesman pp. 95 – 103

Explain how Miller juxtaposes Charley and Willy in order to reveal Willy’s tendency for self-destruction and false pride.

RL.7.3

Death of a Salesman pp. 105 – 116

Analyze how self-deception functions as a coping mechanism for Willy Loman.

RL.7.3

Death of a Salesman pp. 116 – 127

Explain Willy’s motivation to commit suicide.

RL.7.3

Death of a Salesman pp. 128 – 139 — and Requiem

Analyze how Willy’s self-deception leads to his suicide.

RL.7.3

Discussion

Death of a Salesman — Entire text

Debate whether or not Willy’s suicide resolved any of his problems.

SL.7.1

Discussion

Death of a Salesman — Entire text

Explain how Willy Loman can be defined as a tragic hero.

W.7.2

Effective Instruction Made Easy

Effective Instruction Made Easy

Access rigorous, relevant, and adaptable ELA lesson plans for free