Lesson Content : Tuesday 8th November - First Impressions

In today's lesson we looked at the opening stage directions provided by Miller. I wanted to get you thinking about what the playwright's vision was for the setting of the play.

You worked individually before moving into groups. Then, as a whole class, we discussed your thoughts.

Homework

For homework (due in on Thursday please) I asked you to write approximately 250 words in response to the following question:

After reading thew first part of the stage directions  for Act One, what have you learnt?

We used some question sin the lesson to guide our discussion. These are reproduced below so that you may use them to structure your response. I am looking for quality of thought and opinion. You need to think intelligently and critically and put your ideas forward in an articulate way.

•       Why does Miller choose a flute to play the opening melody?

•       What purpose does the music play before the curtain rises?

•       Why do you think Miller refers to Willy as the SALESMAN rather than by his name?

•       What is the significance of the ‘towering, angular shapes’ that are behind the house?

•       What impression do you get of the Loman’s house?

•       What could be meant by ‘An air of the dream clings to the place, a dream rising out of reality’?

•       There are only 3 chairs around the kitchen table but 4 members of the Loman family. Is this significant?

•       What is unusual about the way Miller suggests the set for the stage needs to be created? How is the audience meant to view the action taking place on the stage?