1. Death of a Salesman By Arthur Miller

2. Literary Movement: Contemporary Literature 1950-Present

3. Historical Context 1953 Korean War ends 1957 Soviet Union ’ s launch of Sputnik I begins the “ space race ” with the U.S. 1963 Martin Luther ’ s “ I have a dream ” speech 1963 JFK ’ s assassination 1965 U.S. escalates involvement in Vietnam War 1969 First humans walk on the moon 1974 Watergate scandal forces President Nixon ’ s resignation 1987 U.S. stock market crashes 1990-91 Operation Desert Storm 1990s Internet rises as major form of communication

4. Worldview The second half of the twentieth century has seen the rise of postmodernism: “ A philosophical stance which claims that it is impossible to make grand statements—meta-narratives—about the structures of society or about historic causation, because everything we perceive, express, and interpret is influenced by our gender, class, and culture; knowledge is partial and situated, and no one interpretation is superior to another. ” from www.answers.comwww.answers.com Influences: Modernism, Technology Postmodernism embraces fragmentation and relativism.

5. Common Elements Diversity! Diversity in genre (non-fiction, fiction, poetry), style, form, subject matter, and authors ’ cultural and religious backgrounds Allowance for multiple meanings and multiple worlds, even within a work of literature Flourishing of creative non-fiction – New Journalist writers began to incorporate personal opinion and experience into nonfiction writing. Flourishing of poetry – Move from the impersonal, academic tone of modernist poetry toward personal themes – Beat Poets and Confessional Poets

6. Tragedy then & now Classic Tragedy (Sophocles, Shakespeare, etc.) – High to Low – Tragic Flaw – Fall (Hero must be aware) – Catharsis (Audience feels fear and pity) Modern Tragedy – Ordinary man – Personal failings – Realism – Psychological exploration – Societal and familial context What stories of “falls” have you seen?

7. Arthur Miller

13. Opening Act:

14. The question is not whether Willy Loman will meet his demise.. It’s rather will Willy Loman realize that he has love and purpose before he falls apart.