Death of a Salesman Final Project
“Death of a Salesman” Final Project AP English
Poems: First, let’s look at some examples of poems about dreams:
A Dream Deferred
by Langston Hughes
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
“Mother to Son” Langston Hughes
Well, son, I'll tell you:
Life for me aint't been no crystal stair.
It's had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor-
Bare.
But all the time
I'se been a-climbin' on,
And reachin' landin's,
And turnin' corners,
And sometimes goin' in the dark
Where there ain't been no light.
So, boy, don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps
'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now-
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
The Project
Scenario:
It is at least ten years in the future, but perhaps many more than that. You have spent your entire life since high school trying to achieve your life’s dream. Much has happened since those youthful, idealistic, blissful days discussing literature in Mr. Kirsten’s class. Most likely, some of your life has been difficult, and some has been very rewarding, but all of it has made you who you are today. You are looking back at your life and considering whether or not your life’s dream has been realized…
Task:
Create and deliver a 3-5 minute multi-media presentation from the point of view of yourself in the future reflecting about your life’s dream.
Process:
- First, complete the Personal Dream survey to gather information about, and to ultimately determine what your life’s dream is. This information will be valuable to you when you create your final presentation.
- Determine what your dream is for your future and how you plan to achieve it. Note: This does not have to be a dream in the classical sense of the “American Dream” as depicted in “Death of a Salesman” and discussed in class. Avoid simply focusing on your occupation and your possessions. It does not necessarily have to be material in nature; it could represent your hopes and desires on an emotional or spiritual level.
- Write a declaration of your philosophy of life, or the guiding principles you will use to guide you through life and help you achieve your life’s dream.
- Consider how all of the information you compiled from the survey will assist or deter you in the realization of your dream. What can you draw upon, internally and externally, and what are some of the pitfalls or challenges that you face internally and externally as you travel this long, arduous road towards your dream?
- Put yourself in the future at the point when your dream has been finally realized or deferred. At this point in your life, you have gained a great deal of wisdom, and have valuable information that can help others learn about how to achieve their dream. You feel it necessary to impart this knowledge so that they can learn from your successes and/or failures. Create and deliver a 7-9 minute multi-media presentation from the point of view of yourself in the future reflecting about your life’s dream. It should be clear from your presentation what your dream is, what obstacles you faced, what personal qualities you used to help you, what secondary goals you accomplished along the way, what your philosophy of life is or what guiding principles you believe in are, and whether or not your dream was realized.
Details:
Your presentation must include the following, or must be:
- 3-5 minutes in length
- well prepared, rehearsed, and delivered presentation
- delivered in character (you in the future)
- multi-media (use more than one communication medium, appeal to several senses)
- costume(s)
- props, one of which needs to be a book of some sort
- a symbol to represent your dream
Consult the rubric for specific evaluation criteria.
We will present on Finals day.
Personal Dream Survey:
Answer the following questions honestly, thoughtfully, and completely.
In one sentence state your personal “American Dream”:______
______
______
Where will you need to live in order to achieve this dream?
What sort of family will you need?
What are three possible occupations that would help you achieve this dream?
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*
*
What are three goals you will have to accomplish on the path to your dream?
*
*
*
List three external obstacles to the realization of your dream:
*
*
*
List three internal obstacles to the realization of your dream:
*
*
*
What are three qualities or character traits you will need to have or develop?
*
*
*
What are three qualities or character traits that could prevent you from success?
*
*
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Name three people who could help you achieve your dream:
*
*
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How will you know you have achieved your dream? What will it look like, and feel like?
At what age do you hope to have achieved your dream? What if you have not realized your dream by this time?
Do you think your dream is realistic? Why or why not?
Philosophy: Dream Declaration/Life’s Guiding Principles
Explain what your personal life’s dream is:
______
What is your life philosophy or guiding principles that you will subscribe to and follow in order to help you achieve this dream?
______