Character Motivations

This analytical worksheet is designed for Grades 9-12 and helps students closely examine the motivations and evolving goals of Willy, Biff, and Happy Loman in Death of a Salesman. Students begin by identifying each character’s primary goals at the start of the play, then cite direct evidence from Act I that reveals those motivations. They also analyze how each character’s drive changes-or fails to change-by the end of the play, encouraging careful tracking of character development and psychological complexity. Responses are written in complete sentences, reinforcing evidence-based explanation and clear literary analysis.

Learning Goals

• Character Development Analysis (Secondary ELA) – Identify and explain how motivations shape character arcs
• Textual Evidence Use – Support claims with specific lines or moments from Act I
• Thematic Interpretation – Connect motivations to themes such as identity, success, and family expectations
• Constructed Response Writing – Write clear, well-supported analytical sentences

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Aligned with high school literature and analysis standards
• Character-Focused Structure – Supports comparison among Willy, Biff, and Happy
• Text-Driven Analysis – Keeps interpretations grounded in evidence rather than summary
• Builds Toward Essay Writing – Strengthens skills needed for literary analysis essays
• Flexible Use – Ideal for close reading, guided discussion, formative assessment, or review
• Low Prep – Print-and-use worksheet with organized prompts and response space

This character motivations worksheet helps students understand Death of a Salesman as a study of desire, disappointment, and family pressure. By tracing how Willy, Biff, and Happy’s motivations are revealed and transformed, learners deepen their comprehension of character psychology and thematic development. Whether used early in the play or as a bridge to summative analysis, this activity supports thoughtful, evidence-based engagement with Miller’s drama.

This worksheet is part of our Death of a Salesman Worksheets collection.