All

My
Sons
 PRE-READING

A) How are a movie and a play alike? How are thry different?
Complete the Venn diagram.

Movie Play
•Not live Both •Characters
•Countless types •made of events
•Played on the stage

•Include •Always live

development •Sitting is not various

B) You have just identified similarities and differences between a movie and a
play. This thinking skill is called COMPARING AND CONTRASTING.

What did you learned by doing the activity in A?

By doing this activity we were able to know all the differences between a
movie and a play this allowed us to know exactly nature and different
components of each one. In addition, this allow us to draw conclusion what
is better to be watched depending in our taste, choices and circumstances.
 C) How is the thinking skill of Comparing and Contrasting helpful in
everyday life? Think of as many situations as you can for using this
skill. For example, when you want to decide which movie to watch.

I can use it when:

1. I want to decide to which college I should go
2. I want to decide in which restaurant to eat
3. I want to decide which car to buy
4. I want to decide which subject to learn at the university
5. I want to decide where to work after college

D) 1- The picture below shows what the audience sees at the beginning of
the play. It is the backyard of the Keller home.

D2) Describe what you see in as much details as you can. Write these
details in the left column of the chart below.
 Description of the Keller's backyard Details missed
An old man reading the newspaper Entrance of driveway
Tall closely planted poplars Seashell shaped trellised arbor
Middle aged man reading the
newspaper
Unroofed porch
Broken tree

D3) Now read the stage directions on page 8 and see how they compare
to yours. Write the details that you missed in the right column.

D4) what did you gain from reading the stage directions?

From the stage directions I knew that the Keller's is trying to be isolated
as much as possible from their neighbors and this shows that they are
hiding something.

Act one
Basic understanding
Vocabulary practice

A) Match each word in A to it's meaning in B.

A B
1. ignorant 8 a. achieve
2. insistently 1 b. uneducated, not aware
3. Mourn 7 c. importance
4. fortunate 10 d. clear someone's guilt
5. nasty 2 e. demandingly
6. furiously 12 f. strong-minded
7. significance 5 g. unpleasant, mean
8. accomplish 4 h. lucky
9. faithful 16 i. lovingly
 10. exonerate 6 j. angrily
11. innocent 3 k. grieve
12. determined 14 l. monument
13. plant 9 m. loyal
14. memorial 15 n. anxiously
15. desperately 13 o. factory
16. affectionately 11 p. not guilty

B) Complete the quotes with the expressions below.

It never occurred to me get hold of yourself cracked
cylinder heads reported missing on the ball take it for
granted pulled a fast one

1. Frank: "Larry was reported missing on November 25th."

2. Keller: "Now you're talking, Bert. Now you're on the ball."
3. Ann: "Well, it never occurred to me that you'd – I mean the shoes
are all shined."
4. Keller: "The story was, I pulled a fast one getting myself
exonerated."
5. Keller: "I was the beast; the guy who sold cracked cylinder heads
to the Army Air Force."
6. Chris: " But they take it for granted that we're all set."
7. Ann: "And try to get hold yourself, will you?"

UNDERSTANDING THE PLAY

A) The characters are the people in the play. Complete the chart with
the names of the characters.

The Kellers The Deevers The Baylisses The Lubeys

Joe Steve Dr.Jim Frank
Kate Ann Sue Lydia
Chris George
Kate Mrs. Deever
A) The playwright gradually reveals more about each of the characters
in the play. What do you know about them at the end of the Act
One? Complete the sentences below.

*Keller:
1. He was accused of selling cracked cylinder heads to the Air Force.
2. He has a court paper to prove that he is innocent.
3. He says that Steve made a mistake, but he isn't a murder.
4. He wasn't at the plant when Steve covered over the cracks.

*Kate:
1. She can't accept the idea that Larry is dead.
2. She dreamed that Larry had crashed his plane.
3. She is convinced that Ann is still waiting for Larry.
4. She says that it was too soon to plant the tree.
5. At the end of Act One she feels threatened by George.

*Chris:
1. He tells his dad that he won't take over the business if he does not
support his plan to marry Ann.
2. During the war he was in command of a company.
3. When he came home from the war, he felt ashamed because he had
survived while so many soldiers had died during the war.
4. He is convinced that his brother is died.

*Larry:
1. He was reported missing on November 25.
2. He was Ann's boyfriend.
3. He was a pilot, but he never flew a PS-40.

*Steve Deever:
1. He is in jail.
2. He used to be in bussiness with Joe Keller.
3. He was found guilty of selling cracked cylinder heads to the Air
Force.
 *Ann:
1. She almost got married two years ago.
2. She didn't get married because Chris started writing to her.
3. She believes that her father shipped out defective cylinder heads in
porpuse.

*George:
1. He works as a lawyer.
2. He went to Columbus, Ohio, to visit his father in jail.
3. He phones Ann from Columbus.
4. He is planing to take the seven o'clock train to see Ann.

A) Who are the neighbors? Write one fact about each of them.

Jim is a doctor.
Sue is a nurse and she is married to Jim.
Frank is intereted in astrology.
Lydia is married to Frank and has three children

ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

A) The trees in Act One are symbols – they represent important ideas
in the play. Go back to page 6 and read about the thinking skill of
Comparing and Contrasting. Use this thinking skill to answer the
question below.
In the stage directions on page 8, the playwright Aurther Miller
mentions "tall, closely planted poplars" and "four- feet-high stump
of a selnder apple tree". Compare and contrast the symbolic
significance of these trees.

In the stage diretions Miller mentions that the poplars are ment to create
a "secluded atmosphere". If something is secluded it is set apart, private
and secret. As a symbol it could indicate that this family is disconected
 from the outside world. They may have something to hide such as a dark
secret. They might feel thereatened by the world.
While the "tall closely planted poplar trees" keepthe light out of the
yard, the apple tree, which is now a stump lets the light into the yard.
This contrast could be seen as a reflecton of Keller's current situation of
what is to come. The poplar trees could signify that many things are
unclear and need to be brought to light. Whereas the fallen apple tree
could indicate that thing are going to be destroyed so that the truth come
to live.

B) The characters in this play are in conflict with each other over
moral issues. Describe the main conflict between the characers
below.
1.
KELLER CHRIS

2. MOTHER CHRIS

3. ANN MOTHER

1- The business and Ann are the source of the conflict that Keller wants
Chris to take over the business. Chris wants to marry Ann; if his
father wants to convince his mother to consent to their marriage he
will take over the business unless he will leave and starts a new life
somewhere else. While the father's main concern is business and
money the son's main concern is human principals and love.
2- Larry is the source of conflict between them. Mother does not accept
that Larry is dead, Chris wants Mother to be realistic and accepts the
fact of two different reasons.
Waiting for Larry who won't came back will turn her life into an
endless process of pain and suffering. He wants her to be realistic
and accept the fact that Larry won't came back so that he will marry
Ann.
3- The source of this conflict is Larry. Mother thinks that Larry is still
alive and does not like Ann's visit to them because she suspects that
Ann may be involved with Chris, she wants Ann to continue waiting
for Larry. But Ann thinks Larry is dead she does not want to wait for
him she is very practical and she wants to move on and marry Chris.
C) The playwright uses foreshadowing to give a hint about how the
play is going to develop.

1. In what way do you think the scene between Bert and Keller
foreshadows what to come.
The scene foreshadows that Keller may have committed a crime.

2. Why do you think Kate is so upset about Keller's jail games with
Bert?
Subconsciously Kate feels that Keller is playing with fire. She
wants people to forget about the trial and her husband's possible
involvement in the crime. She does not want anything related to
prison, to crime, or to punishment be mentioned in front of her or
in front of anyone of the neighborhood people her fear might
indicate that her husband is really involved in the crime and she
lives under the constant threat that her husband might face jail in
the end.

D) At the end of Act One suspense is used to sustain our interest. We

sense that George's visit is going to change things. How do you
think Kate and Keller feel about George's impending visit?
Kate and Keller know that George has been visiting his father in jail.
They might be worried that George found out something that could
prove Keller's guilt. As a result George might get the authorities to
reopen the trial again.

E) Answer the questions.

3. Why is the horoscope so important to Mother?
Mother wants Frank to find out wither the day Larry went
missing (November 25) was a favorable day for him this means
that Larry's lucky day November 25 and so he won't die on his
favorable day.

4. Chris says that he has been "a good son too long, a good sucker".
What does he mean?
 Chris means that he is very tired of pleasing others and continue
being controlled by them. He now wants to do what is good for
him and go ahead in his plan of marrying Ann.

5. Mother interprets the snapping of the tree differently from the

other characters. Describe the different perspectives.
The tree was planted in memory of Larry. While most characters
think it is a pity that it's snapped, Kate expresses relief. For her it
is a sign that Larry might still be alive.

7- Why is Ann surprised by Keller's opinion of her father's

actions?
Ann believes that her father is guilty and feels it is wrong to pity
him. As a result she expected Keller to have the same attitude
especially since her father had caused him a lot of problems.

9- what do we learn about Chris's values from what he says about

the war? How do his values differ from the people who didn't
fight in the war?
When Chris talks about his experiences in the war, he talks with
deep respect about soldiers. He cannot forget their selfless love
and how they were willing to sacrifice their lives for each other.
As a result he found it difficult to begin new life with Ann and to
have a happy life. However when he came home from the war, he
had to deal with a totally different reality. According to Chris,
most people were indifferent to the war and to what had happen
during it. For them they continued their lives as usual and their
main interest was in their businesses and making money. In short,
they all just cared about themselves.

11- In Act One, Kate does everything she can to keep Larry's
memory alive. Find examples that show this pattern behavior.
1) She asks Frank to study Larry's horoscope on the day he went
missing.
2) She hasn't taken Larry's clothes out of the cupboard and she
keeps his shoes polished.
3) She can only relate to Ann as Larry's girlfriend
4) She interprets the snapping of the tree as a sign that Larry is
still alive.
 POST-READING ACTIVITY

In Act One, we learn that Chris and Ann started writing to each
other two years ago. Write the letter in which Chris invites Ann to
come visit.

Dear Ann,

First of all, how are you? And what are you doing those days?

I want to invite you to come and visit us it has been to long time
since the last time I saw you and I miss you too much. I long to see
you as soon as possible. Honestly my invitation has a reason not
just to see you. Ann to be clear I had feelings to you I even love
you I'm crazy about you. from your letters to me I guess (almost
sure) you also love me. I don't want to waste time I want to marry
you. So please accept my invitation and come to visit so we can go
ahead in our relation. I want to start a new life and you are in the
center of it.

Ann, I'm crazy about you please come visit us and help me in
convincing my mother that you are not Larry's girl anymore. If you
accept my offer I'll be the happiest man on earth.

Sincerely,
 Act Two
BASIC UNDERSTANDING
VOCABULARY PRACTICE

A)Read the quotes. Replace the words in bold with words from the list.

Remark ● assumed ● accomplishment ● resent ● suspected ● smart ●

install ● insane
1. Ann: "I feel offended by everything you've said." resent
2. Ann: "But I never once said I distrusted him." suspected
3. Keller: "My only achievement is my son." accomplishment
4. Chris: [What] "kind of comment is that?" remark
5. George: "He's too clever for me. I can't prove a phone call." Smart
6. Chris: "Because it is crazy." insane
7. Keller: "I never thought they'd put them in." install
8. Chris: "I supposed there might be some question in your mind."
Assumed

B) What do the expressions in bold mean? Circle the correct answer.

1. Please, cut it out!

a) Stop it b) get hold of yourself c) throw it away

2. I am at the end of my rope.

a) On the ball b) desperate c) fortunate

3. She is in bad shape.

 a) Not well b) innocent c) ignorant

4. Don't try to kid it away.

a) Do it yourself b) report it missing c) make a joke out
of it

5. He is a big shot.
a) Determined b) a murderer c) an important person

6. It never crossed my mind.

a) Occurred to me b) happened to me c) interested me

7. I'm sorry, It slipped my mind.

a) I pulled a fast one b) I forgot about it c) I took it for
granted

UNDERSTANDING THE PLAY

D) Read the quotes from the play and answer the questions that follow.

1. Kate to Chris: "To his last day in court Steve never gave up the idea that
Dad made him do it. If they are going to open the case again I won't live
through it."
1) What did Keller make Steve do?
Keller made Steve cover up cracks of a batch of faulty cylinder hits and
told him to hip them out.
2) What case is Kate talking about?
Kate is talking about the trial in which Steve was found guilty while Joe
was found exonerated.

2.George to Ann: "Annie – we did a terrible thing. We can never be forgiven.

Not even to send him a card at Christmas. I didn't see him once since I
 got home from the war! Annie, you don't know what was done to that
man. You don't know what happened."
1) Who is George talking about?
He is talking about their father Steve.
2) Why did George decide to visit his father in prison?
He wanted to tell him that Ann is about to get married to Chris.

3) What did Steve tell George?

Steve told George what happened that day at the plant that day over the
phone Joe told Steve to cover up the cracks and he, Joe, would take the
full responsibility.
4) How did Keller get off the hook?
Joe denied that he had spoken on the phone.

3. Lydia to George: "No he was always one year ahead to the draft."

1) Who is Lydia talking about?

She talks about her husband Frank.
2) How did this fact affect Frank's life?
He was able to stay out of war and married Lydia.

4. Mother to George: "He hadn't been laid up in fifteen years."

1) Who is Kate talking about?

she is talking about Joe.
2) What does this statement show us about Joe?
It shows that Joe lied. Kate confirms that Keller is guilty of shipping out the
faulty cylinders.

5.Frank to Mother: "I've got something amazing for you, Kate, I finished
Larry's horoscope."

What did Frank find out about Larry?

He found out that Larry has to be alive. He found out that November 25
was Larry's favorable day and he couldn't have died that day.

6.Chris to Mother: "You'll never let him go till I do it."

1) Who is Chris talking about?

 She talks about Larry.
2) What does Chris intended to do so that Kate will let go of him?
He wants to marry Ann.

7.Chris to Keller: "I want to know what you did, now what did you do? You
had a hundred and twenty cracked engine-heads, now what did you do?"

1) What did Keller do?

He shipped out the cracked cylinder heads.

2) How does Keller try to justify his actions?

His business would be destroyed and he would loose everything. He never
thought the cylinder heads would be used. He thought he will replace the
defected cylinder heads before the army spots it.
3) How does Chris react to his father's confession?
He is very angry and upset and at the end he leaves the house.

ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

C) What information can you infer about the characters below? Read the
quotes and answer the questions that follow.

1) Mother: "You don't realize how people can hate, Chris, they can hate so
much they'll tear the world to pieces"
What can you infer about Mother's view of the world?
From this quote we can understand that Kate Keller had a really hard time
facing the crowd when Je was on trial. She had experienced their anger and
blind hatred and she is now concerned about what might happen if the case
will be open again. The thought of having to face the angry crowd again is
too much for her.

2) Sue: "My husband. Too hot to drive me to the beach. Men are like little
boys; for the neighbors they'll always cut the grass."
1. What can you infer about Sue's marriage to Jim?
She feels neglected she implies that Jim is already to do anything for
anyone but when she asks him for something he always has an excuse.
As a result she feels that men are childish and irresponsible.
 2. What can you infer about Sue's view on men in general?
From this quote we can infer that Sue believes that men are childish and
irresponsible. Since they will do anything to help others but neglect their
own families.

3) Sue: "They [the people in the neighborhood] give him [Keller] credit for
being smart. I do, too, I've got nothing against Joe. But if Chris wants
people to put on their hair shirt let him take off his broadcloth. He's driving
my husband crazy with that phony idealism of his, and I'm at the end of my
rope on it!"

1. What can you infer about the values of the people in the
neighborhood?
From this quote we can infer that people in the neighborhood have weak
sense of social responsibilities. They think that Joe is guilty but they are
not ready to do anything about it.

2. Based on this quote, how would you characterize Sue?

From this quote we can understand that Sue is frustrated, she can't stand
seeing people hypocritical. To her Chris is "all talk and no action". She
herself values material wealth something her husband could provide if
he does not meet Chris and talk together. She is fighting the idealism of
Chris that might affect her husband.

4) Keller: "You are in love, Annie, but believe me, I'm older than you and I
know – a daughter is a daughter, and a father is a father. And it could
happen…"

In these lines Keller is telling Ann that her father might need her help
when he is released from prison. What can you infer about Keller's
values when he says this?

From this quote we can infer that Keller values family loyalty above
everything as a result he wants Ann to help her father when he is released.
For him, there is no role for social responsibility in his life.
5) George: "While I was studying in the hospital it [law] seemed sensible, but
outside there doesn't seem to be much of a law."

What can you infer about George's opinion of the law?

George believes that in theory the law makes sense, but in practice there is
no justice because the Judicial system is corrupted.

6) Mother: "How could we have an argument, Georgie? We all got hit by the
same lightening…"

What do you think Mother means when she suggests that all the
Characters have been "hit by the same lightening"?

Mother suggests that all the characters have been affected by the same
disaster she could be referring to the war which has had a great impact on
all the main characters.

7) Mother: "And now you're to listen to me, George. You had big principles,
Eagle Scouts the three of you; so now I got a tree, and this one - (indicating
CHRIS)- when the weather gets bad he can't stand on his feet; and that big
dope – (pointing to Lydia's house) – next door who never reads anything
but Andy Gump has three children and his house paid off. Stop being a
philosopher, and look after yourself."

1. What does Mother mean when she says "now I got a tree"?
Mother may be suggesting that instead of having Larry at home, she
now has to find comfort from a tree that was planted in his memory.

2. What is Mother suggesting about Chris?

She might be suggesting that Chris is weak.

3. What can you infer about Mother's values from her advice to
George?
We can infer that she does not care very much for such as joining the
army to fight during the war she seems very practical and believes in the
American Dream which values material well-being it makes her made
 that such a person like Frank has done in life better than Chris and
George.

8) Keller: "A man makes a mistake and they hang him by the thumb; the big
ones become ambassadors."

What is Keller suggesting about the judicial system in America?

Keller is suggesting that there is something wrong with the judicial system
in America. The average ordinary person who commits a crime gets
punished whereas "big" people can buy off the lawyers and the judges and
continue being treated as respectable people.

E1) In Act One, you learned about Comparing and Contrasting. To

understand more about the characters, compare and contrast Jim
and Sue to Frank and Lydia. Relate to the points below.

Jim and Sue Frank and Lydia

1. How they relate to each other

2. Their level of education

3. Their attitude toward the Keller family

1. Jim and Sue: they do not seem happy. They talk to each other in joking
way Sue is very jealous and cares only about money as a result Dr. Jim had
to leave his job in the research field in order to satisfy her.
On the contrary, Frank and Lydia appear to be happy and seem to get
along well together.
2. Jim is a doctor and Sue is a nurse. But as for Frank and Lydia there is no
evidence in the play about their level of education. We know that Frank
sells men clothes and that he is into astrology in addition we know that he is
a handy and know how to fix things. Lydia is portrayed as a typical
housewife she cooks and cares about her family, and we can consider her as
a devoted mother.
3. Sue respects Keller despite the fact that he is guilty she does not like Chris
because he has a bad influence on her husband unlike her husband Dr.Jim
has always suspected Joe but he likes the Kellers and likes to help them.
 Frank and Lydia seem to be friendly to the Kellers, and like to do things
for them. Frank makes a horoscope for Kate and Lydia fixes up Kate's hair.

F) The play reaches its turning point at the end of Act Two. At this point
the outcome of the action is determined. What is the turning point of
the play?

The turning point is when Chris realizes that his father is guilty after his
mother says that Joe has never been laid up to fifteen years.

G) Answer the following questions.

1. When Mother refers to the fallen apple tree, she mentions that there
will be "more light with that thing gone". On one level this statement
can be taken literally. How else could this comment be interpreted?

Mother sees the fallen tree as a sign that Larry is still alive. According to
her, the tree was planted too early and now "with that thing gone", she
has been given new hope that her son is still alive. Another interpretation
could be that the light signifies the truth, and the truth will now come out.

2. Why does Sue want Ann and Chris to move away after they are
married?

According to Sue, Chris has a negative effect on her husband. Chris

makes Jim think idealistic thoughts and encourages him to believe that
material pursuits are not the main goal in life. This kind of attitude
interferes with what she values: an easy life and a lot of money in the
bank. Sue probably hopes that if Ann and Chris move away after their
marriage, her husband will stop dreaming and settle down.

3. Keller refers to himself as a stupid many times. Why do you think he

says this?

Keller might want to come across as an "average Joe" so that people won't
believe that he is smart enough to pull a fast one.

5. Both George and Mother want Ann to leave. What are their reasons?
 Mother wants Ann to leave because she believes that Larry is still alive,
and she does not want Chris to betray his brother by "stealing" Larry's
fiancé.

George wants Ann to leave because their family has been destroyed by the
Kellers. He thinks it is disgraceful for Ann to have anything to do with the
Kellers.

6. How do you think George feels after he has spoken to Lydia? Support
your answer with a quote from the play.

He is not happy and feels regret in letting Lydia go and he says "she make
it seems so nice around here".

7. At various points in the play, certain characters attempt to

manipulate other characters. Explain how the following characters
manipulate each other and why.

1. Mother George

2. Keller George

3. Mother Chris

1- Kate tried to manipulate George by acting overly friendly. She has made
for him his favorite drink and shows him her concern about him not getting
married. In fact, she probably does this to distract George from what she feels
is the reason of his visit. In short, she does not want him to reopen the case.

2- Keller tried to manipulate George because he fears that George may try to
reopen the case. He does this in two ways. First by acting like he cares about
Steve, he is ready to offer Steve job when he get out of jail. Second, Keller
tries to change George's opinion of his father by pointing out that Steve has
always had a problem taking the blame.

3- Mother does not want Chris to marry Ann. She wants Ann to leave with
George so she secretly packs Ann's bags so she will leave with George.

3. What is George's role in Act Two?

George's role in Act 2 is to advance the plot. After visiting his father he is
completely convinced that Joe Keller is the real responsible person. So he
decides to visit the Kellers and he wants Keller to admit the truth. Of
course, as a result of his visit Kate Keller could not be smart enough, makes
the mistake and so the truth is known.

4. At the end of Act Two, Chris stumbles away, asking himself, "What
must I do?" What do you think he is going to do? What would you do?

Perhaps, Chris is going to leave the town or he is going to the police and
asks to reopen the case. As for me, I would leave the area and go start a
new life far away.

5. What questions remain unanswered at the end of Act Two?

1) What happened to Larry is?

2) What will happen to Keller? Will he go to jail? Will he admit that he did
something wrong?
3) How is the news of Keller's guilt are going to affect Chris and Ann? Will
they still want to get married? How will Chris act after discovering his
father's guilt? Will he forgive him? Will he decide that he must get
punished? Will he leave the place and go to live far away?
4) What will happen to Kate Keller? How will she behave and react? How
will she deal with this new situation?

POST – READING ACTIVITY

Imagine that Steve is at the factory. Upon learning about the cracked
cylinder heads, he phones Keller for advice. Using what you know
about the plot and the characters, write the conversation between Steve
and Keller.

Steve: "Joe, help me I'm stuck right here the air force army came asking for
cylinder heads for PS-40 planes"
Keller: "Don't be weird Steve, give them what they need and that's it!!!"
Steve: "There's a problem, we don't have the cylinder heads they are
asking for the only pieces we had from this type are cracked and
they want them immediately so we have no time to bring fixed
ones"
Keller: "Steve, Steve!!! Give them the cracked ones but don't you ever
mention that they are cracked just tell them that you need to check
the pieces before they use them and then we'll fix them it's a big
problem!"
Steve: "I don't know Joe it is so risky what if the planes fall down it's a
murder!!! It doesn't seem alright to me it makes no sense!!"
Keller: "The planes won't fall down I just told we'll fix them before they
use it are you an idiot? Steve, think of it we will gain a lot of money
we'll be rich Steve if we don't give them what they need they'll go
to another factory and they'll never come to ours we'll close!! If you
won't do it I'll fire you and that's it"
Steve: "first of all, you can't fire me I'm your partner man! Second of all, I
don't care for your stupid money. Third of all, I'm not responsible
for any consequences Joe you hear me?"
Keller: "Ok I'm the only responsible Steve you are not but don’t waste this
chance do it I'm telling you don't you trust me?"
Steve: "I do trust you I'll do it just for you and I'm not responsible for it
remember Joe I'm not responsible"
Keller: "Ok Ok you are not responsible for anything I got it now go give
them what they need and then call ne tell me what happened"
(Keller ends the conversation without waiting Steve's answer.)
Steve: "Why don't you come and sell the pieces at the end you want the
money right? (Keller have already closed the phone) Joe.. Joe do
you hear me?.... (talking with himself)oh holy why should I do such
 a thing?! I hate it when you do that Joe!!! (some worker calls Steve)
I'm coming wait a second."

ACT THREE
BASIC UNDERSTANDING
VOCABULARY PRACTICE

A) Add a word from the list to each group. You may have to change the
form of the word.

Smart ● peculiar ● sob ● snatch ● ceaseless ● instant ● nasty ● mystify ●

strong

1. Cry ● weep ● sob

2. Odd ● weird ● peculiar
3. Endlessly ● continuously ● ceaselessly
4. Grabs ● takes hold of ● snatch
5. Right away ● immediately ● instant
6. Power ● energy ● strength
7. Puzzled ● confused ● mystified
8. Unpleasant ● mean ● nasty
9. Intelligent ● clever ● smart

B) Complete the quotes with the words below.

responsible ● talent ● argument ● crashed ● yellow ● spoiled ● excuse ●
compromise ●

1. Mother: "I told you. He [Chris] had an argument with Joe. Then he got in
the car and drove away."
2. Jim: "Chris would never know how to live with a thing like that. It takes a
certain talent – for lying. You have it, and I do. But not him."
3.Jim: "these private little revolutions always die. The compromise is always
made."
4. Keller: "I spoiled the both of you. I should've out him out when he was ten
like I was put out, and him earn his keep."
5. Mother: "It don't [doesn't] excuse it that you did it for the family."
6. Ann: "He [Larry] crashed off the coast of china November twenty-fifth!"
7. Chris: "I was made yellow in this house because I suspected my father and I
did nothing about it."
8. Chris: "… there's a universe of people outside and you're responsible to it."

UNDERSTANDING THE PLAY

D) Answer the questions.

1. What time is it when Act Three begins?
Two O'clock after midnight.
2. Why is Jim still awake?
He was out seeing a patient.
3. Why is Ann willing to remain silent about Joe?
Because all she cares about is to get married to Chris.
4. When did Larry write Ann the letter?
He wrote it the day he died.
5. Why did Larry tell Ann not to wait for him?
Because he was going to commit suicide.
6. What does Keller say about Larry at the end of the play?
Keller says that he is responsible for Larry's death.
7. What happens at the end of the play?
Keller commits suicide and Mother tries to relax Chris and tell him you
are not responsible for anything it's your time live love etc.

ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

A1) Compare and contrast Keller's attitude before and after Larry's
letter was introduced. Relate to the questions below.

Before After
1. How does Keller feel about Larry?

2. How does Keller feel about his crime?

3. How does Keller feel about family loyalty?

Before Keller read Larry's letter he thought that his son Larry understands him
more than Chris this means that Keller all the time thought that Larry appreciate
the value of money and material wealth just like him, Keller never admitted or
felt that he have done something wrong he even does not consider it as a crime
cause for him family loyalty is his first priority and whatever he does is ok for
him as long as he did it for his family. After he read the letter he knew that he
misunderstood his son, Larry's last concern is money and he believes that the
universal human family is bigger and as important as the biological one so
Keller's Justifies makes no sense for him and Keller knew his responsibilities
toward the human family.

C) Answer the questions.

1. Jim talks about the compromises we have to make in life. What
compromise did he have to make?

when Jim was younger he was an idealist. He wanted to do medical

research and help humanity because such a thing does not pay him very
much he gave up his dream in order to satisfy the desire of his wife who
cared about money more than the research her husband cared about. That
was the compromise he did to please his wife so he lost the real meaning of
happiness.

2 Jim describes himself as a "good husband". Do you agree?

I think that Jim is a good husband because he give up his dream in order to
satisfy his wife and fulfill her wish- he dreamed to work in research field
and give something to humanity; but this field doesn't pay him much money
so his wife didn't want him to work at the research field to gain more money.
It's true that he is not treating his wife in such a nice way but this is normal
because she destroyed his dream.

3. Chris is in conflict with the most important people in his life. Describe
the main conflict with his father, his mother and his girlfriend.

The main conflict between Chris and Keller is family loyalty. Keller thinks
he should be forgiven because the love between a father and a son is
unconditional and more important than anything in the world. Chris in the
 other hand, his main loyalty is to the society as a whole and he believes in
social responsibilities as a result he cannot forgive his father and he
considers him a murderer.

The main conflict between Chris and Mother is Ann. Chris wants to marry
Ann, and Mother does everything she can to prevent this marriage from
happening.

The main conflict between Chris and Ann is their future as a couple. Chris
wants to break things off and go away without Ann. He thinks that one day
Ann will regret wanting to be with him because of what his father did to her
family. Ann, on the other hand, wants to be with Chris. Keller's crime does
not change the fact that she wants to marry Chris.

How does Chris's view of his father change in the play?

In the beginning of the play Chris is filled with love and admiration for his
father; at the end of the play his image of his father is shattered. He feels
contempt for Joe and cannot bear the sight of him.

D) Think about why the characters behave the way they do to answer the
questions below.

2- why do you think Ann decided not to say anything about Joe? Base
your answer on what you already know about Ann.
Ann is a practical woman. She is determined to marry Chris and she
doesn't want anything to stop her from marrying him.

3- Ann knew that Larry was dead throughout the play. Why do you think
she wanted to keep this information to herself? Support your answer with
a quote from the text.

In the very beginning of the play Ann was convinced that Keller was
innocent and she probably thought that Larry had committed suicide for
"wrong reasons". Knowing this, she might have decided that it would be
better to keep this information to herself so as not to hurt the Kellers.
Quote: "When I came, I didn't have any idea that Joe – I had nothing against
him or you. I came to get married. I hoped… So I didn't bring this to hurt you.
 I thought I'd show it to you only if there was no other way to settle Larry in
your mind."

4- Toward the end of the play Chris announces that he's going away. Why
does he want to leave? Why doesn't he want Ann to join him? Support
your answer with evidence from the text.

Chris wants to leave because he cannot bear to be around after knowing the
truth. He finds himself unable to do anything and turn his father in so he
despises himself for that he had been practical and decided to go away.

Evidence from the text: "the bums who ran away when we were fighting
were practical. Only the dead ones weren't practical. But now I'm practical,
and I spit on myself. I'm going away. I'm going now."
Chris doesn't want Ann to join him because he believes that in the future she
will regret her decision and she will not forgive him for doing nothing about
Joe.
Evidence from the text:
" Ann: "Chris, I don't ask you to do anything about Joe."
Chris: "Yes you do, you do."
Ann: "I swear I never will."
Chris: "In your heart you always will." "

5- Why do you think Keller killed himself? Support your answer with a
quote from the text.
After the knowledge related to the reason behind Larry's death he admits for
the first time that he is responsible for the death of 21 pilots. He could not
live with this knowledge so he killed himself.
Quote: "Keller (to Mother): "nothing's bigger than that[family]. And you're
going to tell him, you understand? I'm his father and he's [Chris] my son, and
if there's something bigger than that I'll put a bullet in my head!"

What was George's motive in visiting the Kellers? How did this affect the
outcome of the play?

George wanted to do justice to his father by exposing Keller and preventing

Ann from marrying Chris.

George's visit affected the outcome of play as follows:

- Keller kills himself after he realizes that he is responsible for the death of 21
pilots.
- Chris decides to leave town and break off his engagement to Ann.

F) In Act Two, you learned about the thinking skill Inferring. What can
you infer about Mother's view of the future when she says "Live" at
the end of the play?

Don't put the blame on yourself you are not responsible of anything you
should not suffer for someone else mistakes. You have the right to love, you
have the right to achieve happiness, you have the right to get married to the
girl you love. Her attitude manifests a great strength in her character she has
that extraordinary power to find solutions and make compromises in order to
make life accomplishable and to head to a better future.

G) The theme is the central idea or an insight about life that the playwright
wishes to express. What is the central theme of All My Sons?

The central theme of "All My Sons" is social responsibilities which mean

that every single human have responsibilities toward the whole human
family. This family is just as important as our biological family.

H) Are you happy of the ending? Explain.

I liked the ending of the play but I think Joe should be punished in a
different way such as going to jail to pay the price of his actions. All in all,
I'm satisfied from the current ending but if I had an opportunity to modify it
I would only cancel Keller's suicide.

REVIEW QUESTIONS

Answer the questions. Which thinking skill did you use to answer each
question.
1. Why do you think Miller included the scene between Bert and Keller in
Act One?
Identifying Parts and Whole
Miller probably included this scene in order to foreshadow the events that
would probably be relevant later on in the play.

2. Scenes with high tension are often cut short. Sometimes a character
changes the subject or a new character comes onstage. Find examples.
Why do you think Miller used this technique?
 Explaining Patterns
Miller probably used this technique to create dramatic tension. This technique
keeps the audience excited and interested in the play.
The following are examples of scenes with high tension that are cut short:
- The scene between Keller and Chris when they were arguing about Ann. This
argument is cut short when Mother appears onstage for the first time (Act
One, page 18-21).
- The scene between Mother and Keller in which Mother tells Joe that he has to
support her in her belief that Larry is coming back. This scene is cut short by
the entrance of Bert (Act One, page 25-27).
- The scene between Mother and Ann when Mother wants to make sure that
Ann is still waiting for Larry. The tension on this scene is diffused when
mother changes the subject and says that she needs a cup of tea and
immediately after that Frank appears onstage (Act one, page 33-35).
- The scene between Ann and Sue in which Sue tells Ann that she can't stand
Chris because he fills her husband's head with "phony idealism". When Chris
enters, Sue quickly changes the subject by saying: "Hello darling. How's
Mother?" (Act Two, page 54-57).
- The scene with George, Chris and Ann in which George tells Chris and Ann
what really happened in that fateful day. Just as things are starting to get out
of hand, Mother enters and overwhelms George with motherly love (Act
Two, page 65-71).

3. How has the war affected the lives of the characters?

 Explaining Cause and Effect

- Keller:
He was forced to choose between his business and endangering the lives of
Air Force pilots. He chose the former and caused the death of 21 pilots. As a
 result of this terrible decision, he caused the death of Larry, lost the love and
respect of Chris and then committed suicide.
- Mother:
She has to come to terms with the fact that Larry will not return from the war
and to live with the fact that her husband is responsible for the death of 21
pilots.
- Chris:
In the war he experienced the selfless love of his soldiers, who were ready to
sacrifice their lives for each other. However, when he came bck from the war,
he saw that nobody had changed and that everything was "business as usual".
He had a very hard time adjusting to his situation. Then when he learned
about his father's crime, he had to deal with the contempt he felt for himself
and his father.
- Larry:
He killed himself because of his father's criminal behavior in the war.
- George:
He was wounded in the war and was in the hospital for a long time. his
family was destroyed by his father's action during the war.
- Ann:
Her boyfriend Larry killed himself, and her family was destroyed as a result
of her father's criminal behavior during the war.
- Steve:
He was charged with the death of 21 pilots and he is now in jail. His family
broke off all contact with him because of the crime he committed during the
war.

4. The role of money is important throughout the play. Look at the lines
below. What do they tell us about each character's attitude to money?

 Inferring

a) Jim to Frank: "I would love to help humanity on a warner brothers salary."
(Act One )

Jim would really like to help humanity but claims that you have to be rich
to afford such a luxury. His sarcastic joke implies that he is frustrated that
he can't afford to live by his ideals.
b) Chris to Ann: "Oh Annie… I'm going to make a fortune for you!" (Act
Two)

Chris loves Ann and wants to shower her with anything money can buy. In
addition, Chris may feel that making money for Ann is a way to show his
love.

c) Sue to Ann: "I married an intern. On my salary. And that was bad, because
as soon as a woman supports a man he owes her something. You can
never owe somebody without resenting them." (Ac Two).

Sue seems to be caught in her own money trap. She supported her husband
when he was in medical school and now expects Jim to earn a lot of
money in order to give her the lifestyle she wants. However, Sue's idea of
"payback time" comes at a price. She gets the lifestyle she desires, but her
marriage to Jim turns into loveless relationship. Her husband resents her
for making him feel that he owns her something and she can't stand it that
she is controlling his life.

d) Jim to Mother: "Money-money-money-money. You say it long enough it

doesn't mean anything. Oh, how I'd love to be around when that happens!"
(Act Three)

Jim doesn't really care about money. He is frustrated idealist who

compromised on his ideals in order to pay the bills.

e) Keller to Mother: "You wanted money, so I made money. What must I be

forgiven?" (Act Three)

Keller's self-worth is closely linked to his business, and financial success.

In his view, money is the best thing he can give to his children. His love
for his family is expressed through material professions.

f) Keller to Chris: "It's dollars and cents, nickels and dimes; war and peace,
it's nickels and dimes, what's clean? Half the Goddam country is gotta go
if I go!" (Act Three).

Keller thinks that he is no greedier or more corrupt than the average

American.
5. What effect do you think Miller wanted to achieve by calling Joe
"Keller"?

 Inferring
"Keller" sounds like "killer", and it could be that Miller used this play of
words to foreshadow the outcome of the play.

6. Explain the title of the play. Who are "all my sons"?

 Identifying Parts and Whole

The significance of the title of the play becomes clear in Keller's final lines
when he finally assumes responsibility for his actions. After years of denial,
he acknowledges that the pilots who dead as a direct result of his greed were
someone's sons, and they all might as well have been his own.

7. Which characters changed in the play? Explain how they changed.

 Synthesizing
The two characters who changed are Joe and Chris.
-Joe: In the beginning of the play Keller creates the impression that he is
friendly, simple "old Joe" who works hard and cares about his family. As the
play progresses we are exposed to another side of Joe. He is manipulative and
does whatever he must to maintain his comfortable lifestyle. Only at the end
of the play, when he can no longer lie, play ignorant or pretend that he is
stupid, does he face up to the fact that he was responsible for the death of 21
pilots. Keller's revelation occurs when he finally realizes that he is part of the
world and that the pilots who died because of his negligence could have been
his sons. This knowledge was probably too much for Keller to bear, as he
kills himself moments later.

-Chris: In the beginning of the play, Chris is presented as an idealist who

believes in a higher responsibility to the world at large. He has an idealistic
vision of his father. He loves him admires him and is very proud of his
achievements. However, when he realizes that his father was responsible for
the death of 21 pilots, his whole world collapses. Chris turns into a man who
is deeply ashamed of himself, because he had suspected his father was guilty
but did nothing about it. The new Chris no longer lives by his ideals, nor does
 he seek justice for the dead pilots. This Chris is practical. Turning his father
in won't bring back the dead.

8. What do you think is the message of the play?

 Synthesizing
- We must be socially responsible for each other. We don't live in a vacuum.
- "No man is an island."
- "Money is the root of all evil."

9. How does the playwright portray the women in the play? Give examples.

 Comparing and Contrasting

Even though the women differ in character, they all seem determined in their
ways and are often portrayed as practical, self-serving and manipulative.
 Mother:
- She knows that Keller pulled a fast one to get himself exonerated.
She also knows that if the truth about her husband's involvement in the crime
of the cracked cylinder heads came to light, it would break her family apart.
To prevent this from happening, she goes along with Keller's denial of his
crime and encourages him to believe that he has done nothing wrong.
- Deep down she probably believes that Larry is no longer alive; however, no
one is allowed to suggest that he is dead. She demands control of this reality
and dominates it.
- Throughout the play she tries to get Ann to admit that she's still in love with
Larry and is still waiting for him. When Ann won't comply, Mother does
whatever she can to get Ann to leave.
- She tries to manipulate George by overwhelming him with love in order to
distract him from Keller's involvement in the crime.
 Ann:

- Ann is determined to marry Chris. She knows what she wants and is not easily
swayed. She keeps her cool when Mother questions her insistently about her
feelings for Larry.
- She shows Larry's letter to prove to Mother once and for all that her son is no
longer alive. Ann does this so that Mother won't stand in the way of her plans
to marry Chris.
- When George comes to visit, she and Mother both try to calm him down,
thought probably not for the same reasons. As was suggested earlier, Mother
wants to convince George that there is nothing wrong in the Keller home and
that his suspicions are totally misplaced. Ann, on the other hand, appears less
concerned about her father's innocence or whether justice has been served.
She seems to have one thing in mind: to marry Chris no matter what. As she
sees it, George is a potential obstacle who could ruin her chances to marry
Chris. She needs to calm down quickly in order to secure her future marriage.
- When it becomes clear that Keller was responsible for the death of 21 pilots,
she decides to do nothing about it. She wants to marry Chris and doesn't seem
to care about justice anymore.

 Sue:
- She nags her husband to earn more money, and as she is self-serving, she goes
so far as to ask Ann to move away after her marriage to Chris, because she
considers him a bad influence on her husband and a threat to her lifestyle.
(Chris encourages Jim to do medical research, which isn't profitable.)
- She knows that Keller is guilty and pulled a fast one to get himself out of jail,
but she doesn't care. She seems to admire Keller because he knows how to
make money. She probably thinks that the end justifies the means.

 Lydia:

Even though we don't learn much about Lydia, we may assume that she is
practical woman. After all, she didn't wait for George to come back from the
war. While he was fighting in the war, she got married, had three children and
now lives in a big house that has already been paid off.

10. Do you think Chris and Ann will still get married? Explain.

 Evaluation

Yes, An is so determined to marry Chris and most likely she'll find a way to
change his mind. In addition at the end of the play, Mother says "live", so she
won't stand in their way.

11. What is Larry's role in the play?

 Inferring
 Although Larry is never seen onstage, he plays an essential role in the play.
His disappearance creates suspense and makes us wonder what really
happened to him. Throughout the play, he is there in the background. The
characters remember him when they comment on his memorial ( the fallen
apple tree), they argue with Mother about whether he is still alive and they
laugh at Frank who has been commissioned to make his horoscope.
The revelation that he purposely crashed his plane brings a halt to these
thoughts. Suddenly the characters understand that Larry sacrificed himself in
penance for his father's misdeeds. The knowledge of his suicide causes a
chain reaction. It is impossible for the characters to carry on obliviously.
They must address the truth and move forward. Joe chooses to kill himself
rather than deal with his guilt. Kate finally lets go of the past and urges Chris
to "live".

12. Compromise is an important theme in the play. In your opinion, which

character had to make the biggest compromise? Why?

 Evaluation
I think both Chris and Jim made the biggest compromise. Jim sacrificed his
dream to made a compromise with his wife and giving up his dream give the
person that feeling of constant depression. As for Chris he had to be practical
and give up his idealism which is the center of his life that's why he felt that
his world was collapsed and felt lost those sacrifices affect person's life and
turn it upside down that's why I think Chris and Jim made the biggest
compromices.