American Literature CLEP Prep Practice Exam

What American writer wrote the play Death of a Salesman?

1. Langston Hughes

2. Arthur Miller

3. Toni Morrison

4. Zora Neale Hurston

The correct answer is: Arthur Miller

Option A, Langston Hughes, was an American poet and writer known for his influential work during the Harlem Renaissance. His notable works include "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" and "Harlem (Dream Deferred)". Option C, Toni Morrison, was also an American novelist known for her exploration of black identity and African-American history. Her novel "Beloved" won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1988. Option D, Zora Neale Hurston, was an American author and anthropologist who is best known for her novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God". While all of these writers have made significant contributions to American literature, only option B, Arthur Miller, is the correct answer as he wrote the play Death of a Salesman, which won both the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play in 1949.