I am teaching "Death of a Salesman" and need a way to reword something for my students?

Question

I have a take home essay prompt which states this :

"How does Willy’s desperate quest for the American Dream resemble a religious crusade?"

Now I'm a student teacher. I have some smart juniours in a college prep class. My master teacher told me that "religious crusade" will be foreign and probably confusing to them. How can a re-word "religious crusade" so they can understand it and be able to write a valid paper on the behavior of Willy Loman.

Help, please...

Answer 1

A Religious Crusade is nothing more than some one trying to find a higher truth.

The Search for the Holy Grail is a really good example. Loman was just trying to attain a goal, much like those searching for the Grail.

Answer 2

I agree with the 2 above me.  I don't know that you necessarily need to reword your question so much as just explain to them exactly what you're asking.  Monty Python is a good example.  In Dogma, Alan Rickman's character charges Bethany with a Holy Crusade.  Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is another way to mention it (that's on TV right now so I was thinking about it).  It's about finding how to explain what you're asking in a manner that is relevant to them.  There's no need to rephrase or dumb it down.  They will be able to understand it.

Answer 3

Just explain to them what a religious crusade was. Give them a few examples and allow them to make the connections.

Ponty Python and the Holy Grail is funny. :)