DEAD POETS SOCIETY

“We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion.”

Dead Poets Society explores the conflict between realism and romanticism as these contrasting ideals are presented to the students at an all-boys preparatory school. Welton Academy is founded on tradition and excellence and is bent on providing strict structured lessons prescribed by the realist, anti-youth administration. With the dawning of each new semester, hundreds of parents abandon their sons, leaving them in the tried hands of Welton staff in hopes that they will raise doctors and lawyers. When a replacement English teacher arrives, who happens to be a Welton alumnus, he brings with him a passion for teaching romanticism, thus opening a never-before-seen world to his students.

What can we learn from this movie?

It’s not who you are but what you do that defines you. Keating conveys this message to his students because he doesn’t want them to be held back by preconceived ideas. It’s not about race, gender, age, or even experience. People are measured by what they accomplish. Keating encourages action on the part of his students. He wants them to relentlessly pursue their passions.

Act as if you have nothing to lose. Keating’s students are young boys with their lives in front of them, but he encourages risk-taking. He pushes his students to move outside their comfort levels. He consistently tries to demonstrate that the worst thing that can happen really isn’t all that bad. And through his encouragement, the boys discover that they are capable of so much more than they thought possible.

Encourage independent thinking. You need to get your students looking at things from a new perspective. Warning: In the movie, it costs Keating his job, but it leaves an impression on a group of boys and changes their lives.

Carpe diem—seize the day. Keating tells his students to seize the day. It’s OK to talk and dream, but in the end, it’s action that will allow you to grab the prize.

 It's About Relationships. Students don't care what you know if they don't know you care. Mr. Keating's students loved him because he was interested in them. He delighted in their successes. He laughed with them (near them, not at them). He truly saw them. And that's pretty much what every kid we teach wants to be seen and be noticed.

Lessons Mr. Keating teaches us:

On finding your voice and Perspective

On the value of the humanities

On thinking for yourself

MAIN CHARACTERS

Mr Keating

Played by: Robin Williams

The new teacher and previous student at Welton. He inspires the boys to 'seize the day' and restart his old club, the Dead Poets Society.

Neil Perry

Played by: Robert Sean Leonard

One of Keating's students, who decides to restart the Dead Poets Society. He has a strained relationship with his controlling father.

Todd Anderson

Played by: Ethan Hawke

A new student at Welton, and Neil's roomate. He starts out as the most timid of the poets, but gains confidence thanks to Keating and Neil's encouragement.

Charlie Dalton

Played by: Gale Hansen

Another of Keating's students and the most rebellious member of the Dead Poets Society.

Knox Overstreet

Played by: Josh Charles

Member of Keating's class and the Dead Poets Society. Spends most of the movie attempting to win the love of local girl, Chris