KEATING: "O Captain! My Captain!" Who knows where that comes from? Anybody. Not a clue? It's from a poem by Walt Whitman about Mr. Abraham Lincoln. Now, this class, you can either call me Mr. Keating, or, if you're slightly more daring, "O Captain! My Captain." Now let me dispel a few rumors, so they don't fester into facts. Yes, I, too, attended Hellton and have survived. And no, at that time, I was not the mental giant you see before you. I was the intellectual equivalent of a ninety- eight-pound weakling. I would go to the beach, and people would kick copies of Byron in my face.
Think of a time when a teacher made an impression on you. It could be a positive or a negative impression. Describe the incident in detail, but leave the teacher’s name blank or call them “Mr. M” or “Mrs. M.” This should be at least 5-7 sentences (fill in the space provided).
Look up and Define the Following Words:
1. Attributes
2. Undaunted
3. Charisma
4. Unorthodox
5. Zeal
6. Conform
7. Romantic
8. Realist
Film Study: Dead Poets Society
Dead Poets Society, directed by Peter Weir, was released in 1989. The action of the film takes place in the late 1950s, at a boarding school called Welton Academy that was founded in 1859, the era of Emerson, Whitman, and the buildup to the American Civil War. Below is a list of major characters; as you watch, note any observations—about behavior, perspectives, values, etc. Many of the characters look alike, so pay attention!
· Mr. John Keating (Robin Williams)
· Neil Perry (Robert Sean Leonard)
· Todd Anderson (Ethan Hawke)
· Knox Overstreet (Josh Charles)
· Charlie Dalton (Gale Hansen)
· Richard Cameron (Dylan Kussman)
· Steven Meeks (Allelon Ruggiero)
· Gerard Pitts (James Waterston)
· Dean Nolan (Norman Lloyd)
· Mr. McAllister (Leon Pownall)
· Mr. Perry (Kurtwood Smith)
Consider that the literary aspects of books—characterization, conflict, climax, theme, etc.—are often the same features that make films come to life.
A. Make a list of significant topics or themes as you watch.
Conflicts:
Themes:
Climax:
Others:
B. Questions to Guide Your Viewing:
1. What are the “four pillars” of the school? How do the boys “revise” these pillars?
2. Explain Todd’s reluctance to join the Dead Poets Society. How does Neil help?
3. How does each meeting of the society begin?
4. Do the boys hold true to the original society from Keating’s day? Explain your response.
5. How does Mr. Keating respond to one “slack” student’s poem?
6. What effect does Keating’s teaching have on Knox?
7. How does Charlie illustrate the “point” of the courtyard activity?
8. How does the presence of girls affect the society?
9. How do the boys react to Charlie’s newspaper stunt? What is the result? Respond to Charlie’s attitude.
10. What is the dean’s teaching advice for Mr. Keating?
11. How does Keating respond to Charlie’s stunt?
12. Describe the interaction between Neil and his father. Compare to that between Neil and Keating.
13. What does the society inspire Knox to do?
14. How does Neil embody the transition from Romanticism to Realism?
15. Is Todd’s reaction to Neil’s act out of character? Explain. Compare to Keating’s and Dean Nolan’s.
16. Do you agree with Cameron about the responsibility? Explain your answer.
17. Do you find the final scene heroic, disappointing, Romantic, Realistic, or something else? Explain.
After Viewing questions: Define the underlined terms, then answer the questions that follow
9. What are the attributes of Mr. Keating?
10. Which character is the most undaunted by the school?
11. Which character has the most charisma?
12. How is Mr. Keating’s teaching style unorthodox?
13. Describe one character’s zeal for something.
14. Explain how the students conform and don’t conform to the standards at the school.
15. Which characters would you consider romantics?
16. Which characters would you consider realists?