Dead Poets Society Touchstone, 1989

Cast Neil Perry (wants to act) Robert Sean Leonard Todd Anderson (shy; Neil’s roommate) Ethan Hawke Charlie Dalton (class clown; “Nirwanda”) Gale Hansen Knox Overstreet (in love with Chris) Josh Charles Richard Cameron (red-headed, kisses up) Dylan Kussman Steven Meeks (glasses, techie) Allelon Ruggiero Gerard Pitts (tall, awkward) James Waterston Mr. John Keating (Literature professor) Robin Williams Mr. Nolan (headmaster) Norman Lloyd Chris Noel (the girl Knox is in love with) Alexandra Powers Chet Danburry (Chris’s current boyfriend) Colin Irving Mr. Perry (Neil’s father) Kurtwood Smith Mr. McAllister (Latin professor) Leon Pownall Hopkins (a sarcastic student) Matt Carey (*Hopkins’ first name not known. Extra credit if you can find it.) Screenplay Tom Schulman Director Peter Weir Cinematography John Seale Editor William M. Anderson Sound C.J. Appel, Ann Kroeber Music Maurice Jarre Special Effects Allen Hall, Gary L. Karas Art Direction Sandy Veneziano, John H. Anderson Costumes Eddie Marks Makeup Susan A. Cabral, Bette Iverson

This film is in a sense about literature, but it also presents itself as a work of literature

more so than the average film. It is an excellent film in which to study themes, symbolism, allusions, cinematic metaphors, and archetypical characters and story patterns.

The film is set in the late 1950’s—American conformity was very strong, but it was on

the verge of collapsing. Rock ‘n’ roll was just beginning, and this is 10 years before Woodstock. Although Robin Williams was considered the star of the film, his role is really a

supporting one. The seven students who form the Dead Poets Society (the first seven listed in the cast above) are the focus of the film.

The Assignment (use your “Archetypes” handout to help you) 1. Give two or three themes of the film, and explain how the film makes those themes evident. ______________________________________________________________________________ Choose 5 of the following 6 questions to complete; extra credit for answering all six.

2. What is symbolic of Mr. Keating having the students tear out the introduction to their literature textbooks? Why do the students hesitate so long? Why does Charlie Dalton rip his out first? Why does Cameron rip his out last, with a ruler, leaving a part of it in the book?

3. How is the cave in the forest at night symbolic of the Dead Poets Society’s ideals and

nature, as well as the boys’ attitude toward it? Why do they form a circle at their meetings (i.e., what’s the archetypical symbolism)?

4. When Mr. Keating has his students stand on his desk, what is the meaning of this? What

is the symbolic meaning in the last scene when the students stand on their own desks?

5. When Mr. Keating has the students walking differently in the courtyard, what idea is he trying to get across? How does Mr. Nolan interpret it differently? (more than just fooling around)

6. What is symbolic of Todd’s birthday gift from his parents? What is symbolic of Todd’s

throwing it into the darkness?

7. The film takes place throughout the fall, and it ends in winter (instead of spring). How does this symbolize the themes and emotions of the film?

______________________________________________________________________________ 8. Do the individual members of the Dead Poets Society follow Mr. Keating’s teachings?

Choose Neil, Todd, Charlie, or Knox and explain how he does or doesn’t, using examples from the film.

9. Choose one of the poems (or quote) from the previous two pages and explain how that poem

or quote gives us further insight into one of the film’s themes or characters. 10. When Mr. Keating is helping Todd write a poem in front of the class, he closes Todd’s eyes

and they begin spinning in a circle. What feeling/idea is this actor and camera movement metaphorically describing?

Poems featured in Dead Poets Society Closer attention to these poems (and one quotation) gives us further insight into the film’s themes. “Todd’s Poem” was written for the film; everything else here is classic poetry. “Todd's Poem”

by Tom Schulman (screenwriter, Dead Poets Society, Touchstone, 1989)

I close my eyes, and this image floats beside me. A sweaty-toothed madman with a stare that pounds my brain. His hands reach out and choke me, and all the time he's mumbling, mumbling truth, truth like a blanket that always leaves your feet cold. You push it, stretch it, it will never be enough, you kick at it, beat it, it will never cover any of us. From the moment we enter crying to the moment we leave dying, it will just cover your face, as you wail and cry and scream.

“To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time” by Robert Herrick (1591-1674)

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,

Old time is still a-flying; And this same flower that smiles today

Tomorrow will be dying. The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,

The higher he’s a-getting, The sooner will his race be run,

And nearer he’s to setting. That age is best which is the first, When youth and blood are warmer; But being spent, the worse, and worst Times still succeed the former. Then be not coy, but use your time,

And, while ye may, go marry; For, having lost but once your prime,

You may forever tarry*. *tarry – delay, waste time _________________________________ “O Captain! My Captain!” (first stanza)

by Walt Whitman O Captain! My Captain! our fearful trip is

done, The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize

we sought is won, The port is near, the bells I hear, the people

all exulting, While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel

grim and daring; But O heart! heart! heart! O bleeding drops of red, Where on the deck my Captain lies, Fallen cold and dead.

“O Me! O Life!” by Walt Whitman O me! O life! of the questions of these

recurring, Of the endless trains of the faithless, of

cities fill’d with the foolish, Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for

who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?)

Of eyes that vainly crave the light, of the objects mean, of the struggle ever renew’d,

Of the poor results of all, of the plodding and sordid crowds I see around me,

Of the empty and useless years of the rest, with the rest of me intertwined,

The question, O me! so sad, recurring—What good amid these, O me, O life?

Answer. That you are here—that life exists and

identity, That the powerful play goes on, and you

may contribute a verse.

I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately…I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life…to put to rout all that was not life…and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.

--Henry David Thoreau Walden

_________________________________ from A Midsummer Night’s Dream

(V.1.425-440) by William Shakespeare

(closing of the play delivered by Puck, aka Robin Goodfellow)

If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended: That you have but slumb’red here, While these visions did appear. And this weak and idle1 theme, No more yielding but a dream,2 Gentles, do not reprehend: If you pardon, we will mend. And as I am an honest Puck, If we have unearned luck Now to scape the serpent’s tongue,3 We will make amends ere4 long; Else the Puck a liar call: So, good night unto you all. Give me your hands5 if we be friends, And Robin shall restore amends.

1 foolish 2 creating no more than a dream does 3 escape hissing (booing) 4 before 5 applaud