Dead Poets Society Review Questions
1. In the space below, create a Venn diagram to compare and contrast Welton Academy with your school.
2. What, if anything, is missing from the boys’ education at Welton? What do you feel is overemphasised?
3. Look at Keating’s first two lessons. Why are the boys so readily on-side with Keating? Is this believable? Who leads their cause? Why? (Consider the kinds of lessons the boys are used to).
4. Outline Keating’s philosophy of life.
5. At the first re-convening of the Dead Poets Society Neil reads a Tennyson poem that ends with the line: “To strive, to seek and not to yield.”
Explain how these words prove to be ironic as far as Neil is concerned.
6. Contrast Charlie’s action near the end of the film (when the boys are pressured to betray Keating and each other) with those of Knox and Todd.
7. What is the point of the following exchange between Cameron and Mr Nolan in the final scene of the film?
Cameron: …we’ve covered the romantics, and some of the chapters on post-civil war literature.
Nolan: What about the realists?
Cameron: I believe we skipped most of that, Sir.
8. Complete these sentences in a way that sums up for you the theme of this film:
(a) This film is about…
(b) The film-maker’s view is that people should…
(c) He believes that people can… And that people should not…
9. To what extent is this influence (Keating’s) on adolescents dangerous? (Remember Keating’s admonition to Charlie / Nuanda about being stupid?)
10. What justifications can you find for the repressive attitude of the school towards its pupils?
11. How much parental involvement is healthy in a child or teen’s life?
12. Have you ever felt pressure from your parents? Explain.
13. In your opinion, why isn’t something done to save Keating’s job?
14. In an essay of at least two paragraphs (separate sheet), answer the following questions: What are the three most important functions of a high school education? How well do you think Buena Park High School fulfils these purposes?
By Tom Fasano on December 11, 2008 – 9:16 am
Posted in Lessons, Movies | No Comments »