...Dead Poet Society is a film directed by Peter Weir. Its context is one that is historical and social. This film is set at the fictional Welton Academy in Vermont, USA, in 1959. At that time, the economy was strong and education was highly valued. Despite widespread prosperity following the end of World War II, American society was also experiencing the anxiety of the Cold War with the Soviet Union and its satellite states. This veneer of prosperity undercut with tension is thematically reflected in Dead poet’s Society. Weir chose to capture American society right at the turning point of a decade of social cohesion and conformity. Much is at stake in maintaining the status quo at Welton, a microcosm of upper-class society. For this reason,...
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...Dead Poets Society I’ve read the book Dead Poets Society and I’m going to tell you about on of the characters in the book. His name is John Keating and he’s native American between 30-35 years old. John works as an English teacher and he has just got a new job at Welton Academy, which is the best boarding school in USA. John worked as Chester school in London a couple of years before Welton. Mr. Keating himself graduated as a student from Welton. In this essay I’m going to discuss and prove why I believe John Keating is a great teacher. The first time I noticed that John was a great teacher was at his first lesson with his new class. My reaction was that he was a good leader because he advocated important things like “Carpe Diem", which means seize the day. Another thing I observed was how he spoke to his students. He had good confidence, which infected in a positive way and gave the students self confidence. In the beginning of the lesson he started to say “O captain! My captain”, and then he wanted that the guys should call him Mr. Keating or “O captain! My captain!” These simple words made attention from the students. Another scenario was that he very quickly got good contact whit the students. His relationship with the guys was very good because he talked with them a lot. I think he was more like a friend then a strict teacher who hated the students. Neil had some problems whit his father about what he may do or not may do. Then Neil picked John to...
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...Dead poets society-essay At the end of the novel Dead Poets Society, Neil who has been very actively involved in the Dead Poets Society kills himself. Neil Perry was though a very confident and popular student who thrived at school, which his collection of achievement pens represents. He was also well liked by both his peers and teachers and was a natural leader. Inspired by his passionate English teacher, Mr. Keating, he reestablishes the Dead Poets Society. This shows that he was prepared to challenge authority. He does this when going behind his controlling father’s back and auditions for the schools musical. It ends in a complete disaster and his dad catches him. As a result, Neil commits suicide at the end. Some might accuse Neil’s father who denied his son the chance of living his dream. That he was too harsh and mean. I on the other hand think this is a huge misunderstanding. I think that like many parents Mr. Perry wanted what was best for his son, which led to extremely high expectations. Where as Neil wanted to explore who he was and what he wanted to do. The huge expectation could defiantly have played in as a factor for Neil’s decision to kill himself. Neil probably also saw this as more as an act of a tyrant, and not as tough love. But the biggest factor was probably Mr. Perry’s need to control his son’s entire life. And Neil probably saw suicide as the only way to escape his father’s grasp. Which is why I think Mr. Perry caused his son’s death. Others...
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...DEAD POETS SOCIETY & CATCHER IN THE RYE MY FAVORITE LINES FROM THE MOVIE Savor words and language; words and ideas can change the world 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. Poetry, beauty, romance, love -- these are what we stay alive for Let poetry work its magic We didn’t just read poetry, we let it drip from our tongues like honey; spirits soared, women swooned, and gods were created. Language was developed for one endeavor and that is to woo women A man isn’t very tired, he is exhausted; don’t say very sad, say morose We must constantly look at things in a different way When you read, don’t just consider what the author thinks, consider what you think Strive to find your own voice; dare to strike out and find new ground Sometimes the most beautiful poetry can be about simple things – a cat or a flower or rain Poetry can come from anything with the stuff of revelation in it Don’t let your poems be ordinary Say the first thing that pops into your mind even if it’s total gibberish; describe what you see, now give it an action Mr. Keating: I always thought the purpose of education was to teach one to think for himself Mr. Nolan: No John, tradition, discipline, prepare them for college and the rest will take care of itself Will the rest take care of itself? Should teachers be concerned...
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...The Catcher in the Rye/The Dead Poets Society Holden Caufield, narrator and main character in The Catcher in the Rye, is a young man coming of age, searching for who he is and what he wants to be in life. Holden wants to escape the conformity and others expectations. He came from a fairly wealthy family whose parents are estranged in a way. John Keating, a new English instructor played by Robin Williams in The Dead Poets Society, uses bold teaching techniques to motivate his pupils. This causes his students to rebel against school and parental norms. Could a teacher like Keating with his un-uniformed teaching methods tap into Holden’s potential? In this essay I will argue that he could not. Holden Caufield is a troubled young man, alienating himself from his peers and the world around him. He also manages to get kicked out of prep school for the third time. I think Holden failing every class except English is not due to a lack of intelligence, but a way of rebelling against the expectations of others and avoiding becoming like everyone else. He feels most people are phony, yet in a way Holden is a phony also. According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, “Phoniness is described as artificial, counterfeit, or hypocritical.” These are all actions displayed by Holden at several times throughout the novel. Phony is one of the words heavily used by Holden to describe the actions of others, but not himself. Before judging others he should take a look at himself to evaluate his faults...
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...New England, the 1950s. Todd Anderson (Ethan Hawke), a lonely and painfully shy teenager, who is under pressure by his stern parents because he must live up to his older brother's reputation to attend Yale and become a lawyer, arrives for the new semester at the Welton Academy for boys. This semester begins during an orientation gathering with a speech given by the stern Headmaster Nolan (Norman Lloyd), who states the academy's four pillars: Tradition, Honor, Discipline, and Excellence. Todd meets Neil Perry (Robert Sean Leonard) an ambitious student whom becomes his dorm roommate. Later in his dorm, Neil is ordered by his grumpy and domineering father (Kurtwood Smith) to drop an extracurricular class in order to maintain good grades so the boy may become a doctor much as he has done. Neil is under pressure from his stern father's will. Also, Mr. Perry tells Neil that Mrs. Perry also wants him to become a doctor, which further worries the boy. A little later, Todd tells Neil that he is in a similar situation with his parents involving his older brother who also attended Welton a few years ago, graduated, and attended Yale Law School and became a lawyer and his parents want the exact same thing for him. But Todd does not have the courage to tell his parents that he instead wants to be a writer, not a lawyer. During the first day of classes Todd and Neil experience the various teaching methods which include speeches by the trig teacher, as well as the Latin teacher, and the...
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...The Welton boys lost more than they gained by having Keating as a teacher. Do you agree? In the film Dead Poets Society,Welton Academy is a prestigious school well known for their academic excellence. There is an expectation that the boys are to be taught following a specific curriculum. Mr Keating comes to teach at Welton and teaches in such a way that disregards what Welton stands for. Through Charlie, Neil and Todd, it can be seen that the Welton boys as a whole have lost more than they have gained. Charlie was one of the many boys at Welton whose parents entrusted their precious sons’ future to the school. Mr Keating did not follow through with that trust that was put on him. Instead of preparing the boys for their Ivy League exams, Mr...
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...have. Although the idea of “living life to the fullest” essentially means living an exceptional life and never wasting any opportunity given to you, many would take this in a different context and use it as an opportunity to do something reckless. Furthermore, people would use the quote carpe diem as a valid excuse to do something irresponsible. Though to some extent it may be acceptable, but the idea of carpe diem does not center on invincibility or invulnerability. It focuses on precisely the opposite –mortality. The fact that we are mortal means the time that we have left is extremely precious and that we should never settle for a life that is less than extraordinary. In the movie Dead Poets Society directed by Peter Weir, carpe diem was one of the main themes the film posses’. The events that happened to the lead characters manifested a distinct tension between how traditions and conformity clashes with innovation and freethinking. By analyzing the small details of each segment in the movie, as well as the characteristics of the lead roles, it enables us to have a deeper insight on why people choose to be part of the mainstream, especially during that time period, 1959, and in an elite school like Welton. Nevertheless, as the movie unfolds, we grasp the concept of mortality, which reinforces the necessity of seizing the day; to become...
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...David Good Good 1 Mrs. Thomson ENG3UI-01 May, 25/2015 In the film Dead Poets Society (DPS) directed by Peter Weir there are constant similarities in characters actions and issues to the novel The Catcher In The Rye (TCR) written by J.D Salinger. Holden Caulfield is a young man in the novel TCR who experiences a lot while he is in New York after being kicked out of boarding school for flunking four out of his five courses.The boys in the film DPS are experiencing life differently than they are used to, joining the Dead Poets Society, sneaking out at night to share poetry. Neil Perry is an intelligent young man from the film experiencing stress, anxiety and depression caused by his parents similar to Holden in the novel. Charlie is another smart character in the film with his rebellious attitude he shows a lot of similar traits to Holden’s character. Knox Overstreet in the film Dead Poets Society shares similar interests than Holden, girls. Holden Caulfield is a multi dimensional character who deals with several issues throughout the novel while each of the boys in the film are one dimensional characters who only deal with a single issue. Neil Perry shows a lot of charismatic traits when he is with his friends. His classmates tend to look up to him as a leader and he shows promising characteristics of being a good leader as he matures...
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...Not all people are capable of fully thinking for themselves and choosing to forge their own path that society may not agree with. For such people, taking great risks is likely not possible so subconsciously they choose to live their life as a conformist. The film Dead Poets Society illustrates the success a conformist may experience. From the moment he first appears in the story, the audience is made aware that Cameron is not destined for greatness. An extremely shy rule follower, Cameron lives life as “quote here” (Citation). Ultimately, when push comes to shove, Cameron decides to betray his friends telling the school all about Mr. Keating’s influence on Neil Perry and how he encouraged the recreation of the Dead Poets Society club. In the dramatic final scene of the...
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...Dead Poets Society Our professors and teachers are the true heroes. As I have seen in the film Dead Poets Society, the hero is Mr. John Keating. As an educator, he ought to instruct students to enlighten and be clever natives of public opinion. He also helped them acquire fundamental information, aptitudes and values, and help them comprehend complete obligation regarding their considerations, sentiments and movements. In other words, Mr. Keating’s teachings influence them. He taught his students to "suck the bone of life to the marrow", "to seize the day", and to make their lives extraordinary. His students get a lot more than poetry. They learn passion, courage, and romance. These messages are shown throughout the film and made me understood that being a professor conveys an enormous power in many different ways. However, power can possibly enhance or ruin somebody's life. For instance, a professor makes one rude comment and the student will carry that all through his or her life. Power is therefore an obligation, and obliges cautious steps, that is, without mishandling the trust and the benefits of power. Moreover, self-esteem was one of the centers of the film. From there, it reveals that Neil has low self-esteem which can be shown with his relationship with his father and unfortunately, this made him experience his tragic end. However, Todd, with Mr. Keating’s help, was able to build up his self-esteem. The connection between Todd and Mr. Keating is quite exciting because...
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...Patricia Miller Management: Theory, Practice, and Application Charmaine Perkins Houston Campus January 12, 2006 Delegation Paper In today’s world there are many companies that strive and become very successful and profitable. In order for any business to establish themselves and have a great tenure they must adhere to not only factors but also delegation. Today, more than ever, managers must learn to use their time effectively. As a manager, you have a multitude of responsibilities. A situation made more difficult by an environment that emphasizes change, rapid responses times, and thinking “outside of the box.” There never seems to be enough time to get it all done. If, however, you are going to have an impact, you must take control of your time and not vice versa. If you try to do it all yourself, this will never happen. You can control your time by arriving earlier, using detailed planners and schedules, or “blocking off time” to focus on special projects. You might also try prioritizing tasks or using an elaborate filing system. All of these approaches will help, but you will never maximize your effectiveness unless you learn to delegate effectively. Stephen Covey, author of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, says that “effectively delegating to others is perhaps the single most powerful high-leverage activity there is.” Certainly in today’s business environment, effective delegation will help you achieve your fullest...
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...jumprope. Everyones lives interconnected throughout. Once i moved into my new neighborhood i started to notice quite the opposite the neighbors barely knew each other everybody just sort of minded there own business and only speak on a need to know basis and were also much more judgmental. So for me i have found myself to be less social with people from higher class then i would be with people from the lower class because i feel like you can just talk to them about anything there not constantly spell checking you and judging your actions so heavily. Women i don't believe to always be at a disadvantage to men in some ways they can be certainly but in others not so much it just depends on the scenario. You could make the argument that the society is patriarchal but i believe that to do that you would have to find a country or nation where it is better and comparatively i think the U.S would stack up with lots of others in the discussion of women's right. Race and racial relations is something that is really in our heads more or less. Scientist have proven the as far as dan between “races” in human beings they have no distinct way of identifying a...
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...The film Dead Poets Society illustrates how belief in transcendentalism can sometimes have a dangerous effect. Mr. Keating a transcendental has inspired his student Neil, who tried to take a dangerous risk and eventually took his own life. During Mr. Keating first day of teaching, he introduces the saying “ Gather ye rosebuds while ye may… Carpe Diem” (?). Mr. Keating wanted his students, including Neil to take out of this quote the importance of seizing the day and seeking opportunities in life. He wanted them to act for themselves in order to live up each day the way they want it to be. This expression is interpreted from a transcendentalist point of view and has greatly impacted Neil’s decision of pursuing an acting career. According to...
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