This document provides an overview and summary of the film Dead Poets Society. It takes place at Welton Academy, an all-boys preparatory school, and focuses on Professor John Keating, an unconventional English teacher who inspires his students through his passionate teachings about poetry. He encourages the boys to seize the day and make their own choices rather than conform to society's expectations. The main characters include Neil Perry and Todd Anderson, who are deeply impacted by Keating's encouragement to follow their dreams. Scenes highlighted show how Keating's leadership and teachings empower the students to think independently.
2. Setting: Welton Academy All boys preparatory school
Protagonist: Professor John Keating English and Poetry Teacher
Unconventional Teaching Methods
Challenges Students to Think for Themselves
Poetry Evokes Passion, Romance, and Love
Main Characters: Neil Perry, Todd Anderson, Knox Overstreet, Charlie Dalton
Supporting Characters: Steven Meeks, Gerard Pitts, Richard Cameron
Dead Poets Society Meetings
Held in a Cave
Impressionable Young Members
Lessons of Courage, Integrity, Compassion and Justice
4. Free-Thinking English Teacher
Unorthodox Methods
Goes against Welton Curriculum
Confuses and Concerns other
Professors
Preaches Importance of Poetry
Evokes Passion
Carpe Diem
Taught Students to Seize the Day
5. Senior whos fated to go on to Harvard and
become a doctor
Has his own desires and dreams despite
his fathers wishes
Is thwarted in his attempts by Dad
After learning about the DPS decides to
resurrect the club
Takes the role as the clubs leader
Wants to Join the School Theater Club
Goes against Fathers wishes and
auditions for a part
6. New Student at Welton
Has to Face and Measure up to His
Brothers Reputation
Older brother made many
contributions to the school and was
very well liked and very academic
Is Unsure of Keatings Teachings
Shyness and lack of self confidence
holds him back
Is scared to read in front of others, both
in class and at DPS meetings
Gains Encouragement through Keatings
Exercises
7. Romantic Character who Discovers
the power of Poetry for Romance,
Love and Wooing Women
Becomes Obsessed with Chris; the
soon to be Fianc辿 of Chet Danbury
Writes Poetry about her
Gathers Courage to Call her
Gets invited to Party where His
Goal is to win her over
Rides down to the neighboring
school to see her
8. Grasps and Revels in Keatings
Teachings
Enthusiastic, Wild, Rebellious
Brings girls into Dead Poets Society
12. Means Seize the day or make the most of the moment
Mr. Keatings approaches his curriculum with unconventional ideas to the students that
strayed from the conventional practices
The first lesson to his students was gathered from Robert Herricks famous lines:
Gather the rosebuds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles today,
To-morrow will be dying.
Alongside education, there is also a spiritual side and a duty that the students have to
themselves to reach for more than just their education at Welton, to grow passion
How is this relevant to leadership?
Leadership takes more than just managing but adding to peoples life spiritually, that
in return they will respect their leader, follow their leader and become successful.
14. WHY DO
WE READ
AND WRITE POETRY?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS1esgRV4Rc
15. Identifies with the truth that we all exist for a reason, and we have the opportunity to
become something great.
Shows the true reason behind reading and understanding poetry
Passion, Love, Hope, Beauty are what we stay alive for.
18. Through this exercise Keating:
Is teaching the boys to find their own way through life, not
strictly by the schools and their parents principles and
guidelines, but through their own.
Shows that Sometimes giving freedom from conformity is
what it takes to be successful.
Shows the importance of living to your own rhythm
Demonstrates how hard it is to retain your believes in the face
of others
21. Keating was a leader to his students.
Lead them through high school and tough situations
Encouraged them to try new things whether its following society standards or not
From this scene of the movie, it goes to show people will follow a leader with great aptitude
because that value the leaders honesty and integrity.
As leader in a business world, its important to educate your team and to motivate them
to try new ideas, because new ideas are a working process to future success. When
employees are happy, their performance is much better, theyre more motivated and they
want to follow their leader, especially if the leader is upholds integrity and honesty to
their subordinates.