Ben Markstone
12/18/2012 05:00:53 am
Ben Markstone
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Ben Markstone
12/18/2012 05:02:07 am
rock, following the mob, and doing as expected. However, doing the contrary by oneself isn’t easy. It takes a great person, like Mr. Keating, to bring out the best in everyone.
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Zane Yu
12/18/2012 06:25:21 am
Zane Yu
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Zane Yu
12/18/2012 06:26:39 am
There is evidence pointing to the fact that suicide was already forming at the back of Neil’s mind throughout the book, and his last scene with his father was only the breaking point, and his only solid decision (besides acting in the play). Neil is like the reverse personality of Todd. Where Todd is meek and helpless, Neil expresses himself. Where Todd expresses himself, Neil is meek and helpless. A major way in which we can see into Neil’s thought process is during the Dead Poets’ Society meetings. One of the stories that he read especially stood out, as it greatly reflected on his own life:
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John Hare
12/20/2012 07:15:47 am
John Hare
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John Hare
12/20/2012 07:17:15 am
Mr. Keating had a huge influence on the intellectual and emotional development of these boys. He didn’t as much tell them what to do, but rather gave them advice on what they think they should do, in the face of those that sought to oppress them. More than anything, though, he gave them the actual “Dead Poets Society,” as well as the tools to decide things for themselves. As pointed out by a skeptical Knox, “You mean it’s just a couple of guys reading poetry”? But it was more than that. In letting “the poetry drip off their tongues like honey,” the boy’s risked expulsion for their own beliefs and with every new piece they wrote or shared a new piece of them came into view. They not only discovered themselves. They embraced their new identities. The Dead Poets had awoken the kindred spirits of young men like Neal, Todd, and Knox, as well as Charlie, Meeks, and Pitts. One quote by Mahmoud Darvish says, “Had I two Roads, I would have taken their third.” This was the greatest lesson Keating taught them. “Seize the Day, boys, and make your lives extraordinary.”
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Laura Opishinski
12/20/2012 07:36:29 am
Comment deleted
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Laura Opishinski
12/20/2012 07:37:40 am
so he escapes from his father forever by killing himself. Neil sees this as the only escape from his over controlling dad, and sees himself as the saviour of his friends because he hopes his suicide will open his father’s eyes as well as the parents of his friends to what they have been putting their children through.
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Thomas Oh
12/20/2012 08:38:42 am
Comment deleted
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Thomas Oh
12/20/2012 08:39:36 am
will even it if kills them.
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Madison
12/20/2012 08:55:55 am
Madison Kalk
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Madison Kalk
12/20/2012 08:57:07 am
After Neil’s death, all boys are brought into questioning as to their involvement in the secret meetings of the Dead Poet’s Society and Mr. Keating is then fired for his unruly teachings. Knowing this, Todd so desperately wanted Mr. Keating to know that he didn’t say anything against him. As he comes back into the room, Todd cannot resist but make his first significant act of rebellion in this final scene. After rudely interrupting Mr. Nolan’s teachings and being told to stop, Todd finally proves to have found his voice when he stands up on his desk, disobeying the headmaster. This is the point where no trace of the obedient Welton student Todd once was can be found as he uses what he learned from Mr. Keating and puts those ideas into action, truly seizing the day. This is the point where he becomes a passionate leader ready to defy those who want to take away his voice.
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Madison Kalk
12/20/2012 08:57:16 am
After Neil’s death, all boys are brought into questioning as to their involvement in the secret meetings of the Dead Poet’s Society and Mr. Keating is then fired for his unruly teachings. Knowing this, Todd so desperately wanted Mr. Keating to know that he didn’t say anything against him. As he comes back into the room, Todd cannot resist but make his first significant act of rebellion in this final scene. After rudely interrupting Mr. Nolan’s teachings and being told to stop, Todd finally proves to have found his voice when he stands up on his desk, disobeying the headmaster. This is the point where no trace of the obedient Welton student Todd once was can be found as he uses what he learned from Mr. Keating and puts those ideas into action, truly seizing the day. This is the point where he becomes a passionate leader ready to defy those who want to take away his voice.
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Madison Kalk
12/20/2012 08:57:35 am
After Neil’s death, all boys are brought into questioning as to their involvement in the secret meetings of the Dead Poet’s Society and Mr. Keating is then fired for his unruly teachings. Knowing this, Todd so desperately wanted Mr. Keating to know that he didn’t say anything against him. As he comes back into the room, Todd cannot resist but make his first significant act of rebellion in this final scene. After rudely interrupting Mr. Nolan’s teachings and being told to stop, Todd finally proves to have found his voice when he stands up on his desk, disobeying the headmaster. This is the point where no trace of the obedient Welton student Todd once was can be found as he uses what he learned from Mr. Keating and puts those ideas into action, truly seizing the day. This is the point where he becomes a passionate leader ready to defy those who want to take away his voice.
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Margaret Rodrigue
12/20/2012 09:27:26 am
Analysis, less plot
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Margaret Rodrigue
12/20/2012 09:28:41 am
no voice is broken from his shell with the help of Neil Perry. Though Neil kills himself, the belief of Romanticism present in Neil Perry remains within Todd Anderson. On a day in which Mr. Keating, a remarkable English teacher, is forced to leave Welton Academy. As Mr. Keating grabs his things and begins to leave the classroom, Todd stands on top of his desk and declares “my captain, oh my captain”, even at the discretion of the strict, traditional headmaster who had temporarily filled Mr. Keating’s place. It is a sign of respect towards their former teacher. Eventually, the entire class joins in. It is through the spirit of “carpe diem”, Romanticism, and Neil Perry’s death that leads him to stand up. It may be a spark of pure longing to connect to Neil through this spirit and power. Todd has not lost his voice gained with the help of Neil, but in reality, it has become so much stronger. Todd realizes he does not wish to remain a robot controlled by realists. He wants hopes and dreams to cling on to. He longs to make something of himself and stand up for something he feels strongly for. He does not want to be led to a dead end, where the only choice is suicide, like Neil. Todd learns from Neil and keeps the spirit of Romanticism alive.
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Ryan Teng
12/20/2012 09:42:08 am
Comment deleted
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Lauren Trapani
12/20/2012 03:10:04 pm
Lauren Trapani
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Lauren Trapani
12/20/2012 03:11:13 pm
we always want to blame someone else, saving ourselves from internal shame and torture. Mr. Perry needs to get mad at someone else so he can mourn in the only way he knows, which is ranting and yelling and just being angry. Once he vents and time goes by, the epiphany will come to him that it’s actually his fault. Mr. Perry will still love him then and forever, but also wish he had given more freedom and choices to Neil. “He’s better off a happy actor than a dead doctor,” is what he might tell himself years from when the film ends.
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Vincent DeCesaris
12/20/2012 04:03:32 pm
Vincent DeCesaris
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Vincent DeCesaris
12/20/2012 07:56:39 pm
Vincent DeCesaris
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Vincent DeCesaris
12/20/2012 07:57:19 pm
Todd goes from being a timid boy, who couldn’t even talk to his headmaster, to someone who led his friends in a public tribute to Mr. Keating after he was fired. No other character even came close to it and the change gave Todd the voice he needed to become his own person.
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Cameron Cianciolo
12/20/2012 11:16:48 pm
Cameron Cianciolo
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Cam
12/20/2012 11:18:01 pm
lead the class in honoring Mr. Keating. Todd began the movie as a shy, timid, and self centered individual and, with Mr. Keating's help, is able to transition to a strong leader with a unique inner voice.
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Lauren Keenan
12/21/2012 01:30:05 am
Lauren Keenan
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lauren Keenan
12/21/2012 01:31:15 am
what he can be, a puppet of his father's, an automaton that cannot act without orders. His father's orders. Neil finds his passion in acting, and has the opportunity to live his dream for at least a little while. Some people live more in one year than others do in thirty – it isn't about the time, it's about the person. And Neil knows that he has lived just enough, Keating has given him just enough life, that to live on as a machine controlled by his father, is worse than death itself. Keating gives Neil more life in one school semester than one may live in their lifetime.
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Juliet Kelly
12/21/2012 05:06:25 am
Comment deleted
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Katie Allen
12/21/2012 05:15:01 am
Katie Allen
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Katie Allen
12/21/2012 05:17:53 am
I enjoyed writing this essay. I worked on selecting stronger vocabulary and the structure of my essay. I feel like I did use the 75% analysis and 25% plot.
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Will Campbell
12/21/2012 05:28:16 am
Will Campbell
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Will Campbell
1/2/2013 07:41:58 am
Todd also has somewhat of a stuttering problem. This is probably because, being constantly compared to his brother, he has always been told what to do, so he is not confident enough to speak strongly and do or say what he wants. With the influence of Mr. Keating and his barbaric yawp, Todd gains the confidence to do what he wants and speak out without stuttering. The yawp makes one last appearance at the very end of the film. After hearing of Neil’s tragic death, Todd, followed by his friends, heads outside into the snowy field. Once out there, he comments on how beautiful the whole scene is, and then runs out into the field, bellowing his barbaric yawp in frustration. Neil was a very important part of Todd’s life and his change at the school. He was the leader, and, in many ways, Todd’s mentor. He was a mentor that taught him how to seize the day.
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Katharine Yan
12/21/2012 05:33:31 am
Katharine Yan
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Katharine Yan
12/21/2012 05:34:48 am
He declares authoritatively “You’re going to Harvard and you’re going to be a doctor.” Neil argues back that these “ten more years” is basically “a lifetime” of bowing down to his father, to which Mr. Perry retorts, “Oh, stop it...You make it sound like a prison term.” He may not see it behind the curtain of his dream for Neil, but he really is locking his jail door and discarding the key. By limiting his son to a tiny space, with no room for him to think for himself, Mr. Perry is suffocating him, whisking away the air so crucial to the survival of that flame. When Neil’s mother tells him to sleep, he realizes that is the solution. As Mr. Keating once said, “Only in their dreams can men be truly free.” If Neil is enslaved when living, he will have to seek freedom in his dreams. To ensure that he will never have to wake up into this living nightmare again, he decides that eternal sleep is the only cure to his pain. He commits suicide, allowing death to liberate him from the pressures of life. The sense of freedom that Mr. Keating provides completely impacts Neil.
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Grace Miner
12/21/2012 05:42:00 am
Grace Miner
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Grace
12/23/2012 08:00:47 am
Oops! I just realized my computer cut off my first three sentences of my introduction. Here they are!
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Grace Miner
12/21/2012 05:42:56 am
These characters were transformed in Mr. Keating’s classroom as Shakespeare’s characters were in the shadows of the forest. Passions were awakened, freeing Hermia to spend the night beside Lysander, Knox to lean forward to kiss a beautiful, sleeping Chris, and Neil to place Puck’s crown upon his own head on opening night. Keating’s classroom, like the forest, suspended time, place, and order so one might explore. Nothing was as it once seemed. Possibilities arose and one felt an urgency to live this moment sucking the marrow of out life as if the next moment might be one’s last. The philosophy espoused in this classroom ran counter to the philosophy of Welton just as the freedom of the forest sharply contrasted with the rules of the world beyond its lush greens. The differences were palpable to the boys of Welton and the young Athenians, yet they ventured in deeper.
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Erin Kalander
12/21/2012 06:09:15 am
Erin Kalander
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Erin Kalander
12/21/2012 06:10:31 am
Mr. Keating’s Carpe Diem philosophy may have sped up the process, but doubtlessly, it is was Mr. Perry who caused Neil’s death with his overbearing and pressuring behavior, and his obsession with organizing every detail of Neil’s life. And last but not least, taking away acting from Neil, his true passion. Without Mr. Keating his father was still going to pressure him, and rule his life. Over time, the same outcome may have occurred. Mr. Perry loved Neil, but it was all too much for
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Erin Kalander
12/21/2012 12:57:13 pm
him in the end. But sadly, his stand of bravery towards his father; his unwritten message, went completely unnoticed by all but Todd.
Amy Kulm
12/21/2012 06:16:37 am
Amy Kulm
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Amy Kulm
12/21/2012 06:18:31 am
The man who should be blamed for Neil’s death is his father, Mr. Perry. It is because of him that Neil feels so suffocated from all the expectations that he decides to end his life. Mr. Perry takes away the only thing that is able to make Neil truly happy, the Dead Poets Society. That is where Neil learns who he truly is, and that he wants to be actor. That is who he is. He’s an actor. Not a doctor. His father will never let his son become one of those struggling actors trying to get a role they will never land, and end up living the rest of their lives being a waiter. Mr. Perry wants only the best for Neil. What’s “best” for Neil ends up in a death of one of the few people Mr. Perry loves.
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Madison DiSanto
12/21/2012 06:19:19 am
Madison DiSanto
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Madison DiSanto
12/21/2012 06:20:58 am
acting. This silenced his voice, and to Neil the only thing to do was to sacrifice himself for his friends. This proved that Neil’s death could allow his friends to stand up for what they believe and have passion for it. Although, a few students could not fathom varying off the paths, that were laid out for them. Finally, we are left to understand that we are the masters of our destiny. It is said best by James Allen: “Master yourself, then you can master your world. Man is manacled only by himself; thought and action are the jailers of Fate.”
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Madison DiSanto
12/21/2012 06:22:34 am
*****skills working on: more analysis
Zack Johnson
12/21/2012 06:33:21 am
Zack Johnson
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Zack Johnson
12/21/2012 06:35:09 am
e going to study medicine.” Mr. Perry cannot believe that Neil tries to stray from the path, the seemingly perfect plan for his future. In his mind, Neil has had everything set out for him and he has made many sacrifices for Neil, so Neil is simply being rebellious and unreasonable. In Neil’s mind, his father has killed the only remaining source of joy, his acting. Mr. Perry proceeds to scold Neil so harshly that even when Neil is given the chance to express his own feelings, he cannot manage it. He has reached his breaking point. When his father goes to bed, resting from his endless pursuit of excellence and conformity in his son, Neil enacts his plan. He believes that by killing himself, he will release himself from this world of family enslavement and rigid futures. He believes that the only way to exempt himself from his father’s life for him is to leave this earth and take away Mr. Perry’s most sought after prey. He believes that his own death will make a difference. So he kills himself. Just like that. He takes his father’s gun, with almost medical cleanliness and descends the stairs. He leaves the darkness of his house and the world in which Neil’s torment lives and descends into the light of release. The light of freedom. The light that will lead Neil’s world out of its dark times. He kills himself in his father’s study, the haven of Mr. Perry with its astonishing organization and purity. It is Neil’s final act of defiance. Yet this light at the end of the tunnel did not end the darkness.
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Zack Johnson
12/21/2012 06:36:25 am
ls Neil exactly what he is going to do with his life. Neil is simply his puppet towards achieving greater things. And, in the end, Neil breaks. He kills himself not because of the happiness given to him by Mr. Keating, as the rest of the school thinks, but by the mind-numbing pain of enslavement to his father.
Alyssa Kanis
12/21/2012 06:37:42 am
A Work Of Art
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Alyssa Kanis
12/21/2012 06:38:53 am
and realized the true man he has finally formed. Mr. Keating stated, “The powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.” Todd Anderson has finally contributed his role in life, and has finally had found himself within, sprouting as minutes pass by.
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Caraline Gammons
12/21/2012 06:40:09 am
Caralline Gammons
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Caraline Gammons
12/21/2012 06:40:57 am
Each student has molded the idea of “carpe diem” to their own individual situations, causing a slew of changes throughout the movie. Knox goes after his dream girl, even though he has a high chance for rejection. Neil chases his dreams of being an actor, even though his parents forbid him. Tod learns not to be afraid to voice his opinions, even though he thinks he isn’t living up to the high expectations set by his brother. All of this was because of Mr. Keeting, who encouraged his students to appreciate themselves and aim for their goals. Mr. Keeting may be the captain of the ship, directing each student in the right direction through his lessons, but his students are the wind. You never know which way each gust of wind will blow.
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Sarah Schumacher
12/21/2012 06:53:07 am
Sarah Schumacher
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Sarah Schumacher
12/21/2012 06:54:21 am
***Title should read "Dead Poets Society Literary Analysis Final Draft." Sorry!!
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Sarah Schumacher
12/21/2012 06:55:08 am
title should read Final Draft!!
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Jeremy Bernard-Sasges
12/21/2012 06:54:44 am
Jeremy Bernard-Sasges
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Jeremy Bernard-Sasges
12/21/2012 06:55:50 am
He is disappointed that his parents gave him another desk set for his birthday, even though they should have known that he wouldn’t like it. Without Neil there, he would have simply accepted the desk set, despite the fact that he didn’t like it. Neil boosts his transformation by getting some fun out of the desk set. They then throw the desk set off the bridge. This is huge action in the transformation of Todd because he crawls out of his shell and acts spontaneously, something he never could have done without the help of his friends and Mr. Keating. Finally, Mr. Keating’s influence on Todd is ultimately reflected in the final scene of the movie, when Todd preforms an action not only promising to get him remembered at the school, but especially by Mr. Keating as well. He stands up on his desk, risking his future at Welton Academy, but at that time, his future doesn’t matter, because he has to seize the day. As his teacher who helped him combat his fears and become who he is walks out of the English class for the last time, he stand on his desk, an action unheard of, and proudly speaks the words, “Oh Captain, my Captain,” giving his teacher the thanks he deserves, and showing the completion of his transformation, as he seizes the day and plows through his fears, to be what he has become.
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Eleanor Fulghum
12/21/2012 07:05:42 am
Eleanor Fulghum
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Eleanor Fulghum
12/21/2012 07:07:08 am
ir oyster. They believe they're destined for great things, just like many of you, their eyes are full of hope, just like you”. Adjoining the boys, Keating shows a desire and charisma to succeed, even when faced with the odds of defying customs, but soon enough this tactic becomes worth something. Like romantics did, Keating begs the boys to empty their brains before their hearts, encouraging them to disregard useless facts and utilize the power of emotion and tenderness, changing these young men, into the most well prepared men than ever, much out of the school’s control.
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Eleanor Fulghum
12/21/2012 10:24:26 am
Mini Reflection: Overall I enjoyed writing this assignment. One I had started I found transitions easy and overall it became a much smoother piece.
Eleanor Fulghum
12/21/2012 10:26:08 am
***once
RJ Mathieu
12/21/2012 07:43:31 am
RJ Mathieu
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RJ Mathieu
12/21/2012 07:44:26 am
ent his dad took away his acting, and his friends. During that conversation in his dad’s office, “What? What? Tell me what you feel! What is it? Is it more of this, this *acting* business? Because you can forget that! What? [pauses] Nothing.” At that point, you could see the light in his eyes leave. His only reason to continue living, is to make an example of himself, to make sure that this never happened to anyone else. Mr. Keatings didn’t teach English class, he taught magic. He taught life. But sadly, he did not teach the responsibilities. Carpe Diem is not an idealist thing. It is the fine line between idealism and realism. It has the freedom of idealists, but the reform and control of realists. Sadly, his students became the reciprocal of McAllister. They became too free. Why did Mr. Keatings teach those things? He knew kids like them could not live the life that he described. So the real question is, why did he not teach the responsibilities, and who was the real reason Neil killed himself? Mr. Keatings, or his dad, Mr Perry?
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Sarah Basler
12/21/2012 07:52:22 am
Sarah Basler
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Sarah Basler
12/21/2012 07:54:27 am
Towards the end of the movie, Mr. Keating is fired for his strange ways of teaching and for supposedly being the cause of Neil's death. Todd knows it wasn't him and is sad when he has to see him go. Yet, Todd wasn't going to let him leave without a fight. Hands shaking from excitement, Todd stands up on his wooden desk and shouts "Oh captain my captain" a name that Mr. Keating has asked the boys to call him. Soon, all of his classmates join him and Mr. Keating leaves with a smile on his face. This shows that Todd was no longer a follower but I great leader. He was able to take what he learned from his teacher and use it to his advantage. "Carpe diem" wouldn't just be a phrase that got thrown away after he learned it. Todd would use this adage for the rest of his life.
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Kellie Gammino
12/21/2012 07:56:48 am
Kellie Gammino
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Kellie Gammino
12/21/2012 07:57:43 am
someone kill themselves because of their father’s militaristic stance on expecting too much out of them, not let him chase his dream of acting, and because of showing their affection? Neil believed in every way that this was the best choice to show his father what he had done to him. His father threw him over his edge of glory. If Neil knew that his father truly did love him, he probably wouldn’t have killed himself. Mr. Perry was the cause of Neil Perry’s death, not Mr. Keating. Today, we often think that it is preposterous when a parent doesn’t show affection to their child. How could someone not show enough affection to eventually cause their child to commit suicide?
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Romina Garakani
12/21/2012 08:06:11 am
Romina Garakani
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Romina Garakani
12/21/2012 08:08:20 am
shyness and fear.
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Ryan Wallace
12/21/2012 08:18:13 am
Ryan Wallace
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Ryan Wallace
12/21/2012 08:18:59 am
realism of the school. The school lacks Romanticism and creativity because of the constant risk that their reputation and financial status may be ruined at trying to change things for the good. Headmaster Nolan questions the boys abilities, “Free thinkers at 17?” he says. He may believe that he is protecting them for the better against their youthful tendencies. The truth is, at a young age is the best time for them to learn and immerse themselves in poetry, literature, and the arts.
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Rosemary Callan
12/21/2012 08:30:35 am
Rosemary Callan
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Elise Warren
12/21/2012 08:43:08 am
Elise Warren
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Meredith Liu
12/21/2012 08:49:05 am
Meredith Liu
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Meredith (continued)
12/21/2012 08:50:25 am
e truly desired.
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Yash Dhuri
12/21/2012 09:01:23 am
Yash Dhuri
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Angelica Mirandou
12/21/2012 09:03:48 am
Angelica Mirandou
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Angelica Mirandou (continued)
12/21/2012 09:05:26 am
on and there is now a new poetry teacher to replace Mr. Keating, but one day he comes in to pick up his personals from his office. On his way out Todd stands on his desk and says “Oh captain, my captain.” This shows that Todd’s door to carpe diem is now fully open because he does this on his own and seizes the moment to honor his poetry teacher. Once he does this other student join in, but not all of them. Todd finally has a firm grip on the meaning of carpe diem.
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Julie Horgan
12/21/2012 09:11:49 am
Julie Horgan
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Julie Horgan
12/21/2012 09:13:37 am
h him to be someone he was not. He wanted Neil to have the life he always dreamed of having. The consideration of Neil was not in the picture. It was all about Mr. Perry getting to live a life through his son and not letting his son live it the way he wanted.
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Casey Tompkins
12/21/2012 09:25:54 am
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Casey Tompkins (continued)
12/21/2012 09:27:40 am
Next, to get a poem out of Todd right on the spot, Mr. Keating shows Todd a picture of an old man and tells him to close his eyes. He asked what the man reminds him of and Todd responds “A mad man.” Mr. Keating continues to ask Todd questions about the man he saw for only a few seconds and Todd comes up with a beautiful and original poem in a matter of a minute. Mr. Keating brought something out of Todd that no one else had. Todd. The real Todd. The Todd that is not hiding behind an insecurity and shielding himself from the world. Another instance where Mr. Keating influenced a real person out of Todd was after Neil Perry had committed suicide. Although it is believed that Mr. Perry was responsible for Neil’s death, some believed that Mr. Keating was the true person behind his demise, and one of those people being Mr. Perry. He reported to the principal of Welton Academy that Mr. Keating influenced Neil so much to pursue his love for acting, that if it was taken away, he should kill himself. All of the boys in the Dead Poets Society were questioned about who was behind it. They all saved themselves from expulsion by saying it was Mr. Keating who enforced it. All of the boys betrayed their beloved teacher for selfish reasons. As they were having their first English class, Mr. Keating was picking up his personal belongings and it truly bothered Todd that he left him to be fired without the help of his students. Todd stands up on his desk yelling “O’ Captain, My Captain!” This line is symbolizing support for his teacher and also Todd’s barbaric yawp.
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Laura Cooper
12/21/2012 10:16:15 am
Laura Cooper
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Laura Cooper
12/21/2012 10:19:45 am
carpe diem ways, Neil begins to transform into a newly formed romantic and is able to finally break away from the traditionally views of the idealist. Mr. Keating cut Neil’s life short when he uttered, "We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for." Mr. Keating teaches Neil that life isn’t worth living if we are unable to hold the beauty in it. When his father denies him the happiness acting brings to him, Neill refuses to sink back to his old gutless self and takes an action that will change him and the people around him for eternity.
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Laura Cooper
12/21/2012 10:20:30 am
carpe diem ways, Neil begins to transform into a newly formed romantic and is able to finally break away from the traditionally views of the idealist. Mr. Keating cut Neil’s life short when he uttered, "We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for." Mr. Keating teaches Neil that life isn’t worth living if we are unable to hold the beauty in it. When his father denies him the happiness acting brings to him, Neill refuses to sink back to his old gutless self and takes an action that will change him and the people around him for eternity.
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Laura Cooper
12/21/2012 10:18:26 am
carpe diem ways, Neil begins to transform into a newly formed romantic and is able to finally break away from the traditionally views of the idealist. Mr. Keating cut Neil’s life short when he uttered, "We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for." Mr. Keating teaches Neil that life isn’t worth living if we are unable to hold the beauty in it. When his father denies him the happiness acting brings to him, Neill refuses to sink back to his old gutless self and takes an action that will change him and the people around him for eternity.
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Laura Cooper
12/21/2012 10:18:38 am
carpe diem ways, Neil begins to transform into a newly formed romantic and is able to finally break away from the traditionally views of the idealist. Mr. Keating cut Neil’s life short when he uttered, "We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for." Mr. Keating teaches Neil that life isn’t worth living if we are unable to hold the beauty in it. When his father denies him the happiness acting brings to him, Neill refuses to sink back to his old gutless self and takes an action that will change him and the people around him for eternity.
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Nadia Halder
12/21/2012 10:39:48 am
Nadia Halder
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Nadia
12/21/2012 10:40:39 am
uly live life to fullest or die a copy. In the movie Dead Poets Society, a group of young boys take a chance thrown in their face that will change his life forever. Carpe diem, a phrase taught by Mr. Keating, gave the boys hope for a different future, one where they do what they want. Neil Perry, Knox Overstreet, and Todd Anderson all struggled with unrest in their life. They fought the mainstream lifestyle and the lives their parents set up for them. They took carpe diem to the heart and changed their lives, whether it was for the better or worse. The boys seized the day and kept a tight grip on it until the sun went down.
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Chris Pearson
12/21/2012 10:45:55 am
Chris Pearson
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Chris Pearson
12/21/2012 10:46:51 am
a confident young man who was an individual separate from the blinded society around him, a man with the roaring YAWP of a barbarian and most importantly he saw a new, bright, and hopeful Captain.
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Milan T
12/21/2012 10:56:53 am
Milan Toljan
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Yash Gokhale
12/21/2012 11:02:41 am
Yash Gokhale
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Victoria Iannotti
12/21/2012 11:14:42 am
Victoria Iannotti
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Emily Abbott
12/21/2012 11:19:59 am
Dead Poets Society
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Victoria Iannotti (FINAL)
12/21/2012 11:20:02 am
Victoria Iannotti
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Victoria Iannotti
12/21/2012 11:22:30 am
ed a confidence that was invincible. By standing on his desk and creating a peaceful protest for Mr. Keating to stay, he shows that he can be a leader from finding his inner voice. Todd learned that it was necessary to release his true identity for the sake of his own personality. Not only did Todd feel dignity within himself, he served dignity to Mr. Keating, the one man that discovered his voice. With the discovery of Todd’s voice he participated in many class discussions and he defended his own beliefs. The voice is very important. Mr. Keating wisely said, “No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.”
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Emily Abbott
12/21/2012 11:21:23 am
for doing what he loved and this drives Neil over the edge. He can't take it anymore that his father is controlling his life. He desires to be an independent man that can at least have control of his own life. When his father tells him his future for the next ten years, the words of "Carpe Diem" ring in his head. The moment his father steps out of the room is when Neil knows that he's going to kill himself. It's his way of showing his dad that he can't control him and that he wouldn't let him overpower him anymore. His father pushed him to the point where he felt like he had no other choice than to kill himself. When Neil pulls the trigger there is no sound but his father jumps up and the mother doesn't even hear anything. This shows that his dad does care and is alert for him. He's protective of his son and felt that he had to protect him by making all his decisions for him. By Neil doing this it shows that he left this world with the last piece of dignity he had left. He couldn't fully become the man he wanted to be but at that point he was as much as a man as he wanted to be as he'll ever be.
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Max Hagenburg
12/21/2012 11:28:05 am
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Max continued
12/21/2012 11:32:28 am
one or two words. Todd speaks confidently and loudly in his poem. His tone has improved so much from the first encounter he had with Mr. Nolan. He seems to have gained so much confidence. Todd Anderson, with the help of Mr. Keating, has found his voice.
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Kenny Shanos
12/21/2012 11:35:13 am
Kenny Shanos
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Victoria Iannotti (My computer keeps auto-correcting this to the blog and changing it so I hope it will work this time) FINAL
12/21/2012 11:36:45 am
Victoria Iannotti
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Victoria Iannotti
12/21/2012 11:38:04 am
hole class, he gained a confidence that was invincible. By standing on his desk and creating a peaceful protest for Mr. Keating to stay, he shows that he can be a leader from finding his inner voice. Todd learned that it was necessary to release his true identity for the sake of his own personality. Not only did Todd feel dignity within himself, he served dignity to Mr. Keating, the one man that discovered his voice. With the discovery of Todd’s voice he participated in many class discussions and he defended his own beliefs. The voice is very important. Mr. Keating wisely said, “No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.”
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Kenny Shanos
12/21/2012 11:37:02 am
Because of this, he is able to let go of this pressure and make his own path. Another way that Todd using carpe diem is when Mr. Keating asks him to read his poem in class. However, Todd doesn’t have a poem to read. So, Mr. Keating encourages Todd to recite a poem from memory. Prior to enrolling in Mr. Keating’s class, Todd would never be able to complete this assignment. Todd makes an effort to recite the poem and work through his struggles and concerns. Through reciting his poem, Todd begins to stutters less. He is learning to open his mind and worry less. Additionally, Todd begins to see the beauty even though something bad has just happened. Once he learns about the death of his dear friend, Neil, he gives out a YAWP, indicating his ability to accept the tragedy. Stopping to stare at the snowy day, Todd says, “It’s so beautiful.” Because of carpe diem, Todd can now stop and look around at what’s going on at that moment. He can see the beautiful snowfall and appreciate that moment. He learns how to seize the day. Although Mr. Keating teaches them to enjoy life to the fullest, he also says, “Sucking the marrow out of life doesn't mean choking on the bone.” Todd learns not to push too far, but Neil didn’t learn this, which resulted in suicide. These three examples really show how Todd changed through carpe diem.
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Izzie Iannotti
12/21/2012 11:51:54 am
Izzie Iannotti
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Izzie Iannotti
12/21/2012 11:54:33 am
Keating is blamed and as he comes back to get his personal belongings Todd stands on his desk. “Oh Captain, My Captain” he praises his former professor, a few other student follow against the wishes of his head master. Todd found his voice and from then on he will follow his voice and the tradition and pressure will not stop him from being a truer version of him.
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Maria Nunez
12/21/2012 11:51:59 am
Maria Nunez
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Maria Nunez
12/21/2012 11:54:28 am
.
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Molly Bisset
12/21/2012 11:57:32 am
Molly Bisset
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Molly Bisset
12/21/2012 11:59:03 am
out “Oh captain my captain!” Slowly, one by one, each of Mr. Keating’s students rose to the top of their desks and repeated the words “Oh captain my captain!” At first the headmaster saw this as another act of rebellion but he quickly realized it was much more than that. This was a teacher who actually reached his students more than anyone ever had before. Carpe diem was powerful and true. The headmaster finally realized he lost to the romantics and he will continue losing because rationalism is a tradition whose time has passed.
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Nicole Grady
12/21/2012 12:00:16 pm
Nicole Grady
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Nicole Grady
12/21/2012 12:02:43 pm
Mr. Keating was able to go into a school that had a harsh philosophy of reason, and share his perspective of life with the young men at the Academy. Mr. Keating impacted the students greatly at the Academy because they had never been allowed to truly find themselves. Carpe diem will always be a part of the boys life because they were able to finally find their voice. Neill Perry passed away with thoughts of Carpe diem and the defeat of his father. Todd Anderson found his voice because of Mr. Keating’s inspiration. Knox Ovesteen got the girl because he seized the day. Mr. Keating not only changed the ways of Welton Academy, he changed the lives of the students at the Academy. In one’s life a Mr. Keating figure is always needed to push oneself to find their voice and seize the day.
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Emma Schambers
12/21/2012 12:12:33 pm
Emma Schambers
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Emma Schambers
12/21/2012 12:13:49 pm
Welton Academy. During the first class, Mr. Keating says, “My class you will learn to think for yourselves again.” Mr. Keating knows that all the boys attending the school are controlled by the rules and pressure put upon him because he went to Welton Academy. Mr. Keating was the one who pushed Neil to try out for the play, “A Midsummer’s Night Dream.” Inspired by carpe diem, Neil decides to try out for the play as he states, “For the first time in my life I know what I want to do.” Neil had never had the freedom to have a choice. He wanted to “seize the day,” so he tried out for the play and got the main part of Puck. Neil found what he loved, and that was acting. He was a whole different person on stage and he adored that. Carpe diem inspired Neil to take chances try out for the play.
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JWu
12/21/2012 12:13:37 pm
Julian Wu
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JWu - continued
12/21/2012 12:14:31 pm
layer of Todd's uncertainty. Todd's imagination of truth as a blanket that will always leave your feet cold portrays the feelings Todd is going through. Truth is realism, and Todd describes truth as, "a blanket that when stretched and pushed, it will never be enough and will cover your faces until you wail and cry and scream." He is slowly understanding the difference between Romanticism and Realism. As the movie progresses on, Todd receives a Christmas gift from his parents. However, the gift was a desk set, the exact replica of the one he got last year. As Neil persuades him to throw the present off the side of the walkway, he humorously reassures Todd, " I wouldn't worry. You'll get another one next year." Todd is opening himself up to Neil and is able to express his feelings and share them with Neil. In the end of the movie, Todd becomes a completely different person, releasing the biggest Yawp and feelings after Neil's death and seizing the moment to stand on his desk and strongly pronounce to Mr. Keating as he leaves, "Oh captain, my captain." Throughout the whole movie, Mr. Keating's teachings of carpe diem's impacted Todd and changed his entire personality.
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Tressa Burnett-Testa
12/21/2012 12:22:11 pm
Tressa Burnett-Testa
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Cole Dalton
12/21/2012 12:25:57 pm
Cole Dalton
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Meran Topalian
12/21/2012 12:27:26 pm
Meran Topalian
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Racquel Rodriguez
12/21/2012 12:28:55 pm
Racquel Rodriguez
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Racquel Rodriguez
12/21/2012 12:29:50 pm
ek youth whom feared livelihood, yet as the teachings of carpe diem impinged upon Todd, he freed himself from the jagged grasp of structured society.
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Meran Topalian
12/21/2012 12:29:47 pm
father’s ambitions for him. In the middle of the night Mr. Perry is awoken by the familiar sound of his gun. Eventually, both Mr. and Mrs. Perry find Neil dead in his father’s office which eventually sounds off the whaling cries of Mrs. Perry. Mr. Perry automatically shuts up his wife getting back to the militaristic ways of his envisioned life style. Mr. Perry had loved his son very much; however the strict decisions he had enforced drove his son to his own death because of the differed visions of life after Welton.
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Mariola Johnson
12/21/2012 12:31:13 pm
Mariola Johnson
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Mariola Johnson
12/21/2012 12:32:52 pm
* (repeated) *
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Alec Gannon
12/21/2012 12:31:18 pm
Alec Gannon
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Alec Gannon
1/2/2013 09:39:57 am
ets Society, encouraging the students to take the risk of leaving the school campus and express their passions for literature and arts. This was more than just a club about reading poetry, but a sense of freedom and individualism for the students, chiefly Neil. The club Neil created gave Knox and Todd as well as himself a new point of view on life, relieving stress and expectations, making their lives dauntless, and freeing themselves from the pit of endless expectancy that they’re trying to escape. Neil decides to express his passion for acting, going against his father’s will to participate in the school play, something he’s been aching to do. After the introduction of carpe diem, Neil, unlike most Welton students, isn’t afraid to go against the rules of his father and Welton and make his life extraordinary. Neil tries his best to avoid the tedious work he must complete for ten years and lives his life as enthusiastically as if it would end tomorrow, keeping the thought of carpe diem in the back of his mind. This is represented when he performs as Puck more robustly than any other student, not acting as if he were reading words of a script but as if the words were encapsulated in his soul. The Dead Poets Society, Mr.Keating, and carpe diem ignite Neil to live by these few, but meaningful words, living his life in the moment, and not focusing on the laborious life his father and Welton has planned for him in the future.
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Tessa Darcy
12/21/2012 12:37:06 pm
Tessa Darcy
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Tessa Darcy
12/21/2012 12:39:16 pm
With Mr. Keating’s teachings, comes great responsibility. One has to know when enough is enough.
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Tessa Darcy
12/21/2012 12:40:26 pm
, many lives were changed for the better. The lives of Todd Anderson and Neil Perry were especially impacted by Mr. Keating’s teachings and philosophies. With his guidance and expressed philosophy to seize the day, Todd gained self-respect and was able to procure his voice. Todd was also capable of bursting out of his shell and desperately needed Keating’s teachings the most out of all the students. And as for Neil, he discovered how to stick up for himself in life, and to pursue his own hopes and dreams. Most importantly, these boys were at a state of peace because of the influence of carpe diem. Although Neil Perry took his life, he must have done it to benefit himself in some way, so if that’s how he gained happiness then so be it. As Mr. Keating once said, “Carpe, carpe diem, seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary.”
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Alyssa Place
12/21/2012 01:30:12 pm
Alyssa Place
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Alyssa Place
12/21/2012 01:33:23 pm
controlled by you. Only you can decide what you can do each and every day, and no one can tell you otherwise. It was interpreted in his eyes that his father didn’t need much of a say in the activities that went on in Welton; he didn’t need much of a say when he wanted to join the school drama class. Mr. Keeting taught his class that not everything needs to be relied on a textbook or what other experienced people say. Individuality was the key to good literature and poetry but at the same time it all has to lead to rhythm. This can lead to the class in the courtyard, teaching the students about rhythm. Not a single book or old wise sayings was used to create the lesson, nothing but the students themselves. Each student there had their own step, their own rhythm, but it molded together into one solid march. Even before they all became accustomed to his form of teachings, every young man knew Mr. Keeting was not an average adult. Most people in society would consider ripping out pages in a large textbook vandalism. This teacher considered it not following the general standards of literature: going off in your own direction. Another example is Mr. Keeting explaining to them about confidence when speaking. Instead of finding a topic every week to write about and then present it in class, he wanted to use a form of teaching that most young men those ages would react to. He mixed in a few lines from a poem or play and made each student read aloud their lines with confidence and good audio. If the speech was successful, they were able to kick a soccer ball, the activity many boys at Welton wanted to do but couldn’t. Neil Perry took Mr. Keeting’s style of teaching and carpe diem to live his life at Welton, but he easily got confused between this style of living and the strict way of living from his father.
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Giulio Cataldo
12/21/2012 02:18:13 pm
Giulio Cataldo
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Super sorry it got cut off (AKA Favorite Student)
1/3/2013 08:33:48 am
No instrument can really capture the sound and feel of a bagpipe, except for a bagpipe. It has a special tone that is unmatched, and it has a special regal air to it. No one can argue with a man playing a bagpipe and wearing a full kilt. For this reason it was played at the beginning of the film. When the four pillars were brought down, the bagpipe music was being played, demanding attention and respect. The fact that bagpipes were playing shows how much the school values their pillars of Tradition, Honor, Excellence, and Discipline. The bagpipe’s regal flare also impresses parents that at the opening. Schools like Welton put more effort into making the paying parents feel special than they put into making the students succeed. In another scene in the movie there is a lone bagpipe player playing the song “Fields of Athenry” on a pier. The song is about a man who is starving in the Irish potato famine. He breaks into a store to get one loaf of bread so his children don’t starve. He got caught, and now he is being sent to prison in Australia. The song is extremely appropriate for the movie, and has a very symbolic meaning. One of the lines of the song is, “Nothing matters Mary when you’re free. Against the famine and the crown I rebelled, they caught me down. Now you must raise our child with dignity.” This line can be an allegory for the entire movie. “Nothing matters Mary when you’re free,” shows how it’s worth taking risks and doing thing that might not be right to become free of whatever is oppressing you. For many characters in the movie their parents were oppressing them, and becoming free of that grasp was worth risking everything. The line, “Against the famine and the crown I rebelled, they caught me down,” can symbolize Neil’s journey throughout the movie. Against the famine shows how it was hard to do and Neil had trouble going against the tradition that was so deeply instilled in him. Going against “the crown” in this case can symbolize how Neil went against his father’s wishes by performing in the play. “I rebelled, they shot me down,” perfectly symbolizes how Neil, and the other members of the dead poet society took risks, some of which didn’t pay off. The line “Now you must raise our child with dignity” shows how the members of the dead poet society have to deal with the decisions they made, and they must also cope with Neil’s death. The bagpipes and they songs played by bagpipes in the song significantly add to the effect and tone of the movie.
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Kourtney Clements
12/21/2012 02:42:07 pm
Kourtney Clements
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Kourtney Clements
12/21/2012 02:44:19 pm
Todd had worked hard on several poems, throwing them out until he found the perfect one. When his teacher asked the students to read theirs out loud the next day, Todd acted as if he had never written one, just so he didn't have to speak in front of his classmates. Mr. Keating knew him and other people a lot like him too well to just let that slide. He brought Todd up in front of the classroom and made him do a "barbaric yawp" if you will, and he must close his eyes and suddenly pour out all of his thoughts based on a picture on the wall in the classroom to overcome his fear of getting disrespected. He thinks people don't want to hear what he has to say, so he just says nothing at all. Todd is a representation of the fear of not being perfect, and the fear of not being respected by every single person. He doesn't realize that none of that matters, he should do what he wants. He is only aware of the realist side of things, not the romantic side where he should do and believe what he wants. Something that stands out and seems to be pointed towards Todd, said by Mr. Keating, is, "You must strive to find your own voice because the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are going to find it at all." Todd listens to this, but he only takes action with it later on. Todd also is very well-understood by Neil, his roommate, who is always encouraging him to join in on everything and make himself heard. As much as Todd would love to, he just doesn't think he can do that. He is so used to conformity and following all the rules to be successful. He can't go off track, because he is crushed by the pressure of becoming just like his older brother to achieve academically. On Todd's birthday, he got the same thing he got last year, and was pretty disappointed. Neil threw it from high above the ground, breaking it. Todd was shocked, but excited that he knew he could confide in someone who understood him. they are both pushed to their limits by their parents and they can no longer take it, especially Neil. Todd feels as if he should act the same towards his parents' actions because not speaking up won't get him anywhere in life. He learned how to stand up for what he believes in from Neil Perry. When Mr. Keating and Neil force him to get out of his comfort zone and live without fear, he is one step closer to gaining his voice.
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Kourtney Clements
12/21/2012 02:46:18 pm
Todd changed everything for these boys, and knew it would make Neil happy, too. The rest of the class joined him and Todd finally found his voice. He was the leader. He became Neil Perry, the honorable man who did what he thought was right and what he believed in, not just what was expected. Todd essentially became a replacement of Neil after he died, taking after him, doing what he would've done if he hadn't killed himself. Todd finally became the person he's always feared becoming, not because he didn't like that type of person, because he was too scared to take on such a big role.
Dylan DePriest
12/21/2012 09:52:19 pm
Dylan DePriest
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Dylan DePriest
12/21/2012 09:53:37 pm
And with trembling hands she placed the last four pieces and stared in horror at the face of the demented madman at the window. The last thing that this old lady ever heard was the sound of breaking glass.” (Neil Perry). He was the women solving her one last puzzle before his desires burst through the "window" of his mind and caused him to pull the trigger. His last four pieces were put down and he saw no other way out but the one he choose. He just saw the image of his self sitting alone like he had for his whole life. “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 had come to die, discover that I had not lived.” (Neil Perry). He was stuck in the woods he first entered in the first Dead Poet Society meeting, he never left. In the woods, he was Puck he could do anything he wanted, his dreams became reality. He could live out all the lives he wanted in the woods, nothing was out of reach. His desires for his life to remain within boundaries of the woods oppressed him, blocking all sense of reason that could help him break out of the trap he was set in. His needs were completely selfish. He may've thought he was a martyr, but his actions were based on his own life. He took the easy road out of the trap he was in and commits suicide. He realized that he wasn't living and he missed the one moment he had to get it all. He couldn't take the pressure, coming in from both sides. He wanted to act, but couldn't get himself out of the act he was in. To him nothing else could compare for his passion for acting and it caused him to kill himself, not because of his father, but because of himself.
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Dylan DePriest
12/21/2012 09:55:43 pm
Here's my literary Analysis, sorry I didn't post it last night, but I couldn't last night. I'll just say something came up and I literarly stopped and cancelled everything I was doing.
Anna Buckley
12/22/2012 09:11:14 am
Anna Buckley
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Brooke Fennell
12/23/2012 07:10:10 am
Brooke Fennell
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Brooke Fennell
12/23/2012 07:11:18 am
ssons to the other characters in the film. However, it is not just these characters who learn, but the reader does as well. The lesson of carpe diem is not easily forgotten, and Mr. Keating’s lectures on romanticism drastically changed him as a person.
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Ben Acker
1/2/2013 09:38:32 am
Ben Acker
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Ben Acker
1/2/2013 09:41:20 am
soon to jump to conclusions like that? There are other girls out there, waiting to be discovered. NO. He must have this girl. Even if it means ruining his life past repair. Thinking his plans through wasn't the first thing on his mind when he goes to her party and strokes her hair, even though her boyfriend, a football jock, was there too. Or when he comes to her school in the middle of the day and reads an embarrassing poem out loud for the whole class to hear. Thankfully, it all pays off. His impulsive behavior sparked by a simple theme in English class almost steered his life into oblivion, yet didn't. Maybe teenagers should be more like Knox. Ready to let out their inner thoughts and feelings they were made to believe were unacceptable by society.
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Eva Lindquist
1/3/2013 08:02:01 am
Eva Lindquist
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Eva Lindquist
1/3/2013 08:03:59 am
he chooses to kill himself, so that liberty, in the end, is his.
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