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The Author:
N. H. Kleinbaum, a graduate of the Medill school of journalism at Northwesetern University, is a former newspaper reporter and editor.
Her other novelizations include the Bantam Starfire title Growing Pains and D.A.R.Y.L. She lives in Mt. Kisco, New York, with her husband and three children.
Summary:
It was the first day at Welton Academy in 1959. When all pupils were in their rooms Neil Perry got to know Todd Anderson the boy who was sleeping in his room. It was his first time at this school and so he was quite nervous. Suddenly Neil's father rushed into the room and told his son that he had to give up the school annual because otherwise he would have got too much to do that year. Neil was very disappointed, but he could not argue with his strict father.
Then Neil and his friends had their first English lesson of the year with Mr. Keating their new teacher, who had been at Welton Academy, too. In the beginning he told the pupils that there were two possibilities to address him, either Mr. Keating or "O Captain, my Captain!". Then he spoke about the proverb :"Carpe diem!". He told the pupils that everyone would have to die and so they should seize the day. The pupils of his class were very surprised by the new method of teaching English.
One evening Knox Overstreet, one of Neil's friends, was invited for dinner at a former student of the Academy. There he got to know Chris, and when he saw her he fell in love. But there was a great problem, because Chris was almost engaged to Chet Danburry.
Neil and his friends discovered an old yearbook, in which Mr. Keating was mentioned. They found out that he had been a member of the
"DEAD POETS SOCIETY". So they asked him about this club. The teacher told the boys that this secret a club, had been founded to read old and famous poems and even poems which were written by themselves. This story was so fascinating for the boys that they decided to renew the club again. Mr. Keating put the book of the old club on Neil's table. So they made their first meeting at night in an old cave as their teacher had done many years before. They felt strong and they were surprised how exciting poems could be.
As a result Neil wanted to be an actor in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" but he was afraid of his father. When Neil got the main part he forged a letter, because he did not want to inform his dad about his activities.
At the next club meeting Knox decided to ring up Chris and when he spoke to her she invited him to a party. At this party Chris and Knox were lying on
a bench together and when Chet saw this he beat Knox up. Nevertheless Knox loved her.
Charlie Dalton wrote an article in the school-newspaper which he signed "Dead Poets Society". So the headmaster Mr. Nolan, tried to find out who the author of this text was. He found out that Charlie was the author and so he beat him, but the boy did not betray anything about the group.
The next day Neil's father came into the school, because he had found out that Neil was acting in a theater. Mr. Perry told his son to stop his activities and Neil accepted the situation, although he was awfully disappointed.
Nevertheless Neil acted in the premiere . But his father came to the theater that evening. When the play was over he took his son and they drove home. There Mr. Perry told Neil that he would have to go to a Military Academy and not to Welton Academy any longer. Neil became so depressed, that he killed himself later that night. All members of the "Dead Poets Society" were asked, and all of them agreed to a false document which stated, that Mr. Keating was responsible for Neil's death, because if they had not done so they would have had to leave the school. In this report Mr. Keating was accused of teaching his pupils to think in a rebellious way.
So Mr. Nolan took all classes of Mr. Keating. During in Neil's first lesson with the class Mr. Keating came in to take the last personal things with him. As Mr. Keating was leaving, Todd stood up and jumped on his table and called "O Captain, my Captain" and so did all the others of this group.
Characterization:
In this novel there are five main characters.
On the one hand there is the young and creative English teacher John Keating and on the other hand there are four students of the
Dead Poets Society : Neil Perry, Todd Anderson, Knox Overstreet and Charlie Dalton who become "good" friends.
John Keating
John was at Welton-Academy. He and his friends had been the first who founded a Dead Poets Society. He wants to show his class how easily they can see the world with different eyes. He gives them an understanding of poems. He "gets them out of their shells".
He is not only their professor - he is their "captain" ( This is based on a quotation from a poem!)
Neil Perry
He is a very sensitive and creative student, with lots of ideas about what he wants to do with his life.
On the one hand there is John Keating, who tells him to SEIZE THE DAY
and on the other hand there is his strict father, who has completely planned his future.
Neil has to obey him as long as he lives in his house. Neil doesn't know what to do, he feels small and helpless. The only possible solution for him is to commit suicide.
Todd Anderson
Todd is a very shy and quiet person. He wants to be left alone. He shares the room with Neil and he hates it when Neil always bothers him by saying what he should do.
Todd attends Welton-Academy with no self-confidence.
He is afraid of being a failure because his elder brother, who was at Welton-Academy too, mend to be one of the best.
But John Keating manages to get him out of his shell !
He shows him that he is able to do more than he may think.
When John Keating has to leave Welton, this touches Todd deeply because Keating has done so much for him.
He has given him a new sense of living !
Knox Overstreet
Knox is completely in love with Chris.
She meets and gets to know her, while he is having a dinner at
Mr. Danburry's, who is a friend of Knox parents'.
The only problem is that Chris is in love with Chet, a football player.
Knox wants to win Chris' heart through poems. - He reads a self-written poem to her- infront of her class.
In the end Knox wins her heart.
Charlie Dalton
Charlie is the most childish student, he is going through his adolescence. You can say he lives in his dream world.- He does not see the reality !
He wants to be called Nuwanda instead of Charlie.
Charlie / Nuwanda sets himself a goal : to have as many girls as possible!
He wins the girls' heart by composing poems for them.
Message:
The message of the book is : SEIZE THE DAY !!
That means that you should live for the moment with all your heart, but nevertheless you should not forget the future !
Language Style:
The book Dead Poets Society is divided into several chapters, and written in the style of a Novel.
The story is written in 3rd person, and some dialogues are used to give the readers a better impression of the plot.
In this novel the narrator is completely neutral
Critical Evaluation:
I loved reading this book even though some parts were not quite easy to understand.
It is fascinating how John Keating can fill his students with enthusiasm for himself and for the art of poetry.
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