[emy1024]

In the movie Dead Poets Society . . .?


1. Does Mr. Keating deserve the final salute from the boys? why?

2. What is meant by "Carpe Diem"? How is it a positive/negative way to look at life?

3. In general is Mr. Keating a good role model or bad? why?

Thanks

[Ender's Girl]

^ haha, this is school-related, i presume? a film review for class, perhaps? oh, let me indulge you, since i loved this film to damn smithereens...

1) damnright mr. keating deserved that "o captain, my captain" valediction from the boys! keating truly became the captain of their rudderless lives, and was the catalyst for their lifechange--by opening up their horizons to endless possibilities and freeing them from the shackles of mindless tradition and conformity.

bottom line: artistic expression frees you, baby!!!

2) carpe diem literally means to "seize the day." keating inspired the boys to take destiny by the horns and ride it... hard! he drew heavily from such writers as henry david thoreau; in the movie this quote from thoreau most effectively encapsulates what carpe diem really means:

"I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life."

prior to his "unwelcome intrusion" into their sheltered lives, the boys were living complacently and without initiative, having had their entire future cut out for them--by their parents, the school, and society in general. (belonging to the upper crust made the options narrower for these young men, for all the perks and privileges afforded their class.) but keating unlocked in the boys' souls this deep, burning desire to make the most out of each minute, and to lead lives of meaning--lives of real value and great fulfillment.

3) was keating a good role model or a bad one? hmmm... depends on whose viewpoint. for the stuffy schoolmaster, himself a prisoner of the traditionalist system, and for the parents of the boys as well (including the parents of neil perry, portrayed wonderfully by robert sean leonard), keating was a radical (read: dangerous) troublemaker who brazenly flouted the age-old bastions of society such as Authority, Tradition, Conventionality and Respectability. for the boys, of course, keating represented all they hoped and dreamed to be, only they were just too afraid to try.

(oh, and you're welcome in advance, hahahahahahaha!)

[zashibear]

I love this movie. This is just one of the few movies the message resonates for me even all this time.

1. Mr. Keating absolutely deserved that last hurrah. That one act shows Mr. Keating that the boys truly did get his message and that they indeed learned from what he was trying to impart to them.And for the student that was considered so quiet or even unanimous among the bunch to stand up and do it has even more of an impact because it was so unlike him to act out but he did to tell Mr. Keating he gets it and appreciates him for that. Even if his method of teaching was unconventional at that time, it truly was inspiring because they got the message. Probably more so than the mundane drone of old school teaching ways. It just proves there are more ways to send your message across to students, it need not be boring and strict.

2. Carpe Diem is Seize the day. It just means that make the most of everything. Don't waste your time. Memories and moments are to be treasured. You are young, go forth and experience all that you wish to do. Don't be held back by rules and norms just go for it. Mr. Keating helped those boys unlock what was inside of them, the creativity and passion that was dying to be expressed but was being repressed in the ways and methods of the school.

3. This is subjective, depends of the point of view you have in life. I really love Prof. Keating, so for me he was a good role model. I wish every student will have a Prof. Keating in their lives.

[mittens]

1. Keating deserved it. He loved his classroom, and was teaching them to love life, and to live it. He did not ask them to do anything wrong, just to think outside the box. And he did tell Neil to get permission from his dad- he was not teaching them to go against authority. He was teaching them to think and to not be afraid to learn and to try. The kids, gave him a fitting tribute. One that shows how much they honor and respect him.

2. Carpie Diem, like they said means sieze the day. And it's good if taken to mean to live life honorably and not let any chance slip away because you where just too afraid. It's bad if you take it to mean to do whatever you want, dang the consquences, ignore any morals or laws just because you want too.

3. Mr. keating was a good role model in that he did not break any rules to teach the boys to love life and learning. He had an accentric approach. He even told Neil to get permission to be in the play. And I don't remember him doing anything against any rule. He was a teacher, not someone who merely taught from a text book.