21 Film: Dead Poets Society
Dead Poets Society is a 1989 movie directed by Peter Weir and starring Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard and Ethan Hawke. Renegade teacher John Keating uses poetry to enliven his boarding school students to greater heights of self-expression. The movie’s line “Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary” was voted as the #95 movie quote by the American Film Institute (out of 100). The phrase comes from Odes 1.11 of Q. Horatius Flaccus (Horace), 65BC-8BC. When Robin Williams died in 2014, the famous line “O Captain! My Captain!” was used by many media outlets in his obituaries. 2 hours 8 minutes
Watch Dead Poets Society
Films for this class are streamed through the HCC library’s portal. You will need to log in by using the same username/password you use for other services (such as logging into Canvas).
Consider this:
- Mr. Keating tells his class that they will “contribute a verse” to the “powerful play” of life. What do you think this means? What do you imagine your verse will be?
- What role do you think the arts play in our experience of the world?
- Is it more important to honor your parents’ wishes or to explore the things that make you happy? Explain.
