The Dead Poets
Society
Irony
ThisThis
famous
famous
was the
photo
actual
was
scene
in the
movie.
not seen
in the
movie.
The Dead Poets Society
The Irony of the
School’s Name
The Dead Poets Society
Welton – the actual name of the school
--well meaning good
Helton – the name the students used for the school
– hell being a place of misery and sinners
The Dead Poets Society
The Irony of
the Four Pillars
The Four Pillars
of Welton
Honor
Tradition
Excellence
Discipline
of Helton
Horror
Travesty
Excrement
Decadence
The Four Pillars of Welton
I. Honor - tell the truth, do the right thing
- it was not honorable to force the boys to sign a
“confession” that was not the truth
II. Tradition - doing what has always been done
-the traditional methods of teaching were not the best
for the students-traditions that are hurtful are not
honorable or excellent
The Four Pillars of Welton
III. Excellence – doing thing well
-it is not excellent to be unable to use the facts learned
and think for yourself
IV. Discipline - using control and following rules
-it is not discipline to enforce or follow that which is wrong
The Four Pillars of Helton
The Four Pillars of Helton
I. Horror – a feeling of shock or fear caused by
a death or horrible act
- all involved felt the horror of Neil’s suicide
II. Travesty – an unjust event that should not
have happened
- the firing of Mr. Keating was a travesty
The Four Pillars of Helton
III. Excrement – a the solid waste of
people and animals – use as a metaphor for
something that is worthless
-Mr. Keating describe the Welton curriculum was
excrement
IV. Decadence– acts of selfishness
- when Welton used Mr. Keating as a scapegoat to
save their reputation, they showed decadence
The Dead Poets Society
The Irony of
Charles Dalton
Charles seemed to be the one
who was the least honorable.
In the end, he was the only one of
the students who did not sign the
account blaming Mr. Keating for
Neil’s suicide.
The Dead Poets Society
The Irony of
Mr. McAllister
“It (the lesson)
was very
fascinating,
misguided
though it
was……”
I am “Not a cynic, a realist. Show me the heart
unfettered by foolish dreams, and I'll show you
a happy man.”
Later Mr. McAllister is shown teaching his
Latin class while walking in the court yard.
Very different than the verb drills that was
shown earlier.
The Dead Poets Society
The Irony of
Neil Perry
Neil seemed
to understand
carpe diem
the best.
He didn’t.
The Dead Poets Society
The Irony of
Todd Anderson
“Well,
listen, Neil.
…I-I'm not
like you…
You, you,
you say
things and
people
listen. I'm,
I'm not like
that.”
“Don't you
think you
could be? “
“No! I--I, I don't know,”