A. Setting
This movie took place in the sixties. Its story began when G Holland took a job at JF
Kennedy High School. The following are some of the important events which took place
during that period in US History.
1963
1964
1972
B. Characterization
Glenn Holland
Iris Holland
Cole Holland
Helen Jacobs
Gertrude Lang
Louis Russ
Mr Stadler
Rowena….
C
Assassination of John F Kennedy.
Vietnam War, followed by anti-war movements.
Watergate Scandal followed by Nixon’s resignation.
Main character
Wife
Son
Principal of JF Kennedy
Student(60s’)
(drummer)
(singer)
Plot
Glenn Holland is a composer who decides to take a teaching job so that he has
sufficient time focusing on his masterwork in the evening. Helen Jacobs, the
School Principal wants him to dedicate his time and talent teaching Music
Appreciation. But his students are tired most of the time. Holland grows
tired of their laziness in what to him is the passion of his life.
To help his students love music, Holland integrates Rock n roll into the
Curriculum even though it is not popular with his colleagues who are afraid that
such an attempt will result in a crackdown of discipline
Holland’s first challenge is a girl Gertrude who spends much time and effort
practising her clarinet. Holland spends extra time with her. He asks her
what she likes about herself most when looking in the mirror. She replies her
red hair, which her father says is the color of sunset. ..This image ultimately does
the trick.
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D. Content-focused Activities:
Arrange yourself in groups of four and discuss the following questions based on the content
of the movie.

The following is a dialogue between Glenn Holland and Helen Jacobs, the school
principal:
A teacher is two jobs . Fill young people with knowledge. Yes but more
important give those minds a compass so that the knowledge won’t go to
waste….As a compass you are stuck!
The compass has a metaphoric implication in the movie. Can you explain why a
compass is related to a teacher’s job? Have you met the compass in your life?

The following is a conversation between Cole and his father:
You care more about teaching other students than you do about me…
Cole, who is deaf, feels excluded from his father’s life. Can you explain what leads
to the conflicts between Cole and his father?
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
The principal of the school, who has never appreciated Holland’s unorthodox way of
teaching, decides to close down drama and the music program for long division.. his socalled practical subjects. In response to these injustices, this old man roars like a lion .
You create a generation of children who will have no ability to think…
Sooner or later, these kids wanna have anything to read and write about.
Does the same situation exist in our profit-driven society? Do you think that talented individuals
in the fields of Humanities are given equal status and opportunities to develop their potentials?

In terms of fame and fortune, many people might consider Mr Holland ‘s life misspent.
Do you agree? What is your yardstick of success?

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E . A Time of Change
We all grow as people from what we have experienced in our lives. Very often, we learn
valuable lessons that can change our beliefs, our lives, and the way we behave. The characters in
this movie change as well. Think of a character in the movie and the experiences he/she had.
Explain the lessons he/she learned that changed him/her as a person.(Apart from Glenn Holland,
you can choose Cole, Rowena, Louis or even Mr Stadler)
Character: ______________________________________

Events or experiences this person had

Lessons this character learned

Ways this character changed

What did you learn from this story? How might that help you change as a person?
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F..
Writing Task
The Finale
The finale or ending of the movie should leave the viewers
with a feeling of completion or satisfaction .
Are you happy with the way this movie ended? Did events
unfold as you thought they would? Why or why not?
Now, write your own ending to the movie . Remember to wrap
up all the loose ends.
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