Characters+in+Dead+Poets

http://www.antiromantic.com/category/characters/
 * Dead Poets Society**
 * [|Who Said It?] **

All of us are called upon to make choices, most of which are not easy. Sometimes a choice sets into motion a series of events we had not counted on. This is true of characters in literature as well. Choose a character who has made important choices that reflect a new way of thinking or that have consequences. In a multi-paragraph essay, do the following: The movie will be shown in segments for several days. As you watch, make notes. BACKGROUND: The setting is Welton Academy, a very traditional prep school for boys only, in 1959. The main characters are:
 * Choices**
 * 1) Explain what the choice or series of related choices is.
 * 2) Describe what lead up to the choice, for example, what events, what changes in behavior or outlook on life. Did another person have any influence on the decision?
 * 3) Evaluate the choice(s): was it a good one? (Think about the short and long run) Was it all the character could do given his inexperience in life?

 John Keating—the new poetry teacher  Mr. Nolan—the headmaster  Neal Perry—whose father decides everything for him  Todd Anderson—the quiet and sensitive one, unsure of himself  Cameron—the red-headed traditionalist  Charley Dalton— later called “Nuwanda”, who dares to do anything,  Steven Meeks—wearing glasses, who follows the crowd  Knox Overstreet—in love with Chris the blonde cheerleader  Pitts—the tall one media type="custom" key="26873028" =The Characters and Maslow's Hierarchy=

= = = = =PROFESSOR KEATING =
 * Motivated by social needs;
 * He left London and a miscarried relationship and returned to Welton;
 * He was then looking for a sense of belonging and returned to Welton because even though he did not agree with its philosophy, it was a place where he felt safe and wanted;
 * In the end, his social needs are still unmet.


 * TODD ANDERSON **
 * Seeking belonging and recognition;
 * Living in the shadow of his brother, a former Welton honor student;
 * Found a sense of belonging ; at end of story he apologized to Keating, then addressing Keating as captain, stood on his desk acknowledging that he supported Keating and that he felt a sense of cohesiveness with Keating.


 * NEIL PERRY **
 * Seeking esteem, respect, recognition;
 * Living in fear of his controlling father;
 * After the play he stated “I was great” signifying he had achieved esteem, respect and recognition;
 * He then decided he would decide his own future and not allow his father to do so - he took his own life.


 * KNOX OVERSTREAM **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 20px;">In need of self-actualization;
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 20px;">Falls in love with a girl;
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 20px;">After he was finally able to tell her how he felt through a poem, his friends asked “What did she say?” Knox responded, “Nothing; but I did it” signifying that he had reached self-actualization.

[|School YearBook]

> (There are of course many ways of doing this: think of as many ways as you can.) || || Before Caveat lector! Character sheets are littered with spoilers. Played by: ** [|Robin Williams] ** The new teacher and previous student at Welton. He inspires the boys to 'seize the day' and restart his old club, the Dead Poets Society. Played by: **Robert Sean Leonard** One of Keatings students, who decides to restart the Dead Poets Society. He has a strained relationship with his controlling father. Played by: **Ethan Hawke** A new student at Welton, and Neil's roomate. He starts out as the most timid of the poets, but gains confidence thanks to Keating and Neil's encouragement. Played by: **Gale Hansen** Another of Keating's students and the most rebellious member of the Dead Poets Society. Played by: **Josh Charles** Member of Keating's class and the Dead Poets Society. Spends most of the movie attempting to win the love of local girl, Chris. Played by: **Dylan Kussman** Another classmate, who is grudgingly accepted into the Dead Poets Society. Played by: **Allelon Ruggiero** The smartest member of the Dead Poets Society. Played by: **James Waterston** The final member of the Dead Poets Society. Played by: **Norman Lloyd** Played by: **Kurtwood Smith** Played by: **Alexandra Powers**
 * Characterization **
 * // Cast of characters: // How many kinds of characters do you see in the film? Can you classify them?
 * Which of the characters are "flat" and which of them are "round"?
 * What functions do the "flat" characters serve?
 * // Keating //** : Would you say that Keating is a "flat" character?
 * **// The students //** : Quite obviously, all of Keating's students are "round" characters. What changes does each of them undergo as a result of Keating's arrival? (Note that you cannot type in the boxes).
 * After ||
 * Neil ||  ||   ||
 * Todd ||  ||   ||
 * Knox ||  ||   ||
 * Charlie ||  ||   ||
 * **// Mr. Nolan //** : What kind of principal is Nolan?
 * What is his educational philosophy? Do you agree with it?
 * Do you think the way Nolan deals with the "Dead Poets Society" incident is proper and appropriate?
 * **// Dr. Hager //** : Dr. Hager is an uninteresting character who simply enforces what Nolan believes to be "correct". Identify the instances where he serves as the "enforcer" of Nolan's principles.
 * **// McAllister: //** McAllister seems, at first sight, to be a compatriot in Nolan's camp. But upon further scrutiny, you can see that he is not simply another Dr. Hager. In what ways do you think he differs from Hager?
 * Compare the three teachers: Dr. Hager, McAllister, and Keating. Do they represent different types of teachers you have come across in your teaching career?
 * **// The Danburrys: //** What functions do you think the Danburrys serve in the story? What kinds of social values do they represent?
 * **// Chris Noel: //** What is so special about her name? In what ways is she related to Christmas, when the story ends?
 * What functions does she serve in the story?
 * Characters: Dead Poets Society http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Characters/DeadPoetsSociety ||
 * Mr Keating **
 * [|Blithe Spirit] : He tries to bring life and free-thinking to the school.
 * [|Cool Teacher] : He teaches English. He manages to fill his students with enthusiasm to study literature and especially poetry, and life in general.
 * [|Fired Teacher] : He is kicked out of the school after Neil's death.
 * [|The Scapegoat] : Welton and the Perrys blame him for Neil's suicide
 * [|Save Our Students] : He wants to get his students interested and make them believe that their life matters and should be special.
 * Neil Perry **
 * [|Abusive Parents] : His dad's rigid expectations lead him to commit suicide.
 * [|Ambiguously Gay] : He and Todd are very, uh... close.
 * [|The Ace] : He's bright, popular, sporty, in numerous clubs, Harvard-bound, and clearly the leader in his group of friends.
 * [|Broken Ace] : Desite his popularity, he's actually trapped by his controlling father and sees no way out.
 * [|Big Man on Campus] : Everyone adores him, and he's a talented actor as well as a good student.
 * [|The B Grade] : There'll be hell to pay if he gets anything less than an A+ average.
 * [|Bromance] : With Todd. Neil is instantly protective of him and the two are very close.
 * [|Decoy Protagonist] : After his death, it becomes clear the true protagonist is Todd.
 * [|Driven to Suicide] : After his father forbids him theatre and promises to get him from his school, Neil shoots himself with his father's pistol.
 * [|Extracurricular Enthusiast] : Not his idea, but his father's.
 * [|Red Oni, Blue Oni] : The red to Todd's blue. He's much more passionate and ready to do things.
 * [|Tragic Bromance] : With Todd. Neil is immediately protective of Todd, and seemingly makes it his mission to bring him out of his shell. Then his own problems crush him, and he commits suicide, leaving his best friend more broken than before.
 * [|Stepford Smiler] : He was miserable underneath his out-going, cheerful personality. It makes his death so very shocking.
 * Todd Anderson **
 * [|Abusive Parents] : In an interesting contrast to the pressure Neil suffers, his parents expect nothing of him and a deleted scene reveals his dad's equates his value as a person to his //chemical worth//.
 * [|Parental Neglect] : A heartbreaking scene has Todd sitting alone with his birthday present... the same present he got last year.
 * [|Ambiguously Gay] : His relationship with Neil is pretty...intense.
 * [|Always Someone Better] : Both his parents and staff adore his brother Jeffrey, who was apparently [|Valedictorian and a National Merit Scholar] . And they don't mind [|shoving it in Todd's face].
 * [|Bromance] : With Neil. The two are very close and it's established Neil is Todd's only good relationship, at least at first.
 * [|Bromantic Foil] : To the confident, outgoing Neil.
 * [|Grew a Spine] : As the movie goes on, he becomes more confident.
 * [|New Transfer Student] : As if his shyness wasn't bad enough.
 * [|Not So Different] : Seems the complete opposite to the confident Neil, but it's revealed they both struggle with their parents' expectations.
 * [|Red Oni, Blue Oni] : The blue to Neil's red. He's much quieter and more introspective.
 * [|Shrinking Violet] : He has trouble talking in class (or even one-on-one with his roommate) and avoids eye contact. He gets better though.
 * [|Tragic Bromance] : With Neil. Throughout the movie the pair grow extremely close, confiding their family problems and comforting each other in trouble. Neil especially builds Todd's broken self-esteem, resulting in Todd becoming happier and more confident in himself. Then Neil kills himself and Todd is left distraught and heartbroken; it's unclear if he'll ever really recover.
 * [|The Unfavourite] : To a devastating extent. His parents don't value him at all and he's constantly compared to his successful brother.
 * Charlie Dalton **
 * [|Class Clown] : Always goofing off.
 * [|Hot-Blooded] : Definitely the most reckless of the boys.
 * [|Jerk with a Heart of Gold] : As much as he likes to goof around and mouth off, he does care about his friends and refuses to betray them.
 * [|Rebellious Spirit] : As seen below, he's more than willing to defy authority.
 * [|Undying Loyalty] : Despite his careless attitude, he is extremely protective of his friends, refusing to betray them under a brutal beating and being expelled out of loyalty to Keating.
 * Knox Overstreet **
 * [|The Determinator] : He's going to get Chris if it's the last thing he does.
 * [|Love at First Sight] : Struck dumb when he sees Chris for the first time.
 * [|Stalker with a Crush] : Yeah, he's nice, and he means Chris no harm, but //still//. Following her to school? //Really//?
 * Richard Cameron **
 * [|Dirty Coward] : He betrays his classmates and informs the authorities about their secret poetry meetings...just to save his own skin.
 * [|Establishing Character Moment] : He invites himself into a study group with Neil then makes fun of Todd before even meeting him.
 * [|Et Tu, Brute?] : Turns out that the below trope is justified; people were right not to like him, since later he //betrays everyone.//
 * [|The Friend Nobody Likes] : For good reason. He betrays Keating to save his own ass.
 * [|It's All About Me] : He doesn't care what happens to Keating and the rest of the Society after telling the administration about it since he got off scot free.
 * [|Jerkass] : He wasn't pleasant to begin with, but betraying the Society? Dick move, dude.
 * [|Smug Snake] : He betrays the Society and encourages the others to do the same. When Charlie punches him, he gloats that now Charlie is going to be expelled for sure.
 * [|Teacher's Pet]
 * Steven Meeks **
 * [|Embarrassing Surnames] / [|Unfortunate Names] : Lampshaded by Keating.
 * [|Hollywood Nerd]
 * [|Four-Temperament Ensemble] : Supine.
 * [|Nice Guy] : He tutors Charlie in almost every subject.
 * [|Teen Genius]
 * [|Those Two Guys] : With Pitts.
 * [|The Smart Guy]
 * [|Smart People Know Latin]
 * Gerard Pitts **
 * [|Embarrassing Surnames] / [|Unfortunate Names] : Lampshaded by Keating.
 * [|The Generic Guy]
 * [|Gentle Giant]
 * [|Those Two Guys] : With Meeks.
 * Principal Nolan **
 * [|Dean Bitterman] : He is a stuffy old authoritarian who believes in physical punishment and uniformity.
 * [|Jerkass]
 * [|Sadistic Teacher] : He brutally beats Charlie with a paddle for a practical joke.
 * Mr Perry **
 * [|Abusive Parents] : He's overly controlling and unfeeling towards his only son.
 * [|Control Freak]
 * [|Fantasy-Forbidding Father] : His son has straight A's and is willing to study what his father wants him to do. Poor Neil still can't do any community theatre.
 * [|Jerkass] : Would it //really// be so hard to just //listen// to Neil for once?
 * Chris **
 * [|Everyone Loves Blondes] : Knox sure does.
 * [|Nice Girl] : And that's... basically her only trait.
 * [|Satellite Love Interest] : To Knox. She doesn't have any other role in the movie than to be pretty and to be loved.


 * 1) **<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">How do the characters and/or events reflect __Transcendentalist__ views? (Find and list three examples) **

__<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">John Keating __<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> –


 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">be yourself/trust yourself
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">carpe diem
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">acknowledge your own emotions/emotions of others/spark of divinity in all humans
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">resist conformity
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">know when to be daring and when to be cautious
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">actually __see__ what is there/observe/imbibe/appreciate
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">philosophies of Whitman and Thoreau
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">‘don’t live lives of quiet desperation’
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">‘the marrow of life’
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">‘live deliberately’

__<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Other Characters/Events __


 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Neil **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">: initiating/officiating at the Dead Poets Society meetings, acting in the //A Midsummer Night’s Dream// despite his father’s wishes
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Knox **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">: writing a poem/pursuing Chris
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Charlie **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">: nickname (Nuwanda), painting himself with the color red, inviting girls to the meetings, writing an editorial, phone call from “God”
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Todd **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">: speaking the poem, leading the rebellion against Mr. Nolan by standing on his desk
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Todd, Knox, Pitts, Meeks, etc. **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">: standing on their desks

__<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">They perhaps fear __<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">:
 * 1) **<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Why do other authority figures criticize Robin Williams’ character? Why are his philosophies so difficult for many of them to accept…what is he doing “wrong?” (Find and list two examples) **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">His non-conformity
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Non-traditional methods of teaching
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Empathy for others’ emotions, desires, passions:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">“The casualties may be your hearts and souls”
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">He is __not__ blind to the human condition, as all other authority figures seem to be; he ‘sees’ what is actually there, observes


 * 1) **<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Which of the students seems to MOST reflect the Transcendental philosophy by the END of the film? (Two examples) **