Dead Poets Society Campus Life
Movie Story
1. Welton Academy, a conrvative and autocratic boys’ prep school
2. the arrival an unconventional English teacher, John Keating
3. Keating’s unique way of teaching
4. the change in the students’ thoughts on the learning process and life itlf
5. an unexpected tragedy: the suicide of one of Keating’s most brilliant students
6. Keating’s dismissal
Character Analysis
Directions: Dead Poets Society features a rich parade of characters. The following are the most impressive scenes in the movie which rve as clues to understand the characters
better.
Mr. Nolan (Headmaster)
(at the ceremony) deliver a speech, emphasizing _light of knowledge_and _the “four pillars”
(in the classroom) question Keating’s conduct in the courtyard and warn him to respect discipline.
Personality Traits
● Conrvative Autocratic Intolerant
Mr. Keating (Teacher of English Literature)
(on the corridor) shock the students a bit by encouraging them to call him _ize the day__ and to “__Oh captian, my captian” __” (carpe diem)
(in the classroom) give the boys further shocks by pressing them to rip out _the preface to a cour book and urge them to think about the meaning of poetry and life_______
(on the campus) be stopped by the boys; share with them his cret of Dead Poets Society_ and his experience of “sucking the marrow of life”
(in the classroom) render _Shakespeare __ in a funny way; ask the students to stand on the desk to _look at things in a different way __
(in the courtyard) make the boys walk at their own paces to show them that being unique is important
Personality Traits
● Romantic Open Imaginative Unconventional Passionate Amiable Knowledgeabl Idealistic
Neil
(in Keating’s dorm) confide to Keating his fear and worries about his father’s objection to his interest in theater_
(in his father’s study) _take his own life with his father’s gun
Personality Traits
● Romantic Sunny Friendly Gifted Weak
Cameron
(on Keating’s class) be puzzled by and uncomfortable with _Keating’s methodology ___
(in the attic) shout “Let Keating fry” and _”Why ruin our lives”_____
Personality Traits
● Traditional and comformist Passive Ordinary Selfish
About a Boy Family Life
Movie Story
1. Will, a 30-something bachelor content with his idle life
2. Marcus, a 12-year-old boy as a target of scorn and bullies at school
3. the suicide attempt of Marcus’ mother on the very day when he meets Will for the first time
4. start of their friendship
5. changes in Marcus’ life: winning respect from other kids; improving the relationship with his mother
6. changes in Will’s life: realizing the real meaning of life; finding true love
Character Analysis
Directions: About a Boy depicts vividly its characters, among which Will Freeman, Marc
us and Fiona impress the audiences most. The following are the most impressive scenes in the movie which rve as clues to understand the characters better.
Will Freeman (A Bachelor in His Thirties)
(at his friend’s home) refu to _be the godfather _ for his friend’s new-born daughter
(in the restaurant) feel pleasantly surprid when Angie, a single mom suggests that they break up
(in the shop) buy __a pair of new cool trainers __ for Marcus, helping him blend in with the crowd
(in the school auditorium) make a fool of himlf by _accompanying on the guitar and singing with Marcus
Personality Traits
● a loner ,a slacker, Selfish,Self-centered,Shallow,Cool, Trendy
Marcus (A 12-Year-Old Boy)
(in the classroom) taunted by other kids becau _he sings out unknowingly in the math class __
(in the park) kill a duck with __his mother’s home-made bread ___
(at home) be stunned at the sight of _____his mother lying on the sofa _____
(at Will’s home) ___try to inrt himlf into Will’s life __ and make friends with Will
Personality Traits
● a misfit,Weird,Gloomy
Fiona (Marcus’ Mother)
(at home) try to ___commit suicide ___by overdosing on the dead duck day
(in the restaurant) wear a hairy jumper, ___kind of yeti(雪人) costume __ in Will’s eyes
Personality Traits
a hippie,Depresd ,Near-hysterical
The Joy Luck Club Cross-Cultural Perspectives
Movie Story
● The Joy Luck Club consists of four interwoven stories about generational and cultural clashes and communications between Chine immigrant mothers and their American-born daughters.
