1. Focus Questions for Dead Poets Society
Elements of Fiction
Focus Questions for Dead Poets Society

2. Symbolism

3. Symbolism
A symbol has meaning in itself, but stands for something else. However, a symbol is not what it symbolizes.
For example, a dove is a bird, but when used as a symbol it represents peace. If the dove dies, peace does not die.

4. What does the candle symbolize? What are the four pillars?
Focus Questions
What does the candle symbolize?
What are the four pillars?
Who are the boys names that are attending Welton?

5. What does Carpe Diem mean?
Elements of Fiction
What does Carpe Diem mean?
How does Mr. Keating’s initial lesson with the boys represent a transcendentalist perspective?

6. What does the candle symbolize in the beginning of the movie?
Focus Questions
What does the candle symbolize in the beginning of the movie?
What do the four pillars symbolize?
What’s the purpose of Mr. Keating’s opening activity in class?

7. Focus Questions
How does Mr. Keating’s response to the Pritchard Chart on Poetry reflect transcendental beliefs?
Who seems to be most affected by Mr. Keating’s explanation of how “the powerful play goes on..”?
How does Mr. Keating subtly inspire the boys to create their own Dead Poets Society?

8. Focus Questions What were the original Dead Poets dedicated to?
Who left the poetry book for Neil to find?
What is the “Traditional Opening” of the Dead Poets Society, and by whom was it written?
Who seems to be most resistant to expressing himself and whom seems to be most eager?

9. What is Keating’s explanation for the creation of poetry?
Focus Questions
What is Keating’s explanation for the creation of poetry?
Why does Mr. Keating have the boys look at his classroom from the top of his desk?
What does Mr. Keating want the boys to consider when reading a book?

10. How are the boys starting to embrace transcendentalist beliefs?
Focus Questions
How is Neil’s decision to try out for the play a clear example of Carpe Diem and its underlying transcendentalist meaning?
How are the boys starting to embrace transcendentalist beliefs?

11. Focus Questions Who is the protagonist in the story?
What is the main conflict of the story?
What are a few of the major themes?
What is type of conflict is the main conflict?
Character v. Character
Character v. society
Character v. nature
Character v. self

12. What is the deeper meaning of “sucking the marrow out of life”?
Focus Questions
What is the deeper meaning of “sucking the marrow out of life”?
What words did Mr. Perry say to Neal come back to haunt him?
Which three boys best represent carpe diem?

13. “I went to the woods to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.

14. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life.”

15. Foreshadowing
Foreshadowing occurs when something occurs within the plot that predicts future events.
Focus Question
Predict which events are foreshadowed in the story as it relates to the boys?

16. Theme = Main idea or moral of story
Elements of Fiction
Plot = The Storyline
Theme = Main idea or moral of story
Setting = Where, when, why (context)
Characterization =
Protagonist = Main Character
Antagonist = Causes conflict for the protagonist