Dead Poets Society
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15
Themes
All Themes Life, Death, and “Carpe Diem” Education Conformity and Success Rebellion and Passion Men, Women, and Love
Quotes
Characters
All Characters John Keating Todd Anderson Neil Perry Charlie Dalton Knox Overstreet Richard Cameron Headmaster Gale Nolan Mr. George McAllister Mr. Perry
Symbols
All Symbols The Candle Puck’s Crown Standing on the Desk
Literary Devices
All Literary Devices Alliteration Allusions Foreshadowing Genre Idioms Imagery Irony Metaphors Mood Parody Setting Similes Situational Irony Style Tone Verbal Irony
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Dead Poets Society

by

N. H. Kleinbaum

Upgrade to A+
Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis
  • Chapter 1
  • Chapter 2
  • Chapter 3
  • Chapter 4
  • Chapter 5
  • Chapter 6
  • Chapter 7
  • Chapter 8
  • Chapter 9
  • Chapter 10
  • Chapter 11
  • Chapter 12
  • Chapter 13
  • Chapter 14
  • Chapter 15
Themes
  • All Themes
  • Life, Death, and “Carpe Diem” Theme Icon
    Life, Death, and “Carpe Diem”
  • Education Theme Icon
    Education
  • Conformity and Success Theme Icon
    Conformity and Success
  • Rebellion and Passion Theme Icon
    Rebellion and Passion
  • Men, Women, and Love Theme Icon
    Men, Women, and Love
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • John Keating
  • Todd Anderson
  • Neil Perry
  • Charlie Dalton
  • Knox Overstreet
  • Richard Cameron
  • Headmaster Gale Nolan
  • Mr. George McAllister
  • Mr. Perry
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • The Candle Symbol Icon
    The Candle
  • Puck’s Crown Symbol Icon
    Puck’s Crown
  • Standing on the Desk Symbol Icon
    Standing on the Desk
Lit Devices
  • All Literary Devices
  • Alliteration
  • Allusions
  • Foreshadowing
  • Genre
  • Idioms
  • Imagery
  • Irony
  • Metaphors
  • Mood
  • Parody
  • Setting
  • Similes
  • Situational Irony
  • Style
  • Tone
  • Verbal Irony
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
Download this Chart (PDF)
Download the Teacher Edition
Download this Chart (PDF)

Dead Poets Society Study Guide

It's easy to cite LitCharts for use in academic papers and reports.


MLA

Arn, Jackson. "Dead Poets Society." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 22 Nov 2016. Web. 22 Jun 2025.


Chicago

Arn, Jackson. "Dead Poets Society." LitCharts LLC, November 22, 2016. Retrieved June 22, 2025. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/dead-poets-society.

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