Dead Poets Society

by

N. H. Kleinbaum

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Chapter 1 Quotes

Sixteen-year-old Todd Anderson, one of the few students not wearing the school blazer, hesitated as the boys around him rose to their feet. His mother nudged him up. His face was drawn and unhappy, his eyes dark with anger. He watched silently as the boys around him shouted in unison, “Tradition! Honor! Discipline! Excellence!”

Related Characters: Todd Anderson
Page Number: 3
Explanation and Analysis:

The audience rose to a standing ovation as the octogenarian haughtily shunned offers of help from those beside him and made his way to the podium with painstaking slowness. He mumbled a few words that the audience could barely make out, and, with that, the convocation came to an end.

Related Characters: Alexander Carmichael
Page Number: 6
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 2 Quotes

As the other boys stared at him, Todd fought back tears.
“You'll like soccer here, Anderson. All right, boys. Dismissed.”

Related Characters: Headmaster Gale Nolan (speaker), Todd Anderson
Page Number: 12
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 3 Quotes

His eyes raging, Mr. Perry hissed at his son. “I will not be disputed in public, do you understand me?”

Related Characters: Mr. Perry (speaker), Neil Perry
Page Number: 16
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 4 Quotes

He jumped dramatically onto his desk and turned to face the class. “O Captain! My Captain!” he recited energetically, then looked around the room.

Related Characters: John Keating (speaker)
Related Symbols: Standing on the Desk
Page Number: 23
Explanation and Analysis:

Did most of them not wait until it was too late before making their lives into even one iota of what they were capable? In chasing the almighty deity of success, did they not squander their boyhood dreams? Most of those gentlemen are fertilizing daffodils now!

Related Characters: John Keating (speaker)
Page Number: 26
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 5 Quotes

Keating grabbed onto his own throat and screamed horribly. “AHHHHGGGGG!!” he shouted. “Refuse! Garbage! Pus! Rip it out of your books. Go on, rip out the entire page! I want this rubbish in the trash where it belongs!”

Related Characters: John Keating (speaker)
Page Number: 39
Explanation and Analysis:

He stood silent at the back of the room, then slowly walked to the front. All eyes were riveted on his impassioned face. Keating looked around the room. “What will your verse be?” he asked intently.
The teacher waited a long moment, then softly broke the mood. “Let's open our texts to page 60 and learn about Wordsworth's notion of romanticism.”

Page Number: 42
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 6 Quotes

“Ah,” McAllister laughed, “free thinkers at seventeen!”
“I hardly pegged you as a cynic,” Keating said, sipping a cup of tea.
“Not a cynic, my boy,” McAllister said knowingly. “A realist! Show me the heart unfettered by foolish dreams, and I'll show you a happy man!”

Page Number: 44
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 7 Quotes

The point is that for the first time in my whole life I know what I want, and for the first time I'm gonna do it whether my father wants me to or not! Carpe diem, Todd!

Page Number: 63-64
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 8 Quotes

“I feel like I've never been alive,” Charlie said sadly, as he watched Neil go. “For years, I've been risking nothing. I have no idea what I am or what I want to do. Neil knows he wants to act. Knox knows he wants Chris.”

Page Number: 68
Explanation and Analysis:

Todd stood still for a long time. Keating walked to his side. “There is magic, Mr. Anderson. Don't you forget this.”
Neil started applauding. Others joined in. Todd took a deep breath and for the first time he smiled with an air of confidence.

Page Number: 76
Explanation and Analysis:

“God, I can't take it anymore! If I don't have Chris, I'll kill myself!”

Page Number: 78
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 9 Quotes

“You know what Dad called me when I was growing up? ‘Five ninety-eight.’ That's what all the chemicals in the human body would be worth if you bottled them raw and sold them. He told me that was all I'd ever be worth unless I worked every day to improve myself. Five ninety-eight.”

Page Number: 84
Explanation and Analysis:

I'd like to announce that I've published an article in the school paper, in the name of the Dead Poets Society, demanding girls be admitted to Welton, so we can all stop beating off.

Page Number: 94-95
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 10 Quotes

Suddenly, he turned toward Chris again. He melted as his emotions took over. “Carpe breastum,” he said to himself, closing his eyes. “Seize the breast!”

Page Number: 99
Explanation and Analysis:

Charlie held the receiver out to Nolan. “It's God. He said we should have girls at Welton,” Charlie said into the phone as a blast of laughter from the students filled the old stone chapel.

Page Number: 105-106
Explanation and Analysis:

“There is a place for daring and a place for caution, and a wise man understands which is called for.” Keating said.
“But I thought …” Charlie stammered.
“Getting expelled from this school is not an act of wisdom or daring. It's far from perfect but there are still opportunities to be had here.”

Page Number: 110-111
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 11 Quotes

"Yes, and acting!” Neil bubbled. “It's got to be one of the most wonderful things in the world. Most people, if they’re lucky, live about half an unexciting life. If I could get the parts, I could live dozens of great lives!”

Page Number: 116-117
Explanation and Analysis:

“What is wrong with old habits, Mr. Overstreet?”
“They perpetuate mechanical living, sir,” Knox maintained. “They limit your mind.”

Page Number: 119
Explanation and Analysis:

“Talk to him, Neil,” Keating urged.
“Isn't there an easier way?” Neil begged.
“Not if you're going to stay true to yourself.”

Page Number: 124
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 13 Quotes

“You have opportunities I never dreamed of!” Mr. Perry shouted. “I won't let you squander them.” He stalked out of the room.

Page Number: 142-143
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 14 Quotes

“Damn it, even if the bastard didn't pull the trigger, he …” Todd’s sobs drowned his words until, finally, he controlled himself. “Even if Mr. Perry didn't shoot him,” Todd said calmly, “he killed him. They have to know that!”

Page Number: 152
Explanation and Analysis:

“Cameron's a fink! He's in Nolan's office right now, finking!”
“About what?” Pitts asked.
“The club, Pitts. Think about it.” Pitts and the others looked bewildered. “They need a scapegoat,” Charlie said. “Schools go under because of things like this.”

Page Number: 154
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 15 Quotes

It is Mr. Keating's blatant abuse of his position as a teacher that led directly to Neil Perry's death.

Page Number: 160
Explanation and Analysis:

As Nolan started down the aisle toward him, Knox, on the other side of the room, called out Mr. Keating's name and stood up on his desk too. Nolan turned toward Knox. Meeks mustered up his courage and stood up on his desk. Pitts did the same. One by one, and then in groups, others in the class followed their lead, standing on their desks in silent salute to Mr. Keating.

Related Symbols: Standing on the Desk
Page Number: 166
Explanation and Analysis:
No matches.