Dead Poets Society Projects
Directions: Complete any 4 of the following activities. On a new google doc. (except for option F, which can be completed on poster paper)
A. Transcribe Todd's impromptu poem from this scene (starting around 1 min 52 seconds) into a google doc.
Eliminate Mr. Keating's lines and just type Todd's words.
Decide how you think it should look on the page. Make it look like a poem, not a paragraph.
Formatting the poem is up to you. You decide whether to use Enjambment, End-Stopped Lines, Caesuras, etc.
Give the poem a title.
Reminder: this is Todd's poem, so the title should reflect something from his point of view.
B. Write a poem from the point of any character in Dead Poets Society.
Use any poetic form, but remain faithful to the form you choose. You should also put some thought into WHEN this poem is being written. A poem after Neil's death will be much different that a poem written on the first day of school. Make sure your poem has a title.
C. Write a letter to Dean Nolan persuading him to hire Mr. Keating back.
Remember that you're writing to Mr. Nolan. Being aware of your audience is crucial in persuasive writing. You should write from the point of view of someone involved in the story (a student, a parent etc). Write at least 3 paragraphs. Defend all of your opinions and support all of your arguments.
D. Compile a collection of poems that you would read if you were in a Dead Poets Society. You can use any resources to find these poems, including the poetry section of my website.
The only requirements for this prompt:
A) the poems must be from a "dead poet"
B) Include each poet's name and his or her date of birth and death
C) Minimum of 6 poems (all by dead poets).
D) Follow each poem with a companion poem of your own.
Additional Resources:
E. Make a found poem or a blackout poem using the Dead Poets Society screenplay.
F. In 2029 Dead Poets Society will be 40 years old. Design a new movie poster for this milestone.
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