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Dead Poets Society is one of my favourite films, which means my friend Steve will probably not like it 😊
The film is chockablock full of poems of all sorts . . .
“She Walks in Beauty” by Lord Byron
“The Ballad of William Bloat” by Raymond Calvert
“The Prophet” by Abraham Cowley
“The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost
“To the Virgins” by Robert Herrick
“The Congo” by Vachel Lindsay
“Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day” by William Shakespeare
A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare
“Ulysses” by Alfred Lord Tennyson
“Walden” by Henry David Thoreau
“O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman
“O Me! O Life!” by Walt Whitman
Some have already been featured in Bytes – The Road Not taken, O Captain! My Captain!, The Congo:
Then I had religion, then I had a vision
I could not turn from their revel in derision
Then I saw the Congo, creeping through the black
Cutting through the jungle with a golden track.
– and others will be featured in future Bytes posts.
Ironically in a film about poets and personal growth, one poem didn’t make it to the final film and ended up on the cutting room floor.
__________
And Still We Sleep . . .
We are dreaming of tomorrow
and tomorrow isn't coming
We are dreaming of a glory
that we don't really want
We are dreaming of a new day
when the new day's here already
We are running from the battle
when it's one that must be fought.
And still we sleep.
We are listening for the calling
but never really heeding
Hoping for the future
when the future's only plans
Dreaming of the wisdom
that we are dodging daily
Praying for a savior
when salvation's in our hands.
And still we sleep.
And still we sleep
And still we pray
And still we fear
And still we sleep.
__________
About the poem:
Does anyone else think that this sounds like a Leonard Cohen song or a Bob Dylan lyric? Okay, I guess it’s just me then.
The poem is an original work by the student Todd Anderson ((Ethan Hawke’s character) and suggests an unknown, uncertain future, a hint at the coming death of Neil whose domineering parents plan to send to military school, a future that may or may not have many tomorrows or villains or heroes but is as much of life as can be known in advance. It reflects Mr Keating’s lesson on Carpe Diem.
Another interpretation is that it is a lament for those who fail to commit due to indecisiveness, impassivity or apathy.
Here is a recitation:
And another:
Dead Poets Society has had a profound impact on education systems worldwide. The film’s message of encouraging critical thinking and individuality has inspired numerous teachers and students to challenge traditional educational norms.
Poetry is a central theme in Dead Poets Society, representing self-expression, inspiration, and the power to challenge societal norms. It serves as a catalyst for the students’ personal growth.
According to one film critic: “The film’s ending leaves viewers with a sense of both loss and hope. It reminds us that even though mentors may come and go, their impact on our lives can be everlasting.”
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