Analysis
The structure of the film Dead Poets Society (1989) directed by Peter Weir is chronological and can be split into three acts. The film includes several subplots which support the main story which is Keating teaching the boys how to think for themselves and to seize the day.
The main characters in the story are Neil Perry and Todd Anderson, two of the students at Welton Academy. The narrative focuses on them the most, exploring their relationship with each other and with the other teachers and students. John Keating, the English teacher, can also be considered a main character. The other members of the Dead Poets Society are also important to the narrative, and their stories make up the film’s subplots. The other teachers at Welton Academy are only briefly outlined, as their conventional lessons are usually contrasted with Keating’s more interesting ones.
The setting of the narrative is the fictional Welton Academy in the United States of America, a college preparatory school with a long tradition. The gothic architecture of the school and the idyllic surroundings help create a romantic atmosphere. The time setting is the beginning of the school year 1959. The social setting explores issues such as clash of values, parent-child relationship, and teacher-student relationship.
Several cinematic devices are used to enhance the viewer’s immersive experience in the story, as well as to highlight the importance of some scenes. For instance, the beating of the drums in the Indian cave where the boys hold the Dead Poets Society meetings is repeated in several other scenes, as a symbol of rebellion against authority.
The film also uses symbols and motifs to better express the themes and message of the story. An important symbol, for example, is the mural on the wall of Welton Academy depicting former students, which is the opening image of the movie, and is also repeated at key points in the film to show the connection between the past and the present.
You can read a full analysis of the film in the following pages.
