Character Questions Dead Poets Society

1.) The character which transformed the most was Todd. He shows up to the school very quiet and very shy, unlike the other boys who are the very opposite. He is even very nervous to read in front of anyone, like when he requests not to read in the Dead Poets Society. When Mr. Keating has him go in front of the class and spin around and say what comes to mind, he starts to come out of his shell. He really changes towards the end when Mr. Keating is leaving. He stands up on the desk and says O Captain My Captain. He starts to stand up for what he believes and his views.


2.) The first character that is static in nature would have to be Charlie. He is always pretty defiant and is that way until the end of the movie. It starts when Mr. Keating is doing a lesson outside and he is showing them how to stand and walk in the line and he wants to do something completely different. This shows that he has always kind of had that rebel attitude and always wanted to be different. Also, he continues to be a trouble maker when he has the Dead Poets Society put in the newspaper and then admits it in the school meeting with a joke. Another static character would have to be Knox. Throughout the movie, he is just focused on one thing, a girl. He is focused on trying to make her his and eventually does, but goes through some trials.


3.) Mr. Keating is a intelligent teacher who is great at leading. He is very serious about what he does and you can tell that he loves it. He is very great at leading because he tries to show the boys that you should see things in other perspectives besides your own. I do think he was changed by the experience in the film especially after Neil had killed himself. He has always been the type to encourage people to follow their dreams, but after the suicide I think that he is a little less outspoken about things and feels bad because he did take a little part in telling Neil to do acting, which is not what his father wanted. I feel this might change some of his personal opinions on some things and how he handles some situations. The death affected him greatly and he seemed to take a lot of the responsibility for it. In the end, he also seems like he is going to do great things when he leaves and encourage kids to do what they want, but not to the same extent.




4.) Todd has the fear of being outgoing. In the beginning, he is very shy and does not even want to read in front of people. I feel as if he did overcome this fear, especially because of Mr. Keating making him get up in front of the class. He also was the one to stand up for Mr. Keating at the end of the movie when he is leaving. Neil has the fear of his father. His father is very strict about what he wants his son to do and will not let him do anything else besides it. I do not think Neil overcame this fear, because instead of standing up to his dad and explaining how much he loved acting, he killed himself. He took another route that was not the best instead of talking to his dad and trying to get him to see that is what he loved to do. Knox was afraid of losing the girl. He wanted her to be with him so bad, the only problem was she already had a boyfriend. He did a lot of things to get her attention, especially when he went to her school and gave her flowers. She was all he thought about, and he even broke the rules to see her. I think he did overcome the fear because he eventually got the girl and was finally content. Charlie had the fear of being normal. He wanted to stand out and be different from everyone else and was afraid of being like everyone else. I do not think he overcame this fear because he always continued to try to stand out so bad and even went so far as to become expelled over it because he admitted to doing wrong in a immature way.

Mona Lisa Smile Discussion Questions

1. The roles of the women in the 1950's were that they were housewives. They cooked, cleaned, and took care of the children. They did go to high school and college, but they basically went to college to become housewives. They were not encouraged to pursue their dreams and their careers because they knew that their life consisted of being a stay at home mother. Katherine Watson had a different view on things. She thought that women should be able to go to college and get the education they need to be able to become what they wanted to be. She also wanted them to have a mind of their own and not be told that the only thing they are there for is to do house chores and raise children. She did not go by the standards, she wanted them to know that nothing is stopping them from reaching their goals.


2. Betty's reaction to Joan's application to Yale was tremendous because she thought she was crazy. During that time women were to get married and raise children, that's it. To go to college to become a lawyer was something that did not happen for a woman. I personally think that if I were to be in that time period, I would have the same reaction just because of what I was raised to think and told to think.

Comparing (movie and extract)

Katherine's way of teaching was to think outside of the normal. That it is okay to like or dislike things and have your own opinions on a subject. Like when she showed them the art and asked them what their thoughts were and what they liked and disliked about it, she genuinely cared about their opinions on the matter and wanted them to see that. Her progressive teaching helped the girls realize that they do not have to conform, and that they can be who they want and do what they want because it is their life and their choice. Like when Connie was considering being a lawyer, she basically applied for her because she wanted her to see that she has the opportunity to go there if she wanted to.  The teaching in the extract is teaching students that life is all based on facts. That the facts are what is right and anything else will not get them anywhere. It also teaches them that basically their is no individuality, that everyone has to think the same way and learn the same way instead of viewing  things in their own perspective. It was sticking to the normal and that is what is also expected in life, nothing but facts is needed and wanted.

Fave Movie Theme

My favorite movie theme would have to be her teaching the girls that they do not have to conform. That they can do whatever they want and do not have to be typical housewives. She taught them that they have the capability to do great things, that they are smart, and can do more with their life. It was great to see the girls attitudes change towards the end of the movie and realize their worth.

Movie

I think that the result of the movie could be the main character teaching the girls that they can do more than just become wives. That they have a bright future and can do whatever they want. I think she will have a little trouble a long the way because the time period is when women are taught to be wives and that is it. I think it will also end in the girls she taught becoming closer to her. In the beginning they did not exactly give her a good vibe because she was new, but once she teaches them they are more than they think they will respect her.

High School and College Exams

High school exams compared to college exams are a lot easier. College exams could cover a lot more information and it is a bigger grade than a high school exam. College exams also require a lot of studying, cramming to try to do it last minute will more than likely get you a bad grade. A good way to prepare for a high school exam is to study with note cards. It helps learn the term and it is a good way to go over the material multiple times. A good way to study for a college exam is to go to study groups, that way you can get the help you need while you are reviewing the material. Making summaries of the material as you read it or go over it also helps you understand it and remember it.

Christmas

My plans for Christmas this year are very different from every other year. This Saturday morning we are going to be headed to Disney World for vacation and we will be gone for the week, including Christmas day. The Friday before we leave we are going to go give our gifts to all of our friends and family since we will be gone and wont see them Christmas day. This year I am asking for some new boots, some clothes, jewelry, and makeup.