Dead Poets Society: the play

Scene 5: English Class

yielding a massive total area. Thereby revealing the poem to be truly great. As you

proceed through the poetry in this book, practice this rating method. As your ability to

evaluate poems in this manner grows, so will your enjoyment and understanding of

poetry.

Mr. Keating

Excrement... That's what I think of Dr. J. Evans Pritchard. We're not laying pipes.

We're talking about poetry. I mean how can you describe poetry like an american

Bandstand? "I like Byron. I give him a 42. But I can't dance to it."

All

*laugh*

Mr. Keating

Now I want you to rip out that page.

All

*Look flabbergasted at Mr. Keating*

Mr. Keating

Come on! Rip out the entire page. You heard me. Rip it out.

Charlie

*Rips out the page*

Mr. Keating

Thank you Mr. Dalton. Gentlemen tell you what, tear out the entire introduction. I

want it gone! History! Leave nothing of it! Rip it out! Rip it!

All ( except for Cameron)

*Start ripping it out*

Mr. Keating

Be gone Dr. J. Evans Pritchard, Ph.D.! Rip! Shred! Tear! It's not the bible, you're not

gonna go to hell for this.

Cameron

*starts ripping with a ruler*

Mr. Keating

Make a clean tear. I want nothing left of it. *walks out*

Cameron

We shouldn't be doing this.

Neil

Rip! Rip! Rip!

All

*More ripping*

McAllister

*Walks in* What the hell is going on here?

All

*stop ripping*

Mr. Keating

*Walks back in* I don't hear enough rip!

McAllister

Mr. Keating... I'm sorry I- I didn't know you were here.

Mr. Keating

I am.

McAllister

So you are... Excuse me. *Walks away*

Mr. Keating

Keep ripping gentlemen!

All

*start ripping again*

Mr. Keating

This is a battle! A war! And the casualties could be your hearts, your souls. Armies of

academics going forward measuring poetry. No! We will not have that here. No more

Dr. J. Evans Pritchard. Now, my class, you will learn how to think for yourselves

again. You will learn to savor words and language. No matter what anyone tells you.

Words and ideas can change the word. I see that look in Mr. Pitts eyes, *walks to

Pitts* like 19th century literature has nothing to do with going to business school or

med school. Right? Maybe. Mr. Hopkins you might agree with Mr. Pitts, thinking, yes

we should simply study Dr. J. Evans Pritchard, and learn our rhyme and meter and go

quietly about our business of achieving other ambitions. I have a secret for you.

Huddle up. Huddle up!

All

*huddle up*

Mr. Keating

We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because

We are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion.

Medicine, law, business, engineering; these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain

life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love; these are the things we stay alive for. To quote

from whitman: O me, o life of questions of these recurring. Of the endless trains of

the faithless. Of cities filled with the foolish. what good omit these, O me, O life?

Answer: that you are here. That life exists and identity. That the powerful play

goes on and you may contribute to the verse. That the powerful play goes on and you may contribute to the verse. *Looks at Todd* What will your verse be?