Mr. Keating
Boys! I hope everyone has done their assignment? Who wants to read their poem
first?
Knox
*stands up* I do! *walks up front.*
Mr. Keating
Go for it.
Knox
For Chris...
Dead Poets
*Chuckle*
Knox
I see a sweetness in her smile. Bright lights shine from her eyes. But life is complete,
contentment is mine just knowing that...
Boy 1
*Chuckle*
Knox
Just knowing that she's alive. *sighs, walks of stage sad and frustrated cause people
laughed at him*
Boy 1
*Chuckle*
Knox
I'm sorry captain, it's stupid.
Mr. Keating
No! No, it's not stupid. It's a good effort. It touched on one of the major themes: love.
A major theme not only in poetry but also in life. Mr. Hopkins, you were laughing.
You're up.
Boy 1
*goes up front* The cat sat on the mat. *sits back down*
Mr. Keating
Congratulations Mr. Hopkins. You're poem is the first to reach a negative score on the
Pritchard scale.
All
*Laugh*
Mr. Keating
We're not laughing at you, we're laughing near you. I don't mind that your poem had
a simple theme. Sometimes the most beautiful poetry can be about the simplest of
things, like a cat, or a flower, or rain. You see, poetry can come from anything with
the stuff of revelation in it. Just don't let your poems be ordinary... Now, who's next? Mr. Anderson, I see you sitting there in agony. Come on Todd, step up, let's put you out of your misery.
Todd
I-I didn't do it. I didn't write a poem.
Mr. Keating
Mr. Anderson thinks everything inside him is worthless and embarrassing. Isn't that
right, Todd? Isn't that your greatest fear? Well I think you're wrong. I think there is
something inside of you that's worth a great deal. "I sound my barbaric yawp over the
rooftops of the world." Now for those of you who don't know, a Yawp is a loud cry or
yell. Now Todd, I would like you to give us a demonstration of a barbaric yawp.
Stand up!
Todd
*stands up reluctantly*
Mr. Keating
Gotta get into a yawping stance.
Todd
A yawp?
Mr. Keating
No, not just a yawp. A barbaric yawp!
Todd
Yawp. (really quietly)
Mr. Keating
Louder!
Todd
Yawp. (a little louder)
Mr. Keating
Oh come on, that's a mouse. Louder!
Todd
Yawp (not louder at all)
Mr. Keating
Oh good god, boy, yell like a ma-!
Todd
Yawp!!!
Mr. Keating
There it is. You see? You have a barbarian in you after all.
Todd
*Sits back down*
Mr. Keating
You don't get away that easy. There's a picture of uncle walt up there *points to
picture above board* What does he remind you of? Don't think, just answer.
Todd
A madman.
Mr. Keating
What kind of madman? Don't think about it, just answer.
Todd
A- a crazy madman.
Mr. Keating
No, you can do better than that. Let your imagination run wild. Say the first thing that
pops into your mind even if it is total gibberish. *starts circling Todd*
Todd
A- a sweaty-toothed madman!
Mr. Keating
Good god boy, there is a poet in you after all! There, close your eyes, close your eyes.
Come on close them. *puts hands before Todds eyes* Now, describe what you see.
Todd
Uhh... I close my eyes...
Mr. Keating
Yes?
Todd
Uh, and his image floats besides me.
Mr.Keating
A sweaty-toothed madman.
Todd
A sweaty-toothed madman with a stare that pounds my brain.
Mr. Keating
Oh that's excellent. Now give him action, make him do something!
Todd
His hands reach out and choke me.
Mr. Keating
That is wonderful. Wonderful! *gets hand of eyes*
Todd
And all the time he's mumbling.
Mr. Keating
What's he mumbling?
Todd
Mumbling... Truth.
Mr. Keating
Yes!
Todd
Truth, like a blanket that always leaves your feet cold.
All (except Neil)
*chuckle*
Mr. Keating
*closes Todd's eyes again* Forget them! Forget them. Stay with the blanket. Tell me
about that blanket.
Todd
Y-you push it you stretch it-
Mr. Keating
*Squats down and reaches his heart with his hand, looking in awe at Todd*
Todd
It'll never be enough. You kick at it, you beat it! It'll never cover any of us. From the
moment we enter crying to the moment we leave dying, it'll just cover your face as
you wail and cry and scream. *Opens eyes*
All
...*Applause*
Mr. Keating
*Grabs Todd by the neck* Don't you forget this, boy.