Elements of Fiction

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Elements of Fiction

• Focus Questions for Dead Poets Society

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Symbolism
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Symbolism

• A symbol has meaning in itself, but stands for
  something else. However, a symbol is not what it
  symbolizes.
• For example, a dove is a bird, but when used as a
  symbol it represents peace. If the dove dies,
  peace does not die.

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Focus Questions

• What does the candle symbolize?
• What are the four pillars?
• Who are the boys names that are attending Welton?

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Elements of Fiction

• What does Carpe Diem mean?
• How does Mr. Keatings initial lesson with the
  boys represent a transcendentalist perspective?

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Focus Questions

• What does the candle symbolize in the beginning
  of the movie?
• What do the four pillars symbolize?
• Whats the purpose of Mr. Keatings opening
  activity in class?

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Focus Questions

• How does Mr. Keatings response to the Pritchard
  Chart on Poetry reflect transcendental beliefs?
• Who seems to be most affected by Mr. Keatings
  explanation of how the powerful play goes on..?
• How does Mr. Keating subtly inspire the boys to
  create their own Dead Poets Society?

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Focus Questions

• What were the original Dead Poets dedicated to?
• Who left the poetry book for Neil to find?
• What is the Traditional Opening of the Dead
  Poets Society, and by whom was it written?
• Who seems to be most resistant to expressing
  himself and whom seems to be most eager?

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Focus Questions

• What is Keatings explanation for the creation of
  poetry?
• Why does Mr. Keating have the boys look at his
  classroom from the top of his desk?
• What does Mr. Keating want the boys to consider
  when reading a book?

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Focus Questions

• How is Neils decision to try out for the play a
  clear example of Carpe Diem and its underlying
  transcendentalist meaning?
• How are the boys starting to embrace
  transcendentalist beliefs?

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Focus Questions

• Who is the protagonist in the story?
• What is the main conflict of the story?
• What are a few of the major themes?
• What is type of conflict is the main conflict?
• Character v. Character
• Character v. society
• Character v. nature
• Character v. self

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Focus Questions

• What is the deeper meaning of sucking the marrow
  out of life?
• What words did Mr. Perry say to Neal come back to
  haunt him?
• Which three boys best represent carpe diem?

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I went to the woods to live deliberately, to
front only the essential facts of life, and see
if I could not learn what it had to teach and
not, when I came to die, discover that I had not
lived.
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I did not wish to live what was not life, living
is so dear nor did I wish to practice
resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I
wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow
of life.
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Foreshadowing

• Foreshadowing occurs when something occurs within
  the plot that predicts future events.
• Focus Question
• Predict which events are foreshadowed in the
  story as it relates to the boys?

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Elements of Fiction

• Plot The Storyline
• Theme Main idea or moral of story
• Setting Where, when, why (context)
• Characterization
• Protagonist Main Character
• Antagonist Causes conflict for the protagonist