Worksheet Dead Poets Society chapter 5

Dead Poets Society

Chapter 5

“That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse”

1. Find the equivalent (tilsvarende) word in Danish for the following:

Physical Education	Gymnastik
Edge	Kant
Study Group	Studiegruppe
Astonishment	Forbavselse

2. Questions:

Who are the Danburrys?

- The Danburrys are Knox Overstreets father’s friends. The family is rich.

How is Physical Education at Welton in comparison to Denmark?

- Here in Denmark the physical education is more relaxed then at Welton. In Welton is it hard and strict. They expect more for the students and therefore they push them harder.

What is “A Midsummer Night´s Dream”?

It is a role-play written by Shakespeare. Written between 1590 – 1597.

3. Expressions:

Find an equivalent expression in Danish to describe the following:

“A penny for your thoughts”

Må jeg høre dine tanker/hvad tænker du på.

It means when you are interesting to know somebodies thoughts.

4. Poetry:

- Make a graph that shows J. Evan Pritchard´s measures for understanding and vaulting poetry

 - Why is it rubbish according to Mr. Keating?

It is rubbish because you cannot measure poems like that. It is wrong after his opinion. It is to simple.

- What is your opinion on the poem on page 41, “O me! O life!” by Walt Whitman.

“O me! O life! Of the questions of these recurring,

Of the endless trains of the faithless,

of cities fill’d with the foolish, …

What good amid 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 a verse.”

You can read the poem in its full length here: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/182088

The poem is about individuality. It is you that make your identity and life. The verse is your life.