I was reminded the other day of one of my all-time favorite movies that really had a LARGE impact on my life. That movie is (drum roll please) ... Dead Poets Society!
I wrote poetry at the time and boy is this movie filled with some of the best. Plus there are some fabulous quotes as well.
Here are some of my faves:
"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. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for. To quote from Whitman, "O me! O life!... of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless... of cities filled 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. That the powerful play *goes on* and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?"
"There's a time for daring and there's a time for caution, and a wise man understands which is called for."
McAllister: "Show me the heart unfettered by foolish dreams and I'll show you a happy man."
John Keating: "But only in their dreams can men be truly free. 'Twas always thus, and always thus will be."
"Excrement! That's what I think of Mr. J. Evans Pritchard! We're not laying pipe! We're talking about poetry. How can you describe poetry like American Bandstand? "I like Byron, I give him a 42 but I can't dance to it!""
"Now we all have a great need for acceptance, but you must trust that your beliefs are unique, your own, even though others may think them odd or unpopular, even though the herd may go "that's baaaaad." Robert Frost said, "Two roads diverged in the wood and I, I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.""
"I SOUND MY BARBARIC YAUP OVER THE ROOFTOPS OF THE WORLD."
"I went into the woods because I wanted to live deliberately. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life ... to put to rout all that was not life; and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived."
"When you read, don't just consider what the author thinks, consider what you think."
I'm really glad that I could share these with you. If you have not seen this movie, then I highly, highly recommend it. I mean, really. Go. Now. Yes, right now.
Dead Poets Society changed me deep in my soul. You see, if you've seen the movie, I was a lot like Todd Anderson ... and always wanted to be like Charlie Dalton or Neil Perry. I was quiet, reserved, shy, terrified of public speaking, reclusive. I didn't "suck the marrow out of life" ~ I "choked on the bone." The only way that I was really able to survive the whole high school experience was through my poetry.
I am different now. Still terrified of public speaking, but I'm not quiet, reserved, shy or reclusive anymore. I found strength within myself that I was never able to tap into, until after school. If any of you are experiencing anything like I was at that time, I suggest that you seriously watch this movie. Even though it won't fix things, I believe that it will make you feel better about yourself, about poetry and about life. If nothing else, you'll be able to admit that you've seen one of the best movies of all times!!!
I wrote poetry at the time and boy is this movie filled with some of the best. Plus there are some fabulous quotes as well.
Here are some of my faves:
"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. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for. To quote from Whitman, "O me! O life!... of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless... of cities filled 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. That the powerful play *goes on* and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?"
"There's a time for daring and there's a time for caution, and a wise man understands which is called for."
McAllister: "Show me the heart unfettered by foolish dreams and I'll show you a happy man."
John Keating: "But only in their dreams can men be truly free. 'Twas always thus, and always thus will be."
"Excrement! That's what I think of Mr. J. Evans Pritchard! We're not laying pipe! We're talking about poetry. How can you describe poetry like American Bandstand? "I like Byron, I give him a 42 but I can't dance to it!""
"Now we all have a great need for acceptance, but you must trust that your beliefs are unique, your own, even though others may think them odd or unpopular, even though the herd may go "that's baaaaad." Robert Frost said, "Two roads diverged in the wood and I, I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.""
"I SOUND MY BARBARIC YAUP OVER THE ROOFTOPS OF THE WORLD."
"I went into the woods because I wanted to live deliberately. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life ... to put to rout all that was not life; and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived."
"When you read, don't just consider what the author thinks, consider what you think."
I'm really glad that I could share these with you. If you have not seen this movie, then I highly, highly recommend it. I mean, really. Go. Now. Yes, right now.
Dead Poets Society changed me deep in my soul. You see, if you've seen the movie, I was a lot like Todd Anderson ... and always wanted to be like Charlie Dalton or Neil Perry. I was quiet, reserved, shy, terrified of public speaking, reclusive. I didn't "suck the marrow out of life" ~ I "choked on the bone." The only way that I was really able to survive the whole high school experience was through my poetry.
I am different now. Still terrified of public speaking, but I'm not quiet, reserved, shy or reclusive anymore. I found strength within myself that I was never able to tap into, until after school. If any of you are experiencing anything like I was at that time, I suggest that you seriously watch this movie. Even though it won't fix things, I believe that it will make you feel better about yourself, about poetry and about life. If nothing else, you'll be able to admit that you've seen one of the best movies of all times!!!
Lovin' you guys, although you've all moved to the other site (www.sogopro.com) which I love, don't get me wrong ... I just miss you, that's all. I go to that site every single day. The site is awesome and helpful and absolutely amazing ... just different. I'm weird. I know. Still love you and miss you!
Smiles,
Angie
It is so nice to see that I am not the only one that finds public speaking terrifying. I am reserved and very shy and I guess it takes ma while to really get to know people. Though when I do, that's pretty much it and you will be in my life forever...
ReplyDeleteLovely post, once again...
Mwah!