Name:_____________________________
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Dead Poets Society Quiz
1. Welton Academy was an all-male preparatory school that graduated
how many students in its first year?
A) 6
B) 37
C) 75
D) 5
2. The four pillars of Welton Academy are: Tradition. Honor. Discipline.
And what?
A) Excellence.
B) Travesty.
C) Horror.
D) Excrement.
3. It was school as usual, until Mr. Keating’s class. This was where they
read poetry in the foyer and Mr. Keating expressed to them, “Carpe Diem!”
This means what?
A) “Be in a hurry!”
B) “Seize the day!”
C) “Stop trying!”
D) All of the above.
4. Mr. Keating had student Neil Perry read the introduction to their
poetry textbooks during his class and then ordered all of the boys
to do what?
A) Run a lap around the school.
B) Highlight all the pages containing the introduction.
C) Rip out the entire introduction.
D) None of the above.
5. “Excrement,” Mr. Keating said. “That’s what I think of Mr. J.
Evans Pritchard. We’re not laying pipe. We’re talking about
poetry.” Why did he say this?
A) Because others have said there is a formula to creating poetry and
fail to experience some of the benefits of poems which are “to savor words
and language.”
B) Because poetry expresses “words and ideas that can change the
world.”
C) Because particular poems can influence societies and cultures, not
merely expressing science, but explaining the human condition.
D) All of the above.
6. (Complete the sentence) Mr. Keating goes on to say, “That the
powerful play goes on, and you may contribute…” What?
A) “…a verse.”
B) “…a dollar.”
C) “…nothing.”
D) All of the above.
7. Some of his students found an old senior annual (year book)
with Mr. Keating’s picture in it. He was voted, “Most likely to do
anything,” and was a member of what club?
A) Dead Poets Society.
B) Study Group Club.
C) Higher Learning Society.
D) None of the above.
8. (Complete the sentence) Mr. Keating spoke, “Boys you must
strive to find your own voice. Because the longer you wait to begin,
the less likely you are to...” What?
A) “…succeed.”
B) “…find it at all.”
C) “…sing in a church choir.”
D) All of the above.
9. Neil becomes inspired and tries out for the play, “A Midsummer
Night’s Dream.” He gets one of the main roles, but he still had to
ask his father for permission. What does his father say?
A) “Don’t you dare talk back to me.”
B) “It’s bad enough, that you have wasted your time with this, this
absurd acting business.”
C) “Now, tomorrow, you go to them and tell them that you’re quitting.”
D) All of the above.
10. Charlie published an article about “Dead Poets Society” in the
school newspaper (Welton Honor). How did the school respond?
A) The headmaster shook Charlie’s hand and thanked him.
B) All of the students laughed when they heard Charlie’s response to the
headmaster’s announcement.
C) The headmaster severely spanked Charlie and told him to name all
the members of Dead Poets Society and apologize to the school or be
expelled.
D) Both B and C.
11.“Tradition, John. Discipline,” the headmaster spoke to Mr.
Keating. What was one of John Keating’s main reasons for
teaching?
A) To be lazy and do nothing.
B) To prepare his students for life, by educating them to think for
themselves.
C) To correct papers and not enjoy any free time.
D) None of the above.
12. Neil wants so badly to be in the play but cannot find a way
because of his father. “I’m trapped,” Neil confesses to Mr. Keating.
What was Mr. Keating’s response?
A) “No, you’re not.”
B) “You’re playing the part of the dutiful son. I know this sounds
impossible but you have to talk to him.”
C) “Sorry, I can’t help you.”
D) Both A and B.
13. After performing in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and receiving
a standing ovation, Neil returned home with his father who
chastised him for participating in theater. Later that night, Neil
committed suicide. Who does the school ultimately blame for this?
A) Mr. Keating
B) Todd Anderson
C) Neil Perry
D) None of the above.
14. As Mr. Keating is gathering his personal affects from his
classroom, all of his boys defy the headmaster and climb on top
their desks to say goodbye, “Captain, my captain!” as Mr. Keating
responded:
A) “Good riddance!”
B) “Thank you, boys. Thank you.”
C) “Bye, bye.”
D) None of the above.
Essay questions
1) What do you feel the important aspects of open and honest
communication between family, friends and other members of society are?
And, how much of an impact, do you think, language has on a person’s
emotions?
2. Suicide is very tragic and leaves a lot of unanswered questions.
Please explain why suicide is permanent, not solving an otherwise
solvable, temporary problem(s).
Answer Key: Dead Poets Society Quiz
1. Welton Academy was an all-male preparatory school that graduated
how many students in its first year?
A) 6
B) 37
C) 75
D) 5
2. The four pillars of Welton Academy are: Tradition. Honor. Discipline.
And what?
A) Excellence.
B) Travesty.
C) Horror.
D) Excrement.
3. It was school as usual, until Mr. Keating’s class. This was where they
read poetry in the foyer and Mr. Keating expressed to them, “Carpe Diem!”
This means what?
A) “Be in a hurry!”
B) “Seize the day!”
C) “Stop trying!”
D) All of the above.
4. Mr. Keating had student Neil Perry read the introduction to their
poetry textbooks during his class and then ordered all of the boys to do
what?
A) Run a lap around the school.
B) Highlight all the pages containing the introduction.
C) Rip out the entire introduction.
D) None of the above.
5. “Excrement,” Mr. Keating said. “That’s what I think of Mr. J. Evans
Pritchard. We’re not laying pipe. We’re talking about poetry.” Why did he
say this?
A) Because others have said there is a formula to creating poetry and
fail to experience some of the benefits of poems which are “to savor words
and language.”
B) Because poetry expresses “words and ideas that can change the
world.”
C) Because particular poems can influence societies and cultures, not
merely expressing science, but explaining the human condition.
D) All of the above.
6. (Complete the sentence) Mr. Keating goes on to say, “That the
powerful play goes on, and you may contribute…” What?
A) “…a verse.”
B) “…a dollar.”
C) “…nothing.”
D) All of the above.
7. Some of his students found an old senior annual (year book) with Mr.
Keating’s picture in it. He was voted, “Most likely to do anything,” and was a
member of what club?
A) Dead Poets Society.
B) Study Group Club.
C) Higher Learning Society.
D) None of the above.
8. (Complete the sentence) Mr. Keating spoke, “Boys you must strive to
find your own voice. Because the longer you wait to begin, the less likely
you are to...” What?
A) “…succeed.”
B) “…find it at all.”
C) “…sing in a church choir.”
D) All of the above.
9. Neil becomes inspired and tries out for the play, “A Midsummer
Night’s Dream.” He gets one of the main roles, but he still had to ask his
father for permission. What does his father say?
A) “Don’t you dare talk back to me.”
B) “It’s bad enough, that you have wasted your time with this, this
absurd acting business.”
C) “Now, tomorrow, you go to them and tell them that you’re quitting.”
D) All of the above.
10. Charlie published an article about “Dead Poets Society” in the school
newspaper (Welton Honor). How did the school respond?
A) The headmaster shook Charlie’s hand and thanked him.
B) All of the students laughed when they heard Charlie’s response to the
headmaster’s announcement.
C) The headmaster severely spanked Charlie and told him to name all
the members of Dead Poets Society and apologize to the school or be
expelled.
D) Both B and C.
11. “Tradition, John. Discipline,” the headmaster spoke to Mr. Keating.
What was one of John Keating’s main reasons for teaching?
A) To be lazy and do nothing.
B) To prepare his students for life, by educating them to think for
themselves.
C) To correct papers and not enjoy any free time.
D) None of the above.
12. Neil wants so badly to be in the play but cannot find a way because of
his father. “I’m trapped,” Neil confesses to Mr. Keating. What was Mr.
Keating’s response?
A) “No, you’re not.”
B) “You’re playing the part of the dutiful son. I know this sounds
impossible but you have to talk to him.”
C) “Sorry, I can’t help you.”
D) Both A and B.
13. After performing in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and receiving a
standing ovation, Neil returned home with his father who chastised him for
participating in theater. Later that night, Neil committed suicide. Who does
the school ultimately blame for this?
A) Mr. Keating
B) Todd Anderson
C) Neil Perry
D) None of the above.
14. As Mr. Keating is gathering his personal effects from his classroom, all
of his boys defy the headmaster and climb on top their desks to say
goodbye, “Captain, my captain!” as Mr. Keating responded:
A) “Good riddance!”
B) “Thank you, boys. Thank you.”
C) “Bye, bye.”
D) None of the above.
Essay questions
1) What do you feel the important aspects of open and honest
communication between family, friends and other members of society are?
And, how much of an impact, do you think, language has on a person’s
emotions? (Answers will vary)
2. Suicide is very tragic and leaves a lot of unanswered questions.
Please explain why suicide is permanent, not solving an otherwise
solvable, temporary problem(s).
(Answers will vary.)
