How well do you know "Dead Poets Society"? Quiz

Answer: Robin Williams

The role of Mr Keating was actually intended for Dustin Hoffman, who was also supposed to direct the movie before he withdrew his interest. Robin Williams was interested in playing the part so that he could portray the kind of teacher he always wished he had.

Answer: Oh Captain, My Captain

"Oh Captain, My Captain" is the name of a poem written by Walt Whitman. After this introductory scene with their new teacher, the boys find an old yearbook and learn that Mr Keating was in a club called the "Dead Poets Society" and they decide to start their own "DPS" club where they meet in a cave near the school at night, write and read poetry, play music and talk about life.

Answer: Chris

Knox tries everything in his bag of tricks to get Chris to go out with him, including showing up at her school, giving her flowers and reciting a poem he'd written for her. She is initially embarrassed and angry and then shows up at his school to tell him off, but he again asks her out and eventually she agrees and he gets a date with his dream girl.

Answer: A Midsummer Nights Dream

Student Neil Perry desperately wants to act but his extremely strict father forbids it. Neil decides to follow his heart and his dream, trying out for the play and succeeding in getting the part of Puck. He delivers a fantastic performance however when his father finds out what he did, he is threatened with removal from the school and learns he will be sent to military school instead. Neil cannot accept this decision or this future and commits suicide.

His father ends up blaming Mr Keating and terrible consequences follow for him and many of the boys.

Answer: He does not do the assignment.

This leads to one of the best scenes in the movie in my opinion. Mr Keating forces the painfully shy Todd partially out of his shell by getting him up out of his chair, yelling, and speaking without thinking. Todd ends up using beautiful poetic language to describe Walt Whitman. He is applauded by his class and it is a pivotal moment in his young life.

Answer: Charlie Dalton

Charlie Dalton is the true rebel of the class. During this scene, Mr Keating tells the boys how important it is to stick to your own beliefs but how difficult that can actually be in face of adversity and pressure from others. He asks the boys to find their own walk around a courtyard. Charlie Dalton hangs back, declaring that he is exercising his right not to participate.

He takes the lessons of living poetically and passionately to heart and insists his classmates call him "Nuwanda" and ends up in deep trouble when he fakes a phone call to the school from God, insisting that girls be allowed at the strict all boys private school.

Answer: Carpe Diem

"Carpe diem" means seizing opportunities and not giving up and is by far one of the most famous quotes in the film and influences many of the decisions the boys make. For instance, Knox Overstreet pursues a girl that he meets and through his persistence ends up on a date with her. Neil Perry pursued his dream of acting and played the part of Puck in "A Midsummer Nights Dream" and Todd Anderson overcame severe shyness to stand up for what he felt was right.

The theme of seizing the day is seen throughout the movie and the choices of the students.

Answer: He is fired.

Neil lied to Mr Keating and told him his father allowed him to participate in the play however this was not the case. Neil committed suicide as he could not stand the thought that he would have to live a life that would not make him truly happy. The day after his suicide, one of the boys told the Headmaster about the secret "Dead Poet Society" meetings that have been taking place at night and a series of interrogations of the boys ensued. Mr Keating is blamed for everything and ends up being fired.

Answer: Richard Cameron

Richard Cameron decided to tell the Headmaster about the "DPS" so that he could avoid punishment. When he tells the other boys what he did, Charlie Dalton punches him in the face and is expelled.

Cameron's actions help to put the blame entirely on Mr Keating as the boys are one by one brought in front of the Headmaster and pressured into signing a document saying that Neil's death and their behaviour was Mr Keating's fault.

Answer: Todd Anderson

It is tough to watch this scene without tearing up! As the fired Mr Keating is gathering up his belongings, the boys are in class being taught poetry by the headmaster. Mr Keating walks through the class and is almost out the door when Todd speaks up to tell him that it wasn't his fault and the boys were forced to sign the paper. He is told to be quiet by the headmaster but he decides to overcome his fear and his shyness and stands up on his desk and says "Oh Captain, My Captain" as a way to say thank you to his teacher. He is followed by several boys in the class and Mr Keating smiles and says thank you in return.

After Robin Williams death in 2014 there was an outpouring of grief and tributes to him online, with many people referring to him as "Oh Captain, My Captain". His portrayal of the inspiring and rebellious English teacher who showed his students that they can follow their dreams and forge their own future resonated with so many people.