"No poet, no artist of any art, has complete meaning alone. His significance, his appreciation, is the appreciation of his relation to the dead poets and artists. You cannot value him alone; you must set him, for contrast and comparison, among the dead."
-from Eliot's "Tradition and the Individual Talent"
T.S. Eliot means that an artist in any discipline of the arts cannot make everything they are doing, knowing or unknowingly they take inspiration from other artists. This means that no one is entirely original anymore because we already have determined the identity of our arts by the influence of those who have been long dead. This quote is significant to the movie's theme and title because the title, The Dead Poets Society, implies the reveling in past works of dead poets which in tern inspires those who listen and read it which is the theme of the movie.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Trevin, I think that what T.S. Eliot means is that no matter what art your profession is, you take your inspiration from someone else. No matter what. Nothing is truly your own, because with out knowing it, or maybe on purpose, you take your ideas from someone/something else. The quote is significant because the movies tittle is "The Dead Poets Society", and the poem talks about the works of dead poets, and the significance of their work. It also relates to the book because Eliot is telling people to listen and to look, which is what John Keating wants the boys in his class to learn how to do.
ReplyDeleteI think that T.S.Elliot means that in the public's eyes, an artist of any art form is only great when compared to artists from the past. People will think that someone is a great artist, but the only way they can actually prove this is if they compare that artist to another previous artist that was brilliant with their chosen art form, or very poor in their skills (so that this new artist can be called "better" then the other artist). This quote relates to the movie because a poet is only great when he is compared to another better or worse poet. The teacher wants them all to be great poets and to learn from the past poets so they can be better themselves. The title relates to the quote because it is called the "Dead Poets Society" and the group of boys who have joined the society are learning about past poets. Also, the theme of the story is how the poems they read will motivate them to learn more about the poets of the past.
ReplyDeleteI think that T.S. Elliot means that all art or poetry has been in some way inspired by the dead poets or artist that have made already made their work and people have taken years to admire. Also, this poem means that all poets and artists don't have any meaning besides appreciating the relation between the artist or poets. It also means that no work of art is truly original because it was in some way inspired by another artist or poet. This poet has to do with the movies title because it's title is "The Dead Poets Society," and in the poem it talks about how dead poets and artists influence the poets and artists today. Also, in the movie, the boys set off for the dead poets society by going to the cave.
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting quote from T.S. Eliot. I think means that no poet or other artist of any kind has their own significance, but their significance comes from the recognition of his or her's connection to the former poets and artists. In other words, poets and artists cannot be looked at alone, but they must be compared and be set side by side with the dead poets and artists. This quote has to do with the movie's title because the title of the movie is "Dead Poets Society," and this quote talks about the dead poets. This quote is related to the themes of the movie because in the movie, Mr. Keating always refers to dead poets and their great works of poetry to teach the boys about writing poetry and life.
ReplyDeleteI think T.S. Elliot means that no artist or poet has completely originated his/her work, that he/she has been inspired by a past poet or artist even if they were influenced subconsciously. This quote has to do with the movie's themes and it's title because the movie is called, "The Dead Poets Society" about a group of boys joining a society to learn and be motivated by past poets' work. This shows that they are being inspired to write their own poetry based on what they have studied and read over past poets' work.
ReplyDeleteI think what T.S. Elliot meant by saying this is that any poet or artist has created his work alone. They use their relation to dead art and create their own work from that of what they have seen and read. Also, all work of art has to be compared to that of the work of dead and that its significance is related to past work. This quote is significant to and relates to "The Dead Poets Society" because the movie is about a group of boys who gather at night to read and learn about past poets work and use the work of dead to create their own poetry. The poetry of past writers has inspired these boys to learn and live by it and understand it. Which is what this quote explains.
ReplyDeleteIn order for poetry to be truly powerful, it must be able to contect themes of the past, present and future in order to make the piece timeless. Agreeing with the themes of past artists, presenting a different point than old artists, or disagreeing with other past people is all a way of getting the reader interested. It is important to be informed of modern literature in order to know what the common message is, that way the author can offer a twist on that point of view. Also, by building on to the work of those before us, we keep their poetry alive through our own work. The greatness of past poetry and art can remain present by adapting the old works into new art. This can relate to the movie because the teacher is trying to teach all of his students to not only have great respect for old poetry, but to use it in order to build on to concepts.
ReplyDeleteI think that T.S Eliot meant to look back in the past and take inspiration from people or the "dead poets". This goes along with the quote because Mr. Keating was inspired completely by the poets passed and sharing and passing down his inspiration to his students. He is hopeful that his students also succeed in poetry.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Julia in that T.S.'s quote is saying for poetry to be powerful it must be able to connect with past, present, and future themes. Good works of poetry can connect to anybody in any age, thats why they are called timeless. Poets take inspiration from the dead poets which is what the boys are doing in the movie. "The Dead Poets Society" connects with this quote because they are using the poetry of the dead as inspiration on their quest (Hero's journey) to write their own. They build on the old poetry because it's not like you were the first to ever write a poem like that, every thought is connected to the past.
ReplyDeleteWhat he's basically saying is that any modern day artist or poet, whether they know it or not, is drawing his inspiration from the past. They would never be where they are if they did not have something to reach for, something to aspire to, and most importantly something to be like. We must set their work among the dead, because from the dead their work is derived. Lady Gaga would not exist if previous pop artists had not. Previous pop artists would not exist if their inspiration had not, and so on. Nothing is completely original; we all derive some sort of influence from a previous visionary of the past. This has to do with the movie because the boys go to a very old and prestigious school, which dates back a long time. The long standing tradition of the school gives the students and the school itself something to compare themselves to. The title of the movie means two things. First, it means that true poetry has died within the school because of the lack and dislike of creativity. Secondly, it means that the creativity which does exist in the underground society the boys have created is derived from the poets and visionaries of the past. They set their work among the dead, as the dead.
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with Trevin's comment in his response to what was meant by the following quote. I would also like to add that it also means when looking back at the work of the poet, you still have to understand what the author took his inspiration from to truly understand the intention of his poem. It also is meant that people respect that the author of the poem is bot the only contributor to his work, but many before him. I think this quote relates to the movie because the Dead poets Society is from what I've watched a group of people who are inspired to write poems by the great and dead poets before them. This quote relates to the movie very well.
ReplyDeleteI think that T.S. Eliot means many different things by this quote. I have to agree with most of my other colleagues in their responses. I think that Eliot primarily means that poets, and other artists, in the more modern age, do not speak out as much, when alone. When compared and contrasted up against others, in such genres, then they stand out more significantly in society. By dead poets, in relation to the movie we are watching, I think he probably means, or is referring to past poets, and other such literate artists, that are well known for their work. When modern age artists are compared to these dead artists, then significance in their work can be better recognized.
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