Comedy is used throughout the History Boys by Bennett via several main techniques such as parody, contrasting characters and their clever juxtapositions within the plot, intelligent metaphors, bathos and many more. Within Hector’s French lesson, the juxtaposition of Hector’s character immediately contrasts that of the headmasters greatly as soon as he walks in. Hector’s eccentricity and liberal character contrasted with Felix’s strict adherence to rules, regulations and formality with Hector interrupting Felix’s dialogue “Mr Hector, I hope I’m not. . .” (using the verb “hope” to show a formal register) with the informal gesture that is what Bennett describes as “an admonitory finger.” The use of the adjective “admonitory” there comically reverses the power balance between the two characters, with Hector playfully showing that he has authority in his lessons, much to the dismay of the headmaster who feels both humiliated and challenged enough to try and speak French.
The class then promptly settle down and it is clear that the class loves him by the cohesiveness of their interaction. The quick change of lesson tone shows that while Hector is a figure of fun he does have a serious side and does want to teach them. He is shown to be knowledgeable, using the word “otiose” and making a point in having Posner define it to the class, and being able to quote scholars such as A. E. Housman in conversation which he uses to test the class. This scene shows that Hector is very intelligent and serves to aid the comedy though the interactions of him and the boys. It is not and expected way for teachers and students to interact: students removing their teachers motorcycling clothes each item with an elaborate flourish, naming each item in, and exclusively speaking, fluent French it does easily set up his character as a very well-read and learned individual.
Alan Bennett centers the comedy in the play ‘The History Boys’ by revolving the plot on the opposition of two main characters, Hector and Irwin. Hector and Irwin are both teachers of the sixth form boys. Alan Bennett intentionally creates this opposition from physical appearance to teaching methods and the moral rights of life. Alan Bennett structures the plot so that the audience are able to constantly see the comparisons between the two characters actions when it comes to dilemmas and morality. Alan Bennett focuses on making differences in characteristics and physical appearance clearly visible throughout the play.
12. “Tragicomedies tend to fall into two main categories; those in which a potentially tragic series of events is resolved happily and those in which the comedy has dark or bitter overtones.” To what extent can The History Boys be seen as a tragicomedy? 13. "The comedy in The History Boys by Alan Bennett centres around the opposition created between the two teachers Irwin and Hector." What use does Bennett make of this opposition?
When we are seeing films, we are enjoying life at the same time. The Dead Poets society is different from the American films we are farmilar with. It depicts a moving story which centers on the conflicts between several schoolboys led by their teacher of Literature, Mr Kidding and the authority of the school. Mr. Kidding tries his every means, most of which are strange, unusual but practical and effective, to inspire his students to make out what on
The History Boys: Hector and Irwin Up to page twenty nine of the play Bennett gives the audience a fairly clear perception of the characters Hector and Irwin. On one hand we have Hector, the general studies teacher to the boys, who is a particularly eccentric man, that has an already close and established relationship with the boys. Whilst on the other hand, we have Irwin, a young man that has graduated from Oxford and is fairly inexperienced in the field of teaching, but has been drafted in to help the boys try and obtain their dream of getting into Oxford. Bennett has presented these men to be somewhat well matched intellectual adversaries for one another, in order to show their inevitable rivalry. Bennett shows both men to crave the boys’ approval, but for different reasons.
My Captain!” In his class, he is making unusual works for his students in teaching them. An example of which is he ask the students stand on his desk in order to look at the world in a different way. In another class Keating has Neil read the introduction to their poetry textbook, prescribing a mathematical formula to rate the quality of poetry which Keating finds ridiculous, and he instructs his students to rip the introduction out of their books. Inspired by Keating, the secretly revive the school literary club named Dead Poets Society. Neil wants to be an actor but even though he knows that his father will disapprove he still continued to the audition that is held on his school for a play.
Dead Poets Society At the welcoming ceremony for new students, Mr Nowlan is introduced and explains the principals of the Welton academy ( a school only for boys), which are tradition, excellence, discipline and honour. Mr John Keating who has been a student on the school, is introduced too. He is a English teacher, who has his own conception of teaching. He is inspired by values like passion, imagination, beauty, language and love which he integrates in his classes. His slogan is “Carpe Diem”, which means “seize the day”, therefore he wants his students to think of their own life, choices and become individual persons.
April 2013 “Stand And Deliver” Film Essay. To prejudge a group of people as a stereotype can negatively limit the group or individuals being stereotyped. It can be worst when that group of people believe the stereotype and begin to limit themselves. In the film Stand and Deliver, the math teacher Jaime Escalante encourages his students beyond the negative perceptions that society has placed against them. His encouragement and belief in his students shows the difference a wise educator can have on a student’s life.
In the film The Dead Poets Society, directed by Peter Weir, the behaviour of one character, Mr Keating, has made an impact on the film by conveying key themes such as non-conformism and promoting critical thinking. It depicts a story of a young teacher Mr Keating and his endeavour to help the students of his English class at Welton Academy, to think for them-selves and not to follow conformism. His behaviour and the reaction of the students show the controversial nature of conformity. He has his own way of teaching his students to strive to find their own voice. Mr Keating demonstrates to his class how easily it is to conform to something.