At New England boys boarding school Welton Academy, tradition is celebrated and high achievement is expected. When former Welton student and new English teacher John Keating encourages students to 'make their lives extraordinary' with his unorthodox teaching methods, he shakes up the stuffy preperatory school's high-pressure environment and guides his pupils on a journey of self-discovery. Inspired by Keating, high school junior Todd Anderson and friends resurrect the Dead Poets Society a secret club where, free from the constraints and expectations of school and parents, they let their passions run wild. But the Dead Poets pledges soon realize that their newfound freedom can have tragic consequences. Can the club and the individuality it inspires survive the pressure from authorities determined to destroy their dreams?