The novelization (by N. H. Kleinbaum) and the original screenplay (by Tom Schulman) are pretty similar as far as the content goes. It appears as if the novelization was based on this version of the screenplay (revised third draft, September 29th, 1988) or something close to it. If you have the option of reading the script or the novelization, please read the script. Neither of them can hold a candle to the final film, but the novelization is very poorly written. This scares me considering the fact that the novelization is now part of the English curriculum in many US schools. (The used copy I have came from Greenfield Jr. High in Bakersfield CA.) If anything, I would use the novelization as an example of how not to write a story.

        In this draft, numerous changes were already made. (Numerous scene numbers  simply have the word "omitted" next to them in this version.) One of the first changes that Peter Weir desired was to remove the entire element of plot that had John Keating dying. Weir felt that it was an unnecessary element that actually took away from Keating's teachings since it was suddenly obvious why Keating would want to seize the day.

        What follows is a brief run through the script, pointing out the various differences between the words on the page and the images on the screen.

• During the opening ceremonies, Mr. Nolan asks each of the banner carriers to define what their "pillar" means. Cameron describes tradition, another boy describes honor, Knox describes discipline, and Neil describes excellence.
• Mr. Keating is not mentioned during the ceremony. Instead, Neil's father asks Mr. Nolan about the new Junior English teacher. Mr. Nolan takes Mr. Perry off to meet Keating.
• Before classes begin, the boys go to Mr. Nolan's office to discuss extra-curricular activities. This was filmed but cut out and can be found in the extra scenes section.
• When Neil and Todd first meet, Todd clears up the question as to why he did not attend Welton initially: "My parents wanted me here all along but my grades weren't good enough. I had to go to Balincrest to pull them up."
• Cameron's "looks like a stiff!" line is replaced by "He's a hell of a speaker, huh?"
• After Neil's father insists he drop the school annual, Neil returns to his room, rips off one of his achievement pins, and throws it. Afterwards he picks it up and drives the point into his thumb, drawing blood. A sign of things to come.
• When the students first enter Keating's classroom, Keating is at the front of the room, staring out the window. After the students get restless in their seats, Keating strolls up the aisles. He stops and stares into various boys' faces saying "uh huh, uh huh, ha! Nimble young minds!" He then leads them off to the honor room.
• There is no scene of Knox meeting Chris at the door when he goes to the Danburry's place. He first sees her when she enters the room with Chet, who wants to drive Chris home in the station wagon instead of his sports car. (see extra scenes section)
• Instead of the "excellent" essay on understanding poetry by J. Evans Pritchard, PhD, we get a poem, entitled "Little Boy Blue" - by Eugene Field:

The little toy dog is covered with dust, But sturdy and staunch he stands. And the little toy soldier is red with rust, And his musket moulds in his hands; Time was when the little toy dog was new, and the soldier was passing fair; And that was the time when our Little Boy Blue, kissed them and put them there. 'Now don't go till I come,' he said, 'And don't you make any noise!' So toddling off to his trundle bed He dreampt of pretty toys; And as he was dreaming, an angel song, Awakened our Little Boy Blue-- Oh the years are many, the years are long, But the little toy friends are true. Ay faithful to Little Boy Blue they stand, Each in the same old place-- Awaiting the touch of a little hand, The smile of a little face. And they wonder, as waiting the long years thru, In the dust of that little chair, What has become of our Little Boy Blue, Since he kissed them and put them there.

After dramatically reading the poem, nearly reducing his students to tears, Keating yells and calls the poem "Mawkish treacle" and demands that the boys rip out the page, wanting them to put that "sentimental rubbish in the trash where it belongs".
 

• When Keating and McAllister are talking in the dining room, Keating has no response to "Show me the heart unfettered by foolish dreams and I'll show you a happy man." The "twas always thus and always thus will be" line in the film was written on the spur of the moment by one of the crew members.
• When asked about the Dead Poets Society, Keating explains that becoming a full member of the society "required a lifetime of apprenticeship. The living were simply pledges. Alas, even I am still a lowly initiate."
• Instead of "Five Centuries of Verse", the book Neil finds in his room is Thoreau's Walden.
• When Neil begins reading from the book at the cave, instead of having the edited version of Thoreau's "I went to the woods" lines in the book, he simply skips through it himself on the spot, choosing the most interesting lines. Then the other boys begin reading excerpts from the book.
• Knox reads: "The millions are awake for physical labor; but only one in a million is awake enough for effective intellectual exertion, only one in a hundred millions to a poetic or divine life. To be awake is to be alive."
• Cameron reads: "If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours."
• Meeks: "If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost. That is where they should be. Now put foundations under them."
• Charlie opens a book of his own and begins reading: "Out of the night that covers me, Black as the Pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be for my unconquerable soul!" After this, he exclaims "I here and now commit myself to daring!"
• After his speech about how language was designed simply to woo women, Keating reads a quote he had written on the board:

At this point he leaps onto his desk.
• After Neil tells Todd about the play and they argue, there is no scene with Neil stealing Todd's poetry and everyone racing around the room with it.
• Just before the first soccer practice, the boys are back at the cave. Knox is talking about how he wants to "suck all the marrow out of Chris". Charlie gets upset that he has never been alive. Neil desires acting, Knox desires Chris, but he has nothing. Meeks tells Charlie that the romantics were passionate experimenters, dabbling in many things before settling, if ever. Charlie then declares the cave to be the "Charlie Dalton Cave for Passionate Experimentation" and that in the future everyone else needs permission to enter it. "Carpe cavem", he says.
• Neil skips the first soccer practice to go to the tryouts for the play. Keating does roll call:

• Additional scenes of Neil and Ginny Danburry practicing the play.
• When Neil finds Todd celebrating his birthday alone with his new deskset, they don't toss the deskset over the edge. Instead, Todd tells Neil how much he is worth.

• When Knox enters the party, "Open the Door to Your Heart" by Darrell Banks is playing.
• When Charlie brings the girls to the cave, the boys all go out to gather wood for a fire.

• Charlie tells everyone about putting the article in the school paper before wooing the girls with borrowed poetry.
• During the party at Chet's place, "This Magic Moment" by The Drifters is playing. Knox sits down on the couch only to discover Chet and Chris half making out next to him. He utters the lovely phrase "Carpe breastum" and things just go downhill dramatically from there.
• Back at the cave, Charlie wants to be alone with Gloria so he suggests that the rest of the boys show Tina the "Dead Poets garden". Just when Charlie is about to get amorous, Gloria tells him how Charlie's the only guy who hasn't wanted her for her body. Then she asks him to make up some more poetry for her. A frustrated Charlie tries remembering more classic poems.
• After the "phone call from God" line, Nolan strides down to Charlie and knocks the phone away from him, saying "I will not be mocked, Mr. Dalton!"
• After Nolan has a talk with Keating, McAllister rejoins Keating.

• Keating gives his students important lessons about College.

• Immediately afterwards, Neil and Todd are going over lines outdoors with Neil urging Todd to join the play and put more energy into his line readings. This scene can be found in the extra scenes section. The only difference here is that it was not set down by the water. Neil's father is waiting inside his room as soon as Neil returns.
• Meanwhile, down in the dinner hall the boys are all trying to eat their food with their left hands. This scene can be found in the extra scenes section.
• While the boys are still eating (all reverting to their left hands again after Hager leaves) Neil arrives and then Charlie convinces him to go talk to Mr. Keating. They go to Keating's office and after no one responds to knocking on the door, Charlie barges in. He quickly notices a picture of Keating's wife (girlfriend?) on his desk and proceeds to read aloud a half written letter:

His reading is interrupted by Keating's return. Keating casually takes the letter from Charlie, saying "A woman is a cathedral, boys. Worship at one every chance you get." He then opens a drawer and asks Charlie if there is anything else he wants to rifle through. The boys leave and allow Neil to have his talk with Mr. Keating.
• The "I'm trapped" - "No you're not." lines are not in the screenplay.
• An additional scene at the cave where Knox decides he will read his poem to Chris. Meanwhile, Todd is working on a poem but won't admit it.
• At Ridgeway High, Knox recites his entire poem to Chris:

He then place the poem and flowers on her desk and says "I love you, Chris."
• Instead of speaking with Neil after class, Keating arrives at class and takes Neil out to the hallway to ask him how the talk with his father went.
• The extra scene with Keating playing classical music to his students in class is not in the script.
• During the play, the boys in the audience notice Mr. Perry's entrance before Neil does.
• Charlie takes an immediate interest in Ginny Danburry (Chet's sister) who plays Hermia in the play.
• After the play, the boys (minus Neil) return to the cave. Cameron is conspicuously missing. Knox brings Chris and Charlie brings Ginny. Then Mr. Keating himself arrives at the cave, thanking Charlie for inviting him. Someone brought wine and they all raise their glasses in a toast to Neil.

• The scene with Keating and the boys continues, interspersed with Neil's final scenes.

• When Todd learns of Neil's death, he runs to the bathroom instead of outside into the snow.
• After Charlie decks Cameron, there is a scene at the cemetary for Neil's burial. After everyone places flowers on the coffin, Mr. Perry walks up to Mr. Keating and says "I hold you responsible for this!"
• Todd refuses to sign the paper that implicates Mr. Keating in Neil's death.

And that is the bulk of it. I'd be very interested to hear people's thoughts regarding the various differences. Also, if anyone out there has other drafts of the script I would love to hear of any further changes. Just drop me a