Knox Overstreet Character Analysis in Dead Poets Society

Knox is a thoughtful, romantic student at Welton. Over the course of the novel, he falls in love with Chris Noel, the girlfriend of a family friend’s son. Knox’s first attempts to woo Chris are disrespectful at best and assaultive at worst; he even gropes Chris at a party. Later on, Knox tries to use the poetry and eloquence he’s learned form John Keating to woo Chris, and his efforts largely pay off. As the novel ends, Knox and Chris seem to be dating and very much in love.

Knox Overstreet Character Timeline in Dead Poets Society

The timeline below shows where the character Knox Overstreet appears in Dead Poets Society. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...of graduating students went on to the Ivy League. Two students, 16-year-olds Charlie Dalton and Knox Overstreet, smile at this information—they both exemplify the classic, “preppy” Ivy League image. (full context)

...banner, to define honor—honor, Hopkins replies, is “dignity and fulfillment of duty.” Nolan calls on Knox Overstreet, carrying the “discipline” banner, ands Knox explains that discipline is “respect for parents, teachers,... (full context)

Life, Death, and “Carpe Diem” Theme Icon

It is time for the students’ parents to say goodbye to them. Charlie Dalton and Knox Overstreet’s parents hug their children affectionately, while Neil Perry’s father just stands stiffly by his... (full context)

Knox, Charlie, and Meeks greet Neil and Todd and ask Neil about taking chemistry at summer... (full context)

...the day is gym. In gym, the gym master orders everyone to jog, and compliments Knox for his excellent pace. Most of the other students sweat and gasp through the class. (full context)

At the end of the day, Knox mentions that he’s having dinner with the Danburrys, a family his father knows well—and, as... (full context)

Later that evening, Knox gets a ride from Dr. Hager to the Danburry house. Knox rings the bell, and... (full context)

While Chet bickers with his father about taking the car that night, Knox asks Chris where she goes to school. She goes to Ridgeway, where Chet is on... (full context)

Later that night, Knox returns to his dorm and immediately announces, “I just met the most beautiful girl I... (full context)

...traditional Welton meeting place. Cameron is reluctant to join, but eventually he, along with Pitts, Knox, Meeks, Charlie, agree to go there. (full context)

To begin, Knox tells the boys that he wants success in wooing Chris. To help Knox, Charlie reads... (full context)

...is a half-day. Pitts and Meeks go to work on their secret project—building a radio. Knox, meanwhile, bikes over to Ridgeway High School. When he arrives at school, he’s surprised to... (full context)

At the Dead Poets Society meeting that afternoon, Charlie, Knox, Meeks, Cameron, Todd, and Pitts go to the cave and read from Henry David Thoreau’s... (full context)

In his next class, Mr. Keating invites the students to present their poems. Knox reads a romantic poem about Chris, but is unable to finish it—he’s too embarrassed. Keating... (full context)

...calls, “Poetrusic.” He plays very well—his parents made him take clarinet lessons, he explains. Suddenly, Knox bursts out, “If I don’t have Chris, I’ll kill myself!” He walks briskly out of... (full context)

Knox hangs up the phone triumphantly and tells his friends that he’s going to Chris and... (full context)

That night, the Dead Poets meet in the cave (though Knox is going to Chris’s party). Charlie has brought two girls, Tina and Gloria, and carries... (full context)

Meanwhile, Knox bikes to the Danburry house, and finds a wild party in progress. Chris greets him... (full context)

Back at the party, Knox walks around, dejected. Knox sees Virginia Danburry and they smile at each other, embarrassed. A... (full context)

Back at the party, Knox, now drunk, thinks jealously of Chris and Chet. He clumsily staggers over a couple making... (full context)

Picking up right where the last chapter ended, Knox is still at the party. He continues walking around the house, drinking bourbon. Now extremely... (full context)

Knox notices Chris’s breasts, and, remembering Keating’s command to “seize the day,” shyly touches them. Because... (full context)

...next day at Welton, the students gather in the school chapel for an emergency meeting. Knox has a huge bruise on his face, and the other Dead Poets are exhausted and... (full context)

...of beautiful women onto the wall. The boys can’t concentrate on their blue books. As Knox proceeds with his pop quiz, he just writes, “Chris” again and again. (full context)

Later in the day, Dr. Hager notices Meeks, Knox, and Todd eating their food oddly—on closer inspection, he sees that the boys are eating... (full context)

Meanwhile, the other Dead Poets are at the old cave. Knox sits writing a love poem for Chris, while Todd writes a poem of his own.... (full context)

The next day, Knox bikes to Chris’s high school. He finds Chris walking to class, and explains that he’s... (full context)

Knox returns to Welton. Mr. Keating’s class has just ended. Keating calls Neil aside and asks... (full context)

Knox rejoins his classmates and tells them about reading his poem. He admits he has no... (full context)

...for Henley Hall. As the students join Mr. Keating, who’s attending the play as well, Knox notices Chris walking through the dorm. Knox is appalled that Chris has come all the... (full context)

The play is beginning, with Keating, Chris, Knox, and the other Dead Poets in attendance. Neil immediately gets the audience’s attention as Puck—he’s... (full context)

Back at Welton, Keating and his Dead Poets run through the forest, chanting joyously. Knox and Chris kiss. (full context)

...and vomits. Todd shouts that Mr. Perry killed Neil—Neil would never give up on life. Knox is doubtful, but Todd insists he’s right—even if Mr. Perry didn’t pull the trigger, he... (full context)

...he just told the truth. Charlie is so furious that he tries to hit Cameron. Knox warns Charlie that if he hits Cameron, he’ll be expelled, to which Charlie replies, “I’m... (full context)

...Nolan shouts for Todd to step down, most of the other Dead Poets, including Meeks, Knox, and Pitts (but not Cameron), stand on their own desks. (full context)