Titanic

 

Discuss

1. Have you been on a cruise anywhere? Where did you go? What activities did you do on the cruise?

2. Have you ever been sailing on a yacht. Did you get seasick?

3. Does your country have a navy? Do you know anyone in the navy?

4. Can you row a boat? Can you use a kayak?

5. Does your country have any long rivers that you can take a boat across or on?

6. Have you ever been on a jetboat?

7. Do you think you'll ever own a boat of any kind?

8. Can you surf or windsurf?

9. Are you more afraid of flying or travelling by ship?

10. If you could go in a submarine, would you?

Shipwreck or film?

Shipwreck

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Movie

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historical inaccuracy    edit    funnels    captain   wreckage flares    SS California    realistic    portrayal    audience     love story     director   distress signal   lifeboat    below deck    escape    scene      climactic scene     to showcase    Hollywood     special effects    star    third-class    flooding    perished    boarding    character    fictional    survivor    iceberg    acclaimed    script    cast    passengers    tragedy    rescue    searchlights    impact    vessel    collision    depict

Check

survivor

iceberg

impact

vessel

collision

passengers

tragedy

rescue

searchlights

funnels

captain

wreckage

flares

SS California

distress signal

lifeboat

below deck

third-class

flooding

perished

boarding

character

fictional

depict

escape

scene

climactic scene

realistic

portrayal

audience

love story

director

to showcase

Hollywood

historical inaccuracy

edit

acclaimed

script

cast

special effects

star

1. The band played as the ship sank

2. Jack Dawson and Rose DeWitt Bukater

3. Use of flashlights during the search for survivors

4. How the iceberg sank the ship

5. The ship splitting in two

6. Rescue by the RMS Carpathia

7. Insufficient number of lifeboats

8. First Officer William Murdoch’s actions

9. Elderly couple refusing to leave and dying together

10. Class discrimination with the lifeboats

1. The band played as the ship sank (True)

One of the most dramatic and heroic moments in the movie is when the ship’s band continues to play as the Titanic sinks. Surprisingly, this actually happened. Survivors of the real RMS Titanic have confirmed that the band played in an effort to calm passengers, even amidst the chaos of the sinking. They played until the very end, with the belief that the last song performed was “Nearer, My God, to Thee.” It was a touching and tragic display of dedication.

2. Jack Dawson and Rose DeWitt Bukater (False)

Love stories often add depth to movies, and Titanic is no exception. However, the characters of Jack and Rose were entirely fictional creations by James Cameron. While their sacrifices for each other may mirror real events involving passengers on board, their presence on the ship was purely fictional. The evidence, such as a third-class passenger casually entering the first-class dining area, points to their fictional nature. Though it’s worth noting that there was a Joseph Dawson on the ship, it was merely a coincidence.

3. Use of flashlights during the search for survivors (False)

The scene depicting crew members using flashlights to search for survivors in the freezing ocean is memorable but historically inaccurate. Flashlights were not employed during the Titanic’s search and rescue efforts in 1912 since they had only recently been invented and were not commonly used at the time. James Cameron himself has acknowledged this inaccuracy, admitting that it was added for convenience in the scene. Other historical inaccuracies, like Jack’s modern handcuffs, can also be found in the movie.

4. How the iceberg sank the ship (True)

It is widely known that the Titanic sank due to colliding with an iceberg. The movie’s depiction of the iceberg’s impact is remarkably accurate. Director James Cameron meticulously studied the wreck of the Titanic and survivors’ accounts, ensuring that the calm before the collision, the collision itself, and the ensuing chaos were depicted realistically. The size and impact force of the iceberg were faithfully recreated, making these crucial moments in the film as believable as possible.

5. The ship splitting in two (True)

The climactic scene in Titanic showcases passengers desperately clinging to the ship as it rises out of the water, breaks in half, and sinks. While it was initially believed that the Titanic sank as one intact vessel, subsequent studies of the wreckage revealed that it indeed split between the second and third funnels. As water flooded one side of the ship due to the iceberg damage, the other side lifted out of the water, eventually breaking off. The movie’s portrayal aligns with this historical discovery.

6. Rescue by the RMS Carpathia (True) When the Titanic crew realized they were in trouble, they fired flares and sent out distress signals, as shown in the film. The RMS Carpathia promptly responded and arrived at the scene approximately four hours later to aid in the rescue efforts. However, omitted from the movie was the fact that another ship, the SS California, was much closer but failed to respond to the distress calls. The radio operator had turned off the ship’s radio, and the captain chose to ignore the Titanic’s distress rockets. Official inquiries concluded that this inaction led to a greater loss of life. Although James Cameron filmed this sequence, he ultimately removed it for a cleaner narrative.

7. Insufficient number of lifeboats (True) In the movie, we witness passengers frantically attempting to board the limited number of lifeboats to escape the sinking Titanic. This accurately reflects the reality. The Titanic carried enough lifeboats to accommodate 1,178 people, which was approximately one-third of the ship’s total capacity. Shockingly, this number exceeded the legal requirement.

8. First Officer William Murdoch’s actions (False) While Titanic features a few fictional villains, First Officer William Murdoch, who is portrayed as angrily dismissing and shooting passengers before turning the gun on himself, is based on a real character. However, Murdoch was far from a villain. In reality, he was hailed as a hero for his actions, helping fill approximately ten lifeboats with passengers before losing his own life in the disaster. James Cameron admitted to taking creative liberties when depicting Murdoch’s story, although he portrayed the Titanic’s captain, Smith, as a hero. The captain’s fate, as seen in the film, remains disputed.

9. Elderly couple refusing to leave and dying together (True) One memorable scene in Titanic portrays an elderly couple embracing each other on their bed as water floods their room. This scene is inspired by the heartwarming story of Isidor and Ida Straus. In accordance with the “women and children first” protocol, Ida was offered a seat on a lifeboat but refused to leave her husband’s side. Although the movie does not depict it, Isidor reportedly declined a place beside her, insisting that women and children go first. As Ida’s maid boarded a lifeboat, Ida selflessly gave her fur coat to keep her warm. The couple was last seen arm in arm on the ship’s deck, and they perished together.

10. Class discrimination with the lifeboats (False) Contrary to the movie’s portrayal, there was no class discrimination when it came to loading passengers onto lifeboats. When the severity of the situation became apparent, the crew’s priority was to evacuate as many people as possible, regardless of their wealth or class. Women and children were given priority during the boarding process. The scene depicting third-class passengers being locked below deck is entirely fictional. The crew’s focus was solely on saving lives, without discrimination based on class.