Films tell stories, reveal characters, and, also, explore places. Film locations enhance the emotional resonance of a narrative and make heroes and villains more memorable. This is the podcast of a film expert who explores these extraordinary places that connect our everyday reality with the world of cinema and imagination.

In this episode: Dublin.

Part one

COMPREHENSION

1. Choose the correct answer to each question.

1. Who is the famous author of Gulliver’s Travels?
a. Jonathan Swift.
b. Oscar Wilde.
c. Bram Stoker.

2. What does James Joyce meticulously describe in his works?
a. The architecture of Dublin.
b. The lives of Dubliners.
c. The historical events of Dublin.

3. What makes Dublin an unforgettable city?
a. The city’s landmarks.
b. Its historical significance.
c. The warmth and creativity of its people.

4. Why is the Irish countryside so cinematic?
a. Because it resembles Normandy.
b. Because of its lush forests and meadows.
c. Due to its quaint little villages.

5. What event took place in 1916?
a. The GPO was built.
b. The British Army conquered Ireland.
c. Irish insurgents seized the GPO.

6. Which film portrays the Irish struggle for independence?
a. Saving Private Ryan.
b. Game of Thrones
c. Michael Collins.

7. What’s so special about the façade of the GPO?
a. It is decorated with beautiful columns.
b. It is scarred by bullet holes.
c. It symbolizes Dublin.

8. What event led to the removal of Nelson’s Pillar?
a. A mysterious explosion.
b. The Irish War of Independence.
c. A peaceful protest.

9. What is the Spire of Dublin meant to exemplify?
a. The Irish spirit.
b. The Irish past.
c. Irish nationalism.

10. What nickname did Dubliners give to the Spire of Dublin?
a. Nelson’s needle.
b. The pin in the bin.
c. The Star Wars beacon.

2. Find the right name or term for each definition from the options provided.

GPO * Nelson’s Pillar * Easter Rising * Lord Nelson * Emerald Isle * Bram Stoker Spire of Dublin * George Bernard Shaw * O’Connell Street * Up Went Nelson

1. He was a famous dramatist. ….….….….….….….….….….….…..
2. It was an old colonial monument. ….….….….….….….….….….….…..
3. It’s the name given to a period of insurgency. ….….….….….….….….….….….…..
4. He was a renowned British Navy officer. ….….….….….….….….….….….…..
5. It’s nicknamed ‘the pole in the hole.’ ….….….….….….….….….….….…..
6. It’s the abbreviation for the General Post Office. ….….….….….….….….….….….…..
7. It’s the name of a satirical song. ….….….….….….….….….….….…..
8. It’s a famous nickname for Ireland. ….….….….….….….….….….….…..
9. It’s one of Dublin’s main thoroughfares. ….….….….….….….….….….….…..
10. He’s the author of Dracula. ….….….….….….….….….….….…..

3. Determine whether the following statements are true or false.

1. Dublin has produced an extraordinary number of famous writers.
a. True b. False

2. The setting of most of James Joyce’s novels is the Irish countryside.
a. True b. False

3. According to the podcast, Dubliners are very reserved and formal.
a. True b. False

4. The GPO is four hundred years old.
a. True b. False

5. The GPO was a significant location during the Irish struggle for independence.
a. True b. False

6. Ireland gained its independence in 1916.
a. True b. False

7. ‘Up Went Nelson’ is a song about the bombing of Nelson’s Column.
a. True b. False

8. The Spire of Dublin is 120 metres tall.
a. True b. False

9. The Spire of Dublin is topped by a statue of Lord Nelson.
a. True b. False

10. The Spire of Dublin symbolically points to a bright and prosperous future.
a. True b. False

PRODUCTION

4. Write one of the following essays.

a. Is there a monument in your city associated with a very specific historical event? Describe the monument and the event.

b. Describe two of your city’s landmarks, one old and one modern. Compare and contrast them.

Part two

COMPREHENSION

1. Choose the correct answer to each question.

1. According to the podcast, what is the atmosphere like inside Trinity College?
a. Solemn and contemplative.
b. Noisy and chaotic.
c. Modern and futuristic.

2. What is the name of the famous hall in Trinity College’s library?
a. The Jedi Archives.
b. The Long Room.
c. The Imperial Library.

3. In what science fiction series is the Long Room used as an imperial library?
a. Star Trek.
b. Star Wars.
c. Foundation.

4. What is Temple Bar synonymous with?
a. Religion.
b. Clubs and discos.
c. Culture and entertainment.

5. What film scene mentioned in the podcast was filmed in Temple Bar?
a. A scene from Star Wars.
b. A scene from The Commitments.
c. A scene from A Fistful of Dynamite.

6. What is the film The Commitments about?
a. Adventure and exploration.
b. Music and friendship.
c. Love and romance.

7. What did James Joyce mean when he wrote “Good puzzle would be to cross Dublin without passing a pub”?
a. It’s a challenge to navigate Dublin’s complex streets.
b. There are few pubs in Dublin.
c. Dublin is full of pubs.

8. How are Irish pubs described in the podcast?
a. Urban havens for socializing.
b. Formal and elegant venues.
c. Modern and trendy places.

9. What did William Butler Yeats want to do when he entered Toner’s?
a. Go home.
b. Order a beer.
c. Socialize.

10. What is A Fistful of Dynamite about?
a. Life in Dublin in the 1910s.
b. The life of a Nobel Prize winner.
c. The Mexican revolution.

2. Find the right name or term for each definition from the options provided.
Liffey * Long Room * Trinity College * Temple Bar * Sergio Leone * Toner’s
  William Butler Yeats * Jedi Archives * Ennio Morricone * Isaac Asimov

1.     He was a famous science fiction writer. ….….….….….….….….….…...
2.    He directed A Fistful of Dynamite. ….….….….….….….….….…...
3.    It’s a very prestigious university. ….….….….….….….….….…...
4.    It’s the river that divides Dublin in half. ….….….….….….….….….…...
5.    He won the Nobel Prize for Literature. ….….….….….….….….….…...
6.    It’s a 65-metre-long hall in Trinity College’s library. ….….….….….….….….….…...
7.    It’s full of pubs, bars, art galleries and studios. ….….….….….….….….….…...
8.    It’s a pub where a scene from A Fistful of Dynamite was filmed. ….….….….….….….….….…...
9.    It’s the name of a fictional library. ….….….….….….….….….…...
10. He wrote the film score of A Fistful of Dynamite. ….….….….….….….….….…...

3. Determine whether the following statements are true or false.
1. Trinity College’s main entrance is located on a quiet street.
a. True b. False

2. The Long Room is a modern, futuristic library.
a. True b. False

3. The Jedi Archives look almost identical to the Long Room.
a. True b. False

4. The Trinity authorities took legal action against the filmmakers of Attack of the Clones.
a. True b. False

5. Temple Bar is known for its lively atmosphere and cultural attractions.
a. True b. False

6. The band members in The Commitments try to pay for the drums with a stuffed bird.
a. True b. False

7. James Joyce believed that it’s not easy to cross Dublin without encountering a pub.
a. True b. False

8. The pub Toner’s was established in the nineteenth century.
a. True b. False

9. William Butler Yeats had a drink at Toner’s and enjoyed the experience.
a. True b. False

10. Toner’s served as a location for a scene of a spaghetti western.
a. True b. False

PRODUCTION

4. Write one of the following essays.

a. Temple Bar is considered one of the most vibrant parts of Dublin. What about your city or town? What’s its most dynamic neighbourhood? What makes it lively and exciting?

b. Dubliners love to socialize in pubs. Where do you and your friends socialize? In a square? At a bar or a park? At somebody’s house? Why did you choose this particular place as your preferred socializing spot?

Click here to download the transcript of this episode

(Images: Shutterstock and Pixabay)