DAN BROWN MEETS DANTE

 

Daniel Gerhard Brown (born June 22, 1964) is an American author best known for his thriller novels, including The Da Vinci Code (2003) and Inferno (2013); the latter based on the Divine Comedy's realm. His works are treasure hunts that usually take place over a period of 24 hours. They feature recurring themes of cryptography, art, and conspiracy theories.

Imagine you are this Dan Brown. Dante Alighieri has unexpectedly come to visit you in your dreams and both of you have struck up an amiable conversation providing viewpoints about Hell. Create a dialog by using the information in both the text and the video.

 You might include some of the following phrases to enrich their interaction:

 EXPRESSING AN OPINION

Wouldn't you say that …?
Wouldn’t you agree that …?
I'd just like to say that …
Well, I've heard that …
Don't you think it's right to say that …?
It's my feeling that …
I tend to think that…

KEEPING A CONVERSATION GOING

So, what else ...?
Have you ever ...?
Are you trying to say that...?
In what sense?
Like what?
What do you mean?

INVITING PARTICIPATION

Would you say that...?
I’d like to hear your opinion on this.
I’d go on, but I see that Bob has something to say.
How do you see things?
Do you want to add anything?

TAKING TURNS

May I add something to that?
Hold that thought.
Please…after you. (formal)
If I could just come in here … (formal)
I’d just like to add that...
May I just add one thing?
There are three things I’d like to say. (can’t interrupt until finished)

REPAIRING COMMUNICATION

What I meant was...
Let me rephrase that.
Let me clarify that.
That's not exactly what I mean …
That’s not exactly what I meant (to say).
Let me put it another way …

MAKING TENTATIVE STATEMENTS

Correct me if I’m mistaken, but...
At least it looks that way to me.
I could be off base here, but...
I could be off the mark here, but…

EXPRESSING DOUBT AND SURPRISE

Is that a fact?
You don’t say!
I can hardly believe that!

EXPRESSING GENERALIZATIONS

Generally speaking,...
Everybody knows that ...

CHANGING THE TOPIC OF CONVERSATION

Speaking of...
I just remembered something.
That reminds me …
Oh, before you go…

ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION

I don’t see what you mean.  Help me out here.
Let me get this straight.
I think I must have missed something here.
I didn't follow what you said about …
I don't exactly see what you're getting at.
What exactly are you trying to say?
You lost when you started talking about…

ENCOURAGING

You’ll enjoy that.
Sounds like the right thing to do.
You’ve got my support/blessing.
I think that’s a good move.

DISCOURAGING

I wouldn’t if I were you.
Oh no, whatever for?
That’s not a wise course (of action).
If I were you, I’d think long and hard about that.

DISAGREEING POLITELY

That may be so, but...
I don’t know about that.  The way I see it...
I can’t really imagine that...
I agree to a certain extent, but...

CONCEDING A POINT

I can live with that.
That’s what I’m trying to say.
I see what you mean.
I see your point.
I think you have a good point there.
Point well taken.

ENDING A CONVERSATION

I hope we can do this again some time.
Let’s continue some other time.
It’s about time to wrap up. (for a timed conversation)

Note: This task should be done in groups of 4. Each student will be assigned a number in alphabetical fashion according to their last name. Students 1 and 2 will be in charge of asking questions. Student 3 will reply to student 1's queries and student 4 will do the same with those of student 2.

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