This documentary chronicles the story of the Titanic. The largest and most luxurious ship ever built, the Titanic was supposed to be "unsinkable," but the ship sank on its maiden voyage from Southampton, England to New York. The symbol of the "gilded age," the Titanic was a floating tribute to the progress, optimism, and arrogance of the industrial era. Titanic captures not only the story of one of the world's greatest disasters, but also the essence of the industrial and Progressive age.

This documentary would be useful for classes on American History, History of Science and Technology, Cultural History and Immigration History. It is appropriate for middle school and high school.

The Legend Lives On (Part 2)

Almost 75 years after the fateful night, explorer Dr. Robert Ballard descends 13,000 feet beneath the waves in a tiny submarine to view the wreckage of the Titanic. On the murky ocean floor, he discovers answers to enduring mysteries surrounding the tragedy. Today, the legend of the mighty ship remains intact. Once intended to be humankind's greatest achievement, the Titanic turned out to be its ultimate folly.

• abyss
• apocryphal
• artifacts
• captious
• catastrophic
• complacent
• controversy
• debris
• designated
• distribution
• exaggerated
• exonerated
• expedition
• exuberance
• fallibility
• foundering
• hallowed
• haunting
• implosion
• impractical
• inquiry
• mariner
• maverick
• negligence
• ominous
• pact
• painstaking
• parable
• psychodrama
• regulatory
• remnants
• reparation
• resolution
• revelation
• saga
• salvaged
• scapegoat
• smug
• somber
• speculation
• subpoena
• terrain
• topography
• violation

1. The story of the Titanic disaster is also a story of class implications in the early 20th century. How did class differences affect the passengers and crew even after their deaths?

2. Over 1500 people died in the tragedy. How do individual histories and stories of the victims make the disaster more real than just the statistic?

3. Both the United States and Great Britain held inquiries into the Titanic disaster. How did these court hearings affect maritime regulations?

4. White Star Lines paid survivors and the heirs of the deceased small reparations. Should these reparations have been larger? Should the government have forced White Star Lines to distribute greater compensation?

5. Captain Lord of the ship California was accused of ignoring the distress calls and flares from the Titanic. But there is speculation that there was another ship on the horizon that might have been mistaken for the California. Discuss whether Captain Lord is guilty or innocent of the accused crime.

6. Over 85 years after the event, the curiosity and interest in the Titanic disaster is as strong as ever. Why is the Titanic so legendary? What is it about this event that it remains imbedded in history and popular culture?

7. The Titanic disaster is said to have played a part in America's social conscience. What is meant by this term? How is the Titanic a catalyst?

8. There was a controversy regarding the salvage efforts of the Titanic. Some felt that it was akin to grave robbing. Others insisted it was the same as any archeological find. What do you think? Was it appropriate to salvage the remnants of the Titanic? If so, why? If not, why not?

1. Create a timeline displaying the advances in technology since the sinking of the Titanic.

2. Imagine that you are a reporter and are assigned to cover the trial ofWhite Star Lines. What aspects of the trial do you think your readers would be most interested in. What other "sensational" trials have there been in the 20th century? Why do some trials capture the imagination and curiosity of the American people?

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Air Dates

• January 06, 2005