English through Mythology – Hong Gil-dong (홍길동)

Hong Gil-dong: Creative Dialogue

Instructions: Please read the sample dialogue (대화) about Hong Gil-dong (홍길동). After reading the sample dialogue, please make up a new dialogue (새로운 대화) about Hong Gil-dong! Good luck!

Sample dialogue 1: Ji-hye and Cheol-su discuss Jangseong

Cheol-su and Ji-hye are visiting Jeollanam-do. In this dialogue, they decide to visit Jangseong, Hong Gil-dong’s hometown.

Cheol-su: Ji-hye, I’m really enjoying our trip to Jeollanam-do. How about you?

Ji-hye: I really enjoyed visiting Damyang, especially the Bamboo Forest (죽녹원). It was so romantic!

Cheol-su: That’s true. I love the sound of the wind in the tall bamboo.

Ji-hye: I’m glad we bought gifts (선물) in Damyang. Our friends in Gyeongju will love the gifts! Anyway, what shall we do today?

Cheol-su: I think we should visit Jangseong. It’s only twenty-five minutes away from Gwangju.

Ji-hye: That’s an interesting suggestion. Why do you want to visit Jangseong?

Cheol-su: It’s the hometown of Hong Gil-dong. When I was a child, I wanted to be like Hong Gil-dong.

Ji-hye: Was Hong Gil-dong a real person? I thought he was just a fictional character.

Cheol-su: Hong Gil-dong is a legendary hero. We don’t know whether he really existed.

Ji-hye: Now I’m curious about Hong Gil-dong. If we visit Jangseong, we can find out the truth about this legendary hero!

Sample dialogue 2: Cheol-su visits Prof. Kim

Cheol-su wants to learn more about Hong Gil-dong. He decides to visit Professor Kim, who teaches Korean literature at Cheol-su’s university.

Cheol-su: Excuse me, are you Professor Kim?

Prof. Kim: Yes, that’s me. How can I help?

Cheol-su: I’m sorry to disturb you. Is it all right to ask a question about Korean literature (문학)?

Prof. Kim: Certainly. I’d be delighted to help.

Cheol-su: During the holiday, I visited Hong Gil-dong’s birthplace. Please could you tell me more about the legend of Hong Gil-dong?

Prof. Kim: Well, the original story of Hong Gil-dong is a legend. Hong Gil-dong probably existed, but we don’t know very much about him. Later, the novelist Heo Gyun used the legend of Hong Gil-dong for a novel. His novel criticised Joseon-period society.

Cheol-su: I wish I had chosen literature as my major (전공). It sounds fascinating!

Prof. Kim: Well, you could take a course (강좌) on traditional Korean storytelling.

Cheol-su: I would love to do that. Will you teach the course?

Prof. Kim: No, I won’t. I teach courses on modern literature (현대문서). One of my colleagues (동료), Prof. Lee, will teach the course. If you like, I can introduce you to Prof. Lee.

Cheol-su: That’s very kind of you. Thank you very much. Do you have any other advice?

Prof. Kim: Yes, I do. There are several excellent books on Korean legends and folktales in our university library.

Cheol-su: Thank you very much, Prof. Kim. I’m sorry to take up so much of your time!

Prof. Kim: It’s my pleasure.