On March 24, students in ENGL 1003H: Revolution! at Trent Oshawa welcomed a special guest to their class – the award-winning author of one of the texts that they are studying.

Dr. Rita Bode, the class instructor, Skyped in playwright Catherine Banks from her home in Nova Scotia to discuss Bone Cage, for which Ms. Banks won the Governor General’s literary award for drama in 2008. She won again in 2012 for It is Solved by Walking.

During the class, Ms. Banks read several passages from the play and talked about how the inspiration for its creation came about. She then opened up the discussion to questions. Questions were plentiful since, as the course’s teaching assistant, Laura Thursby, noted, the play speaks to the dilemmas of today’s young people who sometimes find themselves in unfulfilling jobs uncertain of their futures.  

Student questions were wide-ranging, covering themes, such as the play’s environmental concerns, its “magic realism” ending, and aspects of the stage directions. Ms. Banks also responded generously to questions about the writing life.

The class very much appreciated her forthrightness and insights. Professor Bode commented on how hearing the author’s perspective on her own work not only opens up new areas of interpretation in the text, but also inspires up and coming authors.

Posted on Friday, March 28, 2014.