4.1 Written Notes for oral presentation.pdf - 4.1 CONTEXT...

4.1 C
ONTEXT
R
ESEARCH
P
LAN
(O
PTIONAL
)
When conducting research, you need to follow a few simple steps. The following pages will help you reflect on
the task and collect your findings. Preliminary notes have been provided throughout this planning document
to help you get started.
Initiate
What is my
purpose?
to understand how context impacts the novel I read
- To research the background and history of the author and setting of the
novel to gain a deeper understanding of what influenced his choices in
creating the chosen setting. Perhaps the author’s life has impacted his
setting and literature or perhaps it hasn’t.
What do I
need to know
for this task?
where and when the events of the novel take place
- The events of the novel took place in Bosnia between 1992-1996. The
main historical event which influenced the story and the setting was the
siege of Sarajevo. The story is based on a non fictional event with added
elements of fiction to intensify, and make the novel more realistic.
What are the
key words
and ideas of
the task?
time, place, milieu, author’s background
- Steven Galloway age (46), born in Vancouver B.C in 1975.
- Grew up in Kamloops B.C
- Went to school at UBC for writing prior to his career as a teacher and
author.
- Has written four novels. “Finnie Walsh” which was his first book published
in 2000 about a love for hockey. This book was nominated for the Amazon
books/canadian first novel award. His second book was named
“Ascension” which showcases the events leading up to a 66 year old man
tightrope walking between the world trade centers in New York City. This
book was published in 2003 and nominated for the Ethel Wilson Fiction
Prize. In 2008, Galloway’s third novel, “The cellist of Sarajevo” was
published. The title was based on a true story of a man involved in the
siege of Sarajevo, and who played a new song on his cello as a tribute for
lives lost at the end of everyday life, following the shelling of his opera
house. The book received nominations for multiple awards, but also
received controversy as it was based on a real cellist, and was a true story.
Galloway did not acknowledge the real cellist initially, sparking outrage.
However he did later on. The book showcases the gentleness and
compassion of humanity in times of war and crisis. Galloway's final novel
to date “The Confabulist '' which was published in 2014, and was about an

elderly man who claimed to have killed Harry Houdini. The book was both
criticized heavily and praised by multiple newspapers.
- In 2013 Galloway started teaching at UBC, and then by 2015, he was
promoted to the position of chair of the writing department.
- in 2016, allegation surrounding the sexual assault of a student were tabled
against Galloway. Galloway admitted too an affair with a student, but was
found not guilty of sexual assault. During the investigation he was removed
from his role as chair. Galloway has spoken out against these allegations
since in articles, and has received 167,000 in compensation damages from
the University of British Columbia.