Instructor Spotlight

This spring semester OLLI welcomes back popular literature instructor Marjorie Lancaster. Marjorie began as an OLLI NC State instructor in Spring 2023, while continuing to share her brilliance with OLLI at Duke members. Her many years of classroom teaching and her passion for both the work and creating an immersive student experience made her a fast favorite with our literature fans. Here’s what your fellow members have to say about Marjorie:

“Marjorie Lancaster is a terrific teacher; she knows the material and she very much wants to know what her students think, caring about every aspect of learning. She thoroughly prepares her presentations and actively engages participants in-depth discussions.”

“I would have liked to have had Marjorie as my high school English teacher! She is enthusiastic, patient and organized, terrific with posing questions to ponder and encouraging us to comment.”

Marjorie’s past OLLI NC State courses examined Toni Morrison’s “Song of Solomon” and “Paradise.” For her Spring course she has chosen a review of local contemporary author Ron Rash’s Serena. Hear from Marjorie what this novel means to her:

“Too often contemporary regional novels are devalued in terms of their artistry and not considered critical examination.  Ron Rash, a lauded Appalachian storyteller and poet, has created in Serena a novel that is well worth a close reading.  

Beyond its literary value, Serena is an exciting fast-paced read that, once started, is hard to put down.  The vivid characters that populate the novel provoke thought and provide entertainment. The eponymous character has been likened to Lady Macbeth, who, as Ron Charles said in a Washington Post review, “wouldn’t fret about getting out the damned spot—she wouldn’t even wash her hands but would just lick it off.”  For those who enjoy engaging with a text, learning something about our state’s history, and thinking about the moral issues Rash poses, Serena is the perfect choice.”Limited space remains in Marjorie Lancaster’s Zoom course Lady Macbeth in Appalachia: Exploring Ron Rash’s Serena. Secure your space today!