Tales of the North Trivia Quiz

"The Call of the Wild" (1903) is an adventure novel that follows Buck, a domesticated dog who is taken from his comfortable home and thrust into the harsh conditions of the Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush. As he adapts to the brutal life of a sled dog, Buck gradually sheds his tame instincts and embraces a more primal existence in the wild.

Jack London (1876-1916) was an American writer and adventurer known for his vivid depictions of nature and survival. Drawing from his own experiences in the Yukon, he became one of the most prominent literary figures of the early 20th century, with works that often explored the struggle between civilization and the natural world.

"Late Nights on Air" (2007) is set in the isolated town of Yellowknife (Northwest Territories) during the 1970s. It follows a group of radio station employees whose lives intertwine as they navigate personal challenges, shifting relationships, and the uncertain future of their profession. The story culminates in a canoe expedition through the northern wilderness, a journey that becomes both physically demanding and emotionally transformative for those involved.

Elizabeth Hay is a Canadian author born in 1951 in Owen Sound, Ontario. Before becoming a full-time writer, she worked as a radio broadcaster in various Canadian cities, including Yellowknife, which inspired much of her fiction. Her writing often explores themes of memory, place, and human connection. She received the Giller Prize for "Late Nights on Air" in 2007.

"Lost in the Barrens" (1956) is a Canadian survival story that follows two boys - Jamie, an orphan from 'the city', and Awasin, a Cree youth - who become stranded in the remote northern wilderness after a hunting expedition goes wrong. As they face the challenges of nature, the boys learn to work together, drawing on Indigenous knowledge and resourcefulness to survive. Their journey becomes one of friendship, resilience, and discovery in a harsh but beautiful landscape.

When this story was written, the region known as 'the Barrens' were in the Northwest Territories, however, since 1999 and the creation of Canada's newest territory, that region (north of Manitoba) is now part of Nunavut.

Farley Mowat (1921-2003) was a Canadian writer and environmental advocate whose works often focused on the natural world and northern life. He served in World War II before turning to writing, producing over 40 books that blended personal experience with storytelling.

"I Heard the Owl Call My Name" (1967) follows Mark Brian, a young priest who is sent to a remote Indigenous village in British Columbia. Unbeknownst to him, he is terminally ill, and his bishop hopes that by living among the Kwakwaka'wakw people, Mark will gain a deeper understanding of life before his time runs out.

Margaret Craven (1901-80) was an American writer born in Helena, Montana. She studied at Stanford University and began her career in journalism before turning to fiction. Despite facing significant vision problems, she continued writing and eventually visited British Columbia, where she became deeply interested in Indigenous cultures. Her most popular novel, "I Heard the Owl Call My Name" was first published in Canada and later gained popularity in the United States. Craven continued writing into her later years, producing more stories and a memoir before passing away in 1980.

Set in the fictional town of Gateway, Alberta (based on Canmore) in the early 20th century, "The Three Sisters Bar and Hotel" (2016) captures a transformative moment in Canadian history as the railroad opens up the Rocky Mountains to a wave of newcomers. The story centers on Herbie Wishart, a former poacher who reinvents himself as a trail guide. He becomes involved in a fossil-hunting expedition led by a U.S. archaeologist, whose findings could challenge existing scientific beliefs. The novel blends historical fiction with elements of mystery and family drama, offering a vivid portrait of Western Canada's rugged landscape and complex past.

Katherine Govier is a Canadian author born in Edmonton, Alberta in 1948. She studied at the University of Alberta and York University, and has built a distinguished literary career spanning over four decades. Her work includes novels, short stories, essays, and edited anthologies, often exploring themes of history, art, and identity.

Set in rural 1930s Saskatchewan, "Who Has Seen the Wind" (1947) follows Brian O'Connal, a young boy growing up on the Canadian prairies. The story traces his development from early childhood through adolescence, focusing on his evolving understanding of life, death, and the unseen forces that shape human existence. Rather than following a traditional plot, the novel emphasizes emotional and philosophical growth. The wind, referenced in the title, represents an invisible yet powerful presence that Brian senses but cannot fully understand. Through his encounters with nature, family, and community, he gradually comes to terms with the mysteries of life and death.

William Ormond Mitchell (1914-88), born in Weyburn, Saskatchewan, was a celebrated Canadian author and broadcaster. He studied psychology and philosophy before earning a teaching certificate, and his early career included writing short stories and teaching high school. Mitchell gained national recognition with the publication of "Who Has Seen the Wind" in 1947, a novel that became a Canadian classic. Throughout his career, Mitchell wrote novels, plays, and short stories, often focusing on themes of childhood, mortality, and the prairie experience. He was known for his vivid storytelling and was sometimes called the "Mark Twain of Canada."

Margaret Laurence's "The Stone Angel" (1964) is a powerful Canadian novel that follows the life of Hagar Shipley, a proud and fiercely independent woman in her nineties. Living in the fictional town of Manawaka, Manitoba (based on Neepawa), Hagar reflects on her past while resisting her family's efforts to place her in a nursing home. The story alternates between Hagar's present-day struggles and vivid memories of her youth. As her health declines, Hagar escapes to a remote location to avoid being institutionalized. There, she meets a stranger and finally opens up emotionally, confronting the pain and regrets of her life.

Margaret Laurence (born Jean Margaret Wemyss, 1926-87) was one of Canada's most influential literary voices. Raised in Neepawa, Manitoba, she experienced early loss with the death of both parents, which deeply shaped her worldview and writing. Laurence studied English literature and began her career as a journalist before living abroad in Somaliland and Ghana, experiences that inspired her early works. Laurence was known for her lyrical prose and psychological depth, and she helped establish the Writers' Trust of Canada. She was honoured with multiple literary awards over her career, and was named a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1972.

Perhaps best known for her dystopian novel "The Handmaid's Tale" (1985), Margaret Atwood had already established herself as an author more than a decade earlier. Her debut novel, "The Edible Woman" (1969), follows Marian McAlpin, a young woman living in Toronto who works at a market research firm. At first, Marian leads a relatively conventional life, but after becoming engaged, Marian begins to feel increasingly disconnected from herself and her surroundings and her sense of identity starts to unravel.

Margaret Eleanor Atwood, born November 18, 1939, in Ottawa, Ontario, is one of Canada's most celebrated literary figures. She grew up between urban Toronto and the wilderness of northern Quebec, where her father conducted entomological research. This dual upbringing influenced her deep interest in nature, storytelling, and human behaviour. Atwood studied at Victoria College, University of Toronto, and earned her master's degree in English literature from Radcliffe College. Her writing career spans over six decades and includes novels, poetry, essays, and graphic novels.
She has received numerous honours, including two Booker Prizes, Governor General's Literary Awards, and international acclaim for her contributions to literature and human rights.

Set in Montreal's Saint-Henri district during the early 1940s, "The Tin Flute" (1947) follows the life of Florentine Lacasse, a young waitress from a large, impoverished family. Her father struggles to keep a job, her mother is overwhelmed with children, and the family faces constant financial hardship. Florentine dreams of escaping poverty and seeks a potential husband with aspirations for a better life. After a series of personal and family crises, Florentine finds herself with child, and needing to make a difficult choice about her future.

Gabrielle Roy (1909-1983) was a pioneering French Canadian author born in Saint Boniface, Manitoba. Raised in a large family, she trained as a teacher and worked in rural Manitoba before traveling to Europe to study drama. When World War II broke out, she returned to Canada and settled in Montreal, where she began writing seriously. "The Tin Flute," her first novel, was a groundbreaking work of urban realism that depicted the struggles of working-class families in Montreal. It won both the Prix Femina in France and the Governor General's Award in Canada. Roy went on to write several acclaimed novels, often exploring themes of poverty, identity, and the human condition, with a deep empathy for marginalized voices. She was named a Companion of the Order of Canada and is considered one of the most important figures in Canadian literature.

"Mercy Among the Children" (2000), set in the rural Miramichi Valley of New Brunswick, tells the story of Sydney Henderson, a man who, after a childhood accident where he pushed a friend off a roof, makes a solemn vow to never again use violence or anger. This commitment to nonviolence becomes the defining trait of his life - and the source of his family's suffering. Sydney's refusal to defend himself or retaliate makes him an easy target in a community rife with poverty, resentment, and suspicion and he is falsely accused of crimes, mocked, and exploited. The story is told from the perspective of his son Lyle who, unlike his father, struggles with the urge to fight back and protect his family, leading to a deep internal conflict between his inherited values and the harsh realities around him. The book won the Giller Prize in 2000 and is considered one of Richards' most powerful works.

David Adams Richards was born in Newcastle, New Brunswick in 1950. He is among Canada's most respected authors, known for his deep, often spiritual explorations of working-class life in the Miramichi region of New Brunswick. His writing spans novels, short stories, poetry, essays, and screenplays, and is often shaped by his Catholic faith, his rural upbringing, and his concern for social justice. Over the years, he has received numerous awards, including two Governor General's Awards (one for fiction, one for non-fiction), two Gemini Awards, and the already mentioned Giller Prize.

Set in Halifax, Nova Scotia, during the final year of World War I, "Barometer Rising" (1941) is about a disgraced soldier (Neil Macrae) who returns home to clear his name after being falsely accused of cowardice. His former commanding officer (and uncle), Colonel Geoffrey Wain, had blamed him for a failed military operation. Neil's return is complicated by his past relationship with Penelope Wain, the colonel's daughter, who believes he died in battle. As Neil searches for the only witness who can exonerate him, the story builds toward the real-life historical event of the Halifax Explosion in December 1917, which devastates the city and reshapes the characters' lives.

Hugh MacLennan (1907-1990) was a Canadian novelist, essayist, and professor born in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia. He studied at Dalhousie University, Oxford (as a Rhodes Scholar), and earned a Ph.D. from Princeton University. His early literary attempts focused on international themes, but he found success when he turned to Canadian settings and issues. In his lifetime he won five Governor General's Awards and was named a Companion of the Order of Canada.

Set in the fictional village of Avonlea on Prince Edward Island, "Anne of Green Gables" (1908) tells the story of an imaginative and spirited 11-year-old orphan named Anne Shirley. She is mistakenly sent to live with Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, a pair of aging siblings who had intended to adopt a boy to help with farm work at their home, Green Gables. Despite the mix-up, Anne's charm and vivid imagination quickly win the pair over, and they agree to let her stay. Anne's early days in Avonlea are filled with humorous misadventures with her best friend, Diana Barry. She also develops a fierce rivalry with Gilbert Blythe, a classmate who teases her about her red hair. As Anne matures, she becomes more focused on her studies and wins a scholarship to attend college. However, after the Matthew's sudden death and Marilla's declining health, Anne must make a difficult choice.

Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874-1942) was born in Clifton (now New London), Prince Edward Island. After losing her mother to tuberculosis as a toddler, she was raised by her maternal grandparents in the rural community of Cavendish. Her early life was marked by solitude, which she filled with books, writing, and a rich imagination. Montgomery began writing poetry and stories as a child and later earned a teaching license from Prince of Wales College. Over her lifetime, Montgomery published 20 novels, over 500 short stories, and numerous poems and essays. Most of her work is set on Prince Edward Island, capturing its landscapes and community life.

"The Shipping News" (1993) follows Quoyle, a socially awkward and emotionally scarred newspaper reporter from upstate New York. After a series of personal tragedies, Quoyle is left to care for his two young daughters. At the urging of his aunt, he relocates with his family to their ancestral home in Newfoundland, hoping to rebuild his life. They settle in a dilapidated house on Quoyle's Point, a remote and windswept location steeped in family history and local legend and Quoyle takes a job at the local newspaper where he is assigned to cover shipping news and car accidents. As he adjusts to the rhythms of small-town life, he begins to confront his fears, uncover dark secrets about his ancestors, and slowly heal from his past.

Edna Annie Proulx, born August 22, 1935, in Norwich, Connecticut, is an acclaimed American author known for her richly detailed fiction and distinctive voice. She began her career as a journalist and published her first short story in the 1960s. After earning degrees in history from the University of Vermont and Sir George Williams University (now Concordia University), she turned to fiction full-time. "The Shipping News," only her second novel, brought her international acclaim. She is also widely known for her short story "Brokeback Mountain" (1997), which was adapted into an Oscar-winning film. Proulx has received numerous honours in her lifetime, including the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction and the National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.