Canadian Literature and Awards Quiz / Test | Literature

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1. What is the name of the award-winning Ken McGoogan novel that told the story of John Rae, a 19th century Arctic explorer?

Answer: Fatal Passage

This book won four literary awards and was short-listed for three others. It solved two mysteries - who really discovered the final link in the Northwest Passage and what happened to the lost expedition of Sir John Franklin, famous British explorer. "Lady Franklin's Revenge" is about Franklin's wife and is amazing if only for the chronicling of her extensive travel. "Ancient Mariner" is another non-fiction work from Canadian writer McGoogan, and tells the life of Samuel Hearne, who was the first European to reach the Arctic coast of North America. "An Adventure in the Arctic" is a made up title.

2. What is the name of Joseph Boyden's first novel, which describes the horrors of WW1 trench warfare through the experiences of two Metis soldiers?

Answer: Three Day Road

Although this book is not easy to read due to the graphic depiction of war, it takes the reader on an amazing journey and tells the tale of two Metis friends and how they react so differently to their war experiences. It has been nominated for several awards, including the Books in Canada First Novel Award. "Born With a Tooth" is a collection of short stories by Boyden. "War and Peace" is penned by Tolstoy of course and "Soldiers" I just made up.

3. Which Margaret Atwood novel was based on a real-life Canadian murderer of the 1800s?

Answer: Alias Grace

"Alias Grace" won the Giller Prize and the Canadian Booksellers Association Author of the year Award for 1996. It would be hard to find a book of Atwood's that hasn't won an award. Although I haven't found every single one of her books fantastic, "Alias Grace" was fabulous.

4. This 1990 winner of the Governor General's Award was written by Nino Ricci and is the first part of a trilogy about a boy, born in a small town in Italy, who moves to rural Ontario.

Answer: Lives of the Saints

"Anils Ghost" by Michael Ondaatje was the GG recipient in 2000. "Such a Long Journey" by Rohinton Mistry was the winner of the GG in 1991. "Man Descending", written by Guy Vanderhaeghe, was the GG recipient in 1982. "Lives of the Saints" was made into a tv movie a few years ago with Sophia Loren starring - unfortunately, it wasn't very good.

5. What novel by Camilla Gibb, set partly in London, and partly in Ethiopa, won the Trillium Book Award for 2006?

Answer: Sweetness in the Belly

Gibb spent a year living in Ethiopa and this vivid and touching story is reflected in her real life experience; "Sweetness" was also nominated for the Giller Prize. "Mouthing the Words" was Gibb's first novel, and "The Petty Details... her third; both have been either nominated for or received awards. "Making it Work" - a made up title.

6. Alice Munro's first collection of short stories won the Governor General's Award - what was the title of this collection?

Answer: Dance of the Happy Shades

It won the 1968 Governor General's Award for Fiction. The other titles are other works of Munro's and all are wonderful collections. In my opinion, she is unsurpassable as a writer of short stories.

7. The 1997 Giller prize was won by the following author for the work "Barney's Version".

Answer: Mordecai Richler

"Barney's Version" is my favourite Richler book and his last, I believe, before his death in 2004. Richler wrote screenplays, novels, fiction for young adults, received many awards and was never afraid to state his views on the poltical situation in Quebec, the province in which he was raised and which he lived in for some of his adult life - he spent his early adult years in Paris and then divided latter years between London and Montreal.

8. This author wrote 50 books before retiring from writing. His book "The Last Spike" won the Governor General's Award in 1972. He is ______.

Answer: Pierre Berton

Pierre Berton, author and historian, was born and raised in the Yukon. He died in 2004 at the age of 84. I remember his television show which aired when I was a youth.

9. The Books in Canada First Novel Award for 2002 was won by Mary Lawson for the novel entitled _________.

Answer: Crow Lake

The other titles are some of the other nominees for 2002 .Mary Lawson is a distant relative of L.M. Montgomery, the author of "Anne of Green Gables." Lawson's second book is entitled "The Bridge."

10. Farley Mowat's books have been translated into 52 languages and several of his works have been made into films. One was a children's book that won the Governor General's Award in 1956. It is entitled __________.

Answer: Lost in the Barrens

"Never Cry Wolf" was the other Mowat book that was made into a film. "People of the Deer" was Mowat's first book and "The Dog Who Wouldn't Be" is a memoir of Mowat's childhood and I think I still have a copy from my childhood in a box somewhere in the basement!

Source: Author elspbeth

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Canadian Literature and Awards Quiz

This quiz is about Canadian works of literature that have either been nominated for or have received an award.

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