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Nanook of the North Trivia Quiz

Robert Flaherty's 1922 benchmark documentary blazed the path for many a later nonfiction films.

A multiple-choice quiz by tjoebigham. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
tjoebigham

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
199,386

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
9 / 15

Plays
203

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. When was the film made? Hint

1916

1910

1908

1920

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Question 2 of 15

2. Where does the film take place? Hint

Juneau, Alaska

the Arctic Circle

Cape Dufferin, Quebec, Canada

Reykyavik, Iceland

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Question 3 of 15

3. What does the name "Nanook" mean? Hint

whale

seal

bear

ivory

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Question 4 of 15

4. What is his wife's name? Hint

Nuknuk

Noguni

Nuta

Nyla

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Question 5 of 15

5. How many children does he have? Hint

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Question 6 of 15

6. What do the family use for fuel? Hint

driftwood

moss and seal oil

whale blubber

peat

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Question 7 of 15

7. What two boats are seen? Hint

kayak and umiak

canoe and raft

dory and sloop

catamaran and coracle

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Question 8 of 15

8. What does Nanook trade at the trading post? Hint

polar bear skins

sealskins

walrus tusks

whale meat

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Question 9 of 15

9. What do Nanook's kids eat at the post and one gets sick on? Hint

Seabiscuit and lard

Apple fritters

French toast

Peach cobbler

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Question 10 of 15

10. What do Nanook's family listen to? Hint

radio

phonograph

violin

cello

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Question 11 of 15

11. When fishing on an ice floe, what bait does Nanook use? Hint

ivory

seal meat

worms

sardines

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Question 12 of 15

12. What animal do we NOT see Nanook hunt? Hint

fox

seal

walrus

moose

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Question 13 of 15

13. When Nanook and his family build an igloo for their hunting trip, what do they use for windows? Hint

ice

quartz

isinglass

beach glass

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Question 14 of 15

14. What is the name the Eskimos give to the big seal they hunt and kill? Hint

Omuok

Okluk

Ogjuk

Ukkogo

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Question 15 of 15

15. Nanook and his family were real Eskimos.

True

False

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. When was the film made?

Answer: 1920

Way back in the early 20th Century, Flaherty tagged along with Arctic explorer Sir Robert MacKenzie; his first film work was documenting a polar expedition. Later, he directed, produced, wrote and edited "Nanook of the North", the first of his many documentaries.

2. Where does the film take place?

Answer: Cape Dufferin, Quebec, Canada

Cape Dufferin is on Canada's famed Hudson Bay in upper North Quebec.

3. What does the name "Nanook" mean?

Answer: bear

"Nanook" is "bear" in the Eskimo language; he got the name supposedly because he is as brave and great a hunter as the bear.

4. What is his wife's name?

Answer: Nyla

"Nyla" means "Smiling One".

5. How many children does he have?

Answer: 3

They are Allee, a boy, Chigumu, a girl and a baby whose name and gender we never learn.

6. What do the family use for fuel?

Answer: moss and seal oil

They don't have the other stuff for fuel, only seal oil and moss!

7. What two boats are seen?

Answer: kayak and umiak

The umiak is the larger boat for more people; the one-person kayak is one of the most popular sporting boats today.

8. What does Nanook trade at the trading post?

Answer: polar bear skins

We see Nanook show the polar bear skins to the white traders. (Can this be another reason for his name, that he's a fine bear hunter?)

9. What do Nanook's kids eat at the post and one gets sick on?

Answer: Seabiscuit and lard

Today lard would be frowned on in our health-conscious climate, but the Eskimos obviously needed all the fat they could eat to keep their internal temperature high. The kid who overeats gets castor oil!

10. What do Nanook's family listen to?

Answer: phonograph

They react in wonder to this fantastic (to them) device. One even tries tasting a record! A pity "Nanook" wasn't made in the sound era; wouldn't it be fun to hear that they're hearing?

11. When fishing on an ice floe, what bait does Nanook use?

Answer: ivory

Without worms or anything else, Nanook must use a shiny little piece of ivory to tempt the fish. When he catches them, he kills them by biting the backs of their head!

12. What animal do we NOT see Nanook hunt?

Answer: moose

We see Nanook and his companions hunt and kill a walrus, seal and even a white Arctic fox, but we never see moose throughout the film!

13. When Nanook and his family build an igloo for their hunting trip, what do they use for windows?

Answer: ice

They can't use isinglass (a transparent substance made from fish intestines), quartz or even beach glass, so they use a chunk of ice the "window glass".

14. What is the name the Eskimos give to the big seal they hunt and kill?

Answer: Ogjuk

"Ogjuk" obviously means "big seal" in Eskimo. The trapping and killing of the seal is a high point of the film. Later, Nanook's sled dogs fight over scraps of seal meat.

15. Nanook and his family were real Eskimos.

Answer: False

Actually, they were Inuit Indians, not real Eskimos! Flaherty staged almost all the scenes, because the Eskimos of that time were learning modern methods of hunting, but Flaherty wanted a record of the old Eskimo ways, and even today, "Nanook of the North" remains a riveting film. Hope you enjoyed!

Source: Author tjoebigham

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor linkan before going online.
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