Untitled Quiz

Questions and Answers

What two senses were mentioned and in what condition were they?

Old Koskoosh's sight had faded, but his hearing remained acute.

Who was Sit-cum-tu-ha and what was she in the process of doing?

She was Old Koskoosh's granddaughter, who was cursing the dogs as she tried to harness them in the sled.

To what was Old Koskoosh's close?

Death

What did the old man reach for to give him some reassurance?

Small heap of dry wood Signup and view all the answers

How was the chief and Old Koskoosh related?

Old Koskoosh was the chief's father. Signup and view all the answers

Whose was the last lodge to get dismantled and packed away?

The shaman Signup and view all the answers

Who else remained briefly as the tribe took upon the trail?

Old Koskoosh's son, the chief Signup and view all the answers

What 'alone stood between him and eternity'?

The small pile of wood Signup and view all the answers

What phases would occur after the stick burned off?

Frost would set in, and the old man would first feel numbness in his feet and then his hands. The frost would then move into his body's extremities before traveling into the remainder of his body. He would eventually freeze to death. Signup and view all the answers

How was this method of life viewed?

He, as well as his people and the generations, viewed this as Nature's way. Signup and view all the answers

How did Nature feel about the individual?

Nature had no concern for the individual. Interest lay only in the species or race or tribe. Signup and view all the answers

What eventually came to all?

No matter if one worked poorly or diligently at life, the same came to all: death. Signup and view all the answers

What word did Jack London use to describe the individual members of the generations?

Episodes Signup and view all the answers

Why did Jack London use the manner in which a woman ages to describe the process?

In the tribe, women had certain roles and their attractiveness diminished with age, showing that death and change through age came to all. Signup and view all the answers

Where had Old Koskoosh abandoned his own father to die?

On an upper reach of the Klondike River during winter. Signup and view all the answers

Who came the year after Koskoosh's dad died and with what?

A missionary came with a box of medicines as painkillers. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Old Koskoosh's Perception

Old Koskoosh's vision diminished while his hearing remained sharp, reflecting his struggle with aging and the proximity to death.
He felt close to death, symbolizing the inevitable fate faced by all living beings.

Sit-cum-tu-ha

Sit-cum-tu-ha, Old Koskoosh's granddaughter, was frustrated as she attempted to harness dogs for sledding, showcasing the challenges of survival in harsh conditions.

Death and Nature's Law

Death was the ultimate end for all individuals, regardless of life choices or work ethic, emphasizing the indifferent nature of existence.
Nature's focus was on the survival of species rather than individual lives, reinforcing the concept of the collective over the personal.

Wood as a Lifeline

A small pile of dry wood represented Old Koskoosh's last link to life, highlighting the fragile nature of his existence.
After the wood burned out, he would experience numbing frostbite, progressing from extremities to his core until he succumbed to freezing.

Generational Perspectives

Jack London referred to individuals as "episodes," as they eventually fade into obscurity, demonstrating the transient nature of life and memory.
Women in the tribe aged through defined roles—from youthful maidens to worn caregivers—symbolizing the inevitable process of aging and the universal law of life leading to death.

Family Connections

Old Koskoosh had abandoned his father on the Klondike River during winter, revealing complex familial responsibilities and the harsh realities of survival.
A missionary arrived the following year with painkillers, signifying the intersection of traditional living and external support.

Tribal Dynamics

The shaman's lodge was the last to be dismantled, implying the significance of spiritual leadership within the tribe.
Old Koskoosh's son, the chief, remained with him briefly as the tribe departed, emphasizing familial bonds amidst the harsh migratory life.