The Call of the Wild Jack London

The Call of the Wild Jack London

San Francisco-born writer Jack Jack London Stolen Day London (1876-1916) remains one of the most widely read of California authors. London led an adventurous and varied life. He traveled from the Oakland waterfront to the Klondike gold rush in 1897, to the South Seas, and finally to his last home in the Sonoma Valley. London captured each phase of his life in his writing, from the novel Martin Eden (1907) to the story To Build a Fire (1908) and the books Call of the Wild(1903) and the Valley of the Moon (1913). A number of his books were enormously popular. The characters in his stories were often strong men and women who led wild lives, not unlike London himself. In the last years of his life, London built a handsome stone mansion near Glen Ellen in the Sonoma Valley. Fire destroyed his "Wolf House" soon after it was completed. Depressed and battling alcoholism, London died as a possible suicide in 1916.

Characters Buck: Part Scotch shepherd, part St. Bernard; main character in the novel Judge: Buck’s original owner; gives Buck the domesticated life he thinks he loves Perrault: French Canadian who buys Buck first; “ a little weazend man who spat broken English and many strange and uncouth exclamations which Buck could not understand.” (8-9) François: Swarthy French Canadian who teams with Perrault Curly: Good-natured Newfoundland bought by Perrault Spitz: Treacherously friendly, underhanded (-pawed) white dog Dave: Experienced dog that primarily eats and sleeps and just wants to be left alone Sol-leks: The Angry One, blind in one eye, also wants to be left alone

Characters Hal: A callow nineteen/twenty-year old with revolver and belt with many cartridges on it. Charles: Middle-aged, light-colored man with weak eyes and moustache that covers a drooping lip Mercedes: Charles’ wife and Hal’s sister John Thornton: Owner of a camp at the base of the White River; saves Buck from being killed when Buck refuses to pull Hal’s sled Skeet: Irish Setter at John Thornton’s camp who tends to Buck’s injuries Nig: Good-natured half-Bloodhound, half-deerhound at Thornton’s camp “Black” Burton: “Evil-tempered and malicious” man, attacked by Buck when Thornton is hit while trying to break up a fight

The Call of the Wild CHAPTER 1

VOCABULARY

realm

realm a region But Buck was neither house-dog nor kennel dog. The whole realm was his.

realm

imperiously

imperiously domineering, arrogant Among the terriers he stalked imperiously, and Toots and Ysabel he utterly ignored, for he was king-

deft

deft apt, clever In quick rage he sprang at the man, who met him halfway, grappled him close by the throat, and with a deft twist threw him over on his back.

futilely

futilely Serving no useful purpose .his tongue lolling out of his mouth and his great chest panting futilely.

futilely

futilely

assailed

assailed attacked, assaulted They only laughed and poked sticks at him, which he promptly assailed with his teeth.

retaliated

retaliated to take revenge, reprisal In his anger he had met the first advances of the express messengers with growls, and they had retaliated by teasing him.

retaliated

revelation

revelation astonishing disclosure The club was a revelation. It was his introduction to the reign of primitive law.

revelation

swarthy

swarthy dark complexion Perrault was a French-Canadian, and swarthy, but Francois was a French-Canadian half breed, and twice as swarthy.

What is a novel? A long work of prose fiction that tells a story about imaginary characters in a made-up setting. It has a plot and sub-plots which explore a theme, or central idea or question about life. Novels contain the same literary elements we explored in the short story unit.

Lesson Objectives 1. To introduce students to the book Call of the Wild 2. To discuss various themes and analyze initial reactions. 3. To connect the introductory activity with the book 4. To distribute the materials students will need in this unit.

Themes 1 , Which is the greater force in our lives, civilization of our primitive 'nature?’ 2. What characteristics are needed to survive in a hostile environment? 3. What happens to those who cannot or refuse to adapt to the laws of nature? 4. What role does chance or luck play in survival? 5. - What effect does love have over our primitive instincts and desires?

ACTIVITIES 1. Read the beginning quotation (also known as an epigraph) that prefaces this novel. (1) Draw a picture that represents the conflict. 2. In a reflective journal, tell about a time you felt nervous or scared of a situation or person. Were your instincts correct? Explain. 3. Write a definition of “being good” as pertains to your life at school or at home. What actions does that include? What behaviors does it exclude? How does school “good behavior” differ from home “good behavior”?

ACTIVITIES 4. Is there “primitive law” (8) in your life? Create a collage that shows what primitive law entails. 5. Recall your first time at the beach or your first snowfall, or another experience that was completely foreign to you. What were your reactions? Sensations? Fears? Feelings? Write a jot list of your memories and select the most vivid to turn into a poem.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS In the beginning of Chapter I, how is Buck described? Based on this description, how do you think he will deal with the hardships of the Yukon Territory? Which of his traits will serve him well in his new life? Which will he have to abandon to survive?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 2. What important lesson did Buck learn from the man with the club? What is meant by the line, “It was his introduction to the reign of primitive law, and he met the introduction halfway.”?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 3. How did François begin to earn Buck’s respect? From the description of this incident, predict what Buck’s relationship will be with “a big, snowy-white fellow from Spitzbergen.” 4. What is the significance of the title of this chapter?

QUOTATIONS “He did not know why, but he felt oppressed by the vague sense of impending calamity.” (5) “And Buck was truly a red-eyed devil, as he drew himself together for the spring, hair bristling, mouth foaming, a mad glitter in his bloodshot eyes.” (6) “In midair, just as his jaws were about to close on the man, he received a shock that checked his body and brought his teeth together with an agonizing clip.” (7) “That club was a revelation. It was his introduction to the reign of primitive law, and he met the introduction halfway.” (8) “Perrault knew dogs, and when he looked at Buck he knew that he was one in a thousand.” (9) “He was friendly, in a treacherous sort of way, smiling into one’s face the while he meditated some underhanded trick, as, for instance, when he stole from Buck’s food at the first meal.” (9) “It bit like fire, and the next instant was gone.” (10)

The Call of the Wild CHAPTER 2

VOCABULARY primordial (10): ancient, prehistoric reproof (12): blame, criticism tuition (12): instruction; teaching appeasingly (12): in an attempt to please diabolically (13): with evil intent disconsolate (13): unhappy, gloomy gee (16): right haw (17): left

ACTIVITIES 1. Write about a time you were in a completely new situation. How did you feel? Did you become more comfortable over time? If so, how? If not, why not? 2. Describe an unforgettable lesson you learned. 3. Rewrite Curly’s death as if the characters were human. How would the scene change? 4. Draw a picture of Spitz as a person. How would his “personality” translate into human behavior? 5. Perrault’s accent is captured in dialect on page 12, where he describes Buck’s “personality.” Using a dialect style, write Perrault’s description of one of the other dogs on the sled team. 6. Illustrate the sled team as described in Chapter 2, paying close attention to the order of the dogs in relationship to the sled and each other. 7. Research the scientific principles of heat retention to find out why burrowing in the snow would keep the dogs warm during the night, as opposed to sleeping in the open. 8. On your map of the west coast, locate and mark Dyea Canyon, Sheep Camp, the Scales, and Chilkot Divide. 9. How fair is the division of food among the dogs? Argue for the plan or for an alternate method, giving reasons for your argument. 10. Add to your journal of Buck’s changes in character. 11. What qualifies as “moral” or “immoral” in Buck’s new world? Create a collage that represents the “more fundamental and primitive code” (17) and contrast it with the moral code of the Judge. 12. Looking at the titles of the first three chapters, make predictions about what will happen to Buck in the rest of the novel.

QUOTATIONS “All was confusion and action, and every moment life and limb were in peril. There was imperative need to be constantly alert; for these dogs and men were not town dogs and men. They were savages, all of them, who knew no law but the law of club and fang.” (11) “No fair play. Once down, that was the end of you.” (11) “The snow walls pressed him on every side, and a great surge of fear swept through him—the fear of the wild thing for the trap.” (14) “He did not steal for joy of it, but because of the clamor of his stomach.” (17) “Thus, as token of what a puppet thing life is, the ancient song surged through him and he came into his own again; and he came because men had found a yellow metal in the North, and because Manuel was a gardener’s helper whose wages did not lap over the needs of his wife and divers small copies of himself.” (18-19

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. What are the “laws of club and fang” that Buck learned in chapter II? How are these laws different from what Buck was used to? 2. What is the one thing that Dave and Sol-leks live for? Why do you think they are like this? How do you think they got this way? Can you think of examples of other animals or humans that show these traits? What does this tell you about animal and human nature? 3. If you were Buck, which of the other sled dogs would you chose to be your teacher and why? How is this dog like or unlike François as a teacher? 4. What trait insures that Buck will survive in the north? How is this aspect of his character shown in the story? How would this trait be accepted in his former life? What does this say about the differences in the two worlds? A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classic Edition of Jack London’s The Call of the Wild 55. Explain the meaning of the following quotation from page 18: And not only did he learn by experience, but instincts long dead became alive again. The domesticated generations fell from him. In vague ways he remembered back to the youth of the breed, to the time the wild dogs ranged in packs through the primeval forest and killed their meat as they ran it down. . . . Thus, as token of what a puppet thing life is, the ancient song surged through him and he came into his own again. 6. In adapting to his new world, has Buck developed or retrogressed? Defend your answe

The Call of the Wild CHAPTER 3

VOCABULARY malingerer (21): time waster; shirker marauders (21): raiders, intruders covert (26): hidden insidious (27): sinister, dangerous travail (27): work placatingly (28): so as to calm down inexorable (31): unstoppable, relentless

ACTIVITIES 1. Write a journal entry about a bully you’ve known. How is your bully similar to Spitz? 2. Write a dramatic scene in which Buck confronts Spitz. Create human dialogue for each of the characters showing their emotional and mental states. 3. Draw the fight between the two dogs showing features illustrating their characters. 4. Create an illustration contrasting Buck and the pack animals as described on page 20. 5. Research the symptoms of rabies and the disease’s treatment during the time of the Yukon Gold Rush. What would an outbreak of rabies mean to the dogs? The trappers? 6. Mark the mouth of the Talkeetna River and Dawson on your map of the west coast. 7. Write a poem reflecting the compassion the drivers have for their dogs. 8. Create a poem entitled “Patience is Primitive.” 9. Research temperature, weather conditions, and the aurora borealis in the Northwest. 10. In your journal tell about a time you felt most alive? 11. Compose a song describing Buck’s and Spitz’s death battle. (30)

QUOTATIONS “Then he was a masterful dog, and what made him dangerous was the fact that the club of the man in the red sweater had knocked all blind puck and rashness out of his desire for mastery.” (25) “All that stirring of old instincts which at stated periods drives men out from the sounding cities to forest and plain to kill things by chemically propelled leaden pellets, the blood lust, the joy to kill—all this was Buck’s, only it was infinitely more intimate. He was ranging at the head of the pack, running the wild thing down, the living meat, to kill with his own teeth and wash his muzzle to the eyes in warm blood.” (28-29) “There is an ecstasy that marks the summit of life, and beyond which life cannot rise. And such is the paradox of living, this ecstasy comes when one is most alive, and it comes as a complete forgetfulness that one is alive.” (29)

The Call of the Wild CHAPTER 4

VOCABULAR obdurate (32): stubborn celerity (34): speed lugubriously (38): sadly, gloomily convulsive (39): producing upheaval, shaking

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Describe Buck’s qualities as the new team leader. How is he similar to Spitz? How is he different? 2. Describe the man in Buck’s dreams. What is the significance of these dreams? What is London trying to show us with these dreams? 3. What is the significance of Dave’s death? Does it remind you of any other work you’ve read or of any event from your life?

ACTIVITIES 1. Write a conversation you might have with a friend about a fight you witnessed in school. Then, using the dialect found in Chapter 4 as a model, “translate” your conversation into French Canadian dialect. Share your results out loud with a small group or your class. 2. Create a poem, rap, or song detailing the qualities of a true leader. 3. Write a journal entry telling about a time you had to get control over or lead a group. Tell what you did to take control. Had you intended to be the leader? If not, why did you take charge? How did others react to your actions? 4. On your map of the West Coast, mark Lake Laberge, Whitehouse Rapids, Across Marsh, Tagish, and Bennett. Since the dogs head for Dawson with the mail train, mark it and note the distance the dogs must travel. 5. Write a journal entry or a letter from Buck to the Judge telling about his experiences and the changes they have brought him. (36) 6. Paint a picture showing the relationship of prehistoric man to early dog. 7. Research “collective memory.” Do you believe humans have this type of memory? Why or why not?

QUOTATIONS “But it was in giving the law and making his mates live up to it that Buck excelled.” (33) “Dave had bitten through both of Sol-lek’s traces, and was standing directly in front of the sled in his proper place.” (39)