characters
who is Buck at the beginning vs. the end?
beginning- strong, well-treated dog living a comfortable life
end- he has freedom, purpose, and a calling. He discovers his true identity/ calling. He is a killer and fierce.
what was the Klondike gold rush?
the event that caused mass migration to the north
why is Buck stolen?
what is the law of club and fang?
the law of club is you must do whatever the guy with the club says or you'll get hit. the law of fang is the survival rule among animals that you shouldn't mess with other dogs or they might hurt you.
what is true authority?
treating others with respect and justice, and using strength to lead, not dominate.
Who is Spitz and why is he a poor leader?
Spitz is a dog in the sled group. He is a poor leader because he tries to hurt all of the other members and steals, and doesn't lead them.
why were sled dogs valuable?
they made it easier to transport goods and other things.
what happens to curly?
he died because of trying to be friendly to Spitz and the other dogs.
what does leadership mean in this novel?
to have authority over the dogs through strength and to lead them the right way.
how does Buck show responsibility?
by leading the sled team using his strength. he also learns how to survive through hardships.
why is John Thornton important?
He saves Buck and cares for him when he's hurt. He becomes very close with Buck and is like his owner.
how does the environment affect survival?
The dogs had to dig themselves holes in the snow to stay warm at night.
how does Buck become leader?
he defeats Spitz
how does Buck learn wisdom?
through law of club and fang.
where do we see justice?
when Buck learns the law of club and fang to survive. John Thornton also shows justice the way he treats Buck.
what role does judge miller play?
He is the owner of where Buck first lived.
what dangers exist in the Yukon?
low temperatures and harsh conditions. The dogs must run for a long time in the cold for long stretches.
why does Buck refuse to pull the sled?
he is exhausted and starving from Hal, Mercedes, and Charles not treating them well. His conscience helps them.
what is the "call of the wild"?
buck's true nature to the "ghost dog"
how does memory shape buck''s actions?
through the law of club and fang to survive and not do bad things making him get hit and hurt.
why do Hal, Charles, and Mercedes fail?
Hal is inexperienced, and impatient. Charles is weak and ineffective. And Mercedes is selfish and unprepared. They are all selfish, foolish, and irresponsible.
why is settling crucial to the story?
to show the crucial conditions and harsh treatment they went through.
what happens after thorntons death?
buck is on his own and free to go to his calling. he also kills the tribe that killed John thornton.
how does buck's journey end?
he lives freely in the wild, confident and full after John thornton's death.
how does buck's journey relate to vocation?
he finds him calling at the end which acts as his vocation to be the ghost dog, which is his legendary identity.