Theme
What is the main theme of the novel?
Survival of the fittest
What is Buck's internal conflict?
Stay a domesticated, working animal that lives under an owner... OR leave civilization and become a wild animal
Who is the antagonist in the first half of the book?
Spitz
Who symbolized evil to the Yeehats?
Buck
What POV is the story written in?
Third-person (omniscient)
When Buck kills several Yeehat tribe members, what is London trying to say about man versus dog?
He is now uncivilized AND animals are stronger than humans
Buck is an outsider with the other sled dogs when he first arrives. What type of conflict would this be considered?
Character VS society
What would Buck & Spitz both believe that a great sled dog team must have?
A great leader
What is one way Jack London creates suspense when Buck is pulling the sled for the bet at the end of Chapter 6?
He emphasizes how long is takes Buck to get started...
Which setting (in the Yukon) feels the most like "home" for Buck?
The wilderness surrounding Thornton's lodge in the valley... he feels very connected to his instincts/wild side.
When Buck is beaten by the man in the red sweater, the text states, "That club was a revelation. It was his introduction to the reign of primitive law" (London). What was Buck's revelation?
A man with a club (or a powerful dog) can do as he pleases to weaker creatures. This is much fiercer than what he is used to in Santa Clara.
In chapter 7, why does Buck constantly return to John Thornton after his adventures with the timber wolf?
He is battling an internal conflict and does not know what to do.
Why would it be considered situational irony that Buck is eager to answer the call of the wild and lead a pack of wild wolves?
Readers see the complete opposite at the beginning. He begins the book as a privileged, domesticated pet.
When Buck first gets to the Yukon, the text states that the animals and people "were not town dogs and men”, What does this mean?
These individuals were uncivilized and would do anything to survive. This is very different compared to the people in California
Jack London's tone throughout the book can be considered harsh, sympathetic, intense/dramatic, etc... When reading about Buck's life on the trail, how does this make readers feel?
Readers are sympathetic and admire his strength when seeing the hardships that Buck overcomes.
When John Thornton is killed, what is a good theme that the readers learn?
Never take anything for granted. Life can change in a blink of an eye.
When Hal beats Buck, John Thornton is unable to stay quiet, and he steps in to save Buck. This is an example of which type of conflict?
Character VS Self
Looking at the quote below, what effect does the constant hard work and starvation have on Buck?
Quote from Chapter 6: "He was older than the days he had seen and the breaths he had drawn" (London).
Buck feels older than he actually is.
What is London trying to say in this quote from Chapter 2... "They were savages, all of them, who knew no law but the law of club and fang" (London).
The dogs knew that, in the Yukon, it is survival of the fittest. They must be uncivilized and fierce in order to survive.
"dog eat dog world"
Readers see Buck change throughout the book to survive the harsh conditions. Considering this concept, what is one character trait to describe him.
Adaptable
Compare Buck & John Thornton's love for each other.
Buck knows he loves John, but also wants to leave him for the wild. John is completely devoted to Buck and being his owner.
What did the man in the red sweater teach Buck?
"The club of the man in the red sweater had knocked all blind pluck and rashness out of his [Buck's] desire for mastery” (London).
Foolish, rash aggressiveness will lead to pain/failure, so Buck must be patient, cunning, and calculated to survive.
Buck adapts to survive in the harsh Yukon by observing the other sled dogs. What is one habit that Buck observes but does not pick up from the other dogs?
Attacking others for fun/no reason
In chapter 5, John Thornton warns Hal & the others that he "wouldn’t risk my carcass on that ice for all the gold in Alaska". They ignore his warning and continue. John makes decisions based on ________, while some others make decisions based on __________.
In the search for gold, many people decided to make decisions based on emotion/greed (others) rather than facts (John).
Fill in the blank: Anthropomorphism is a type of _____________ that makes the human qualities seem natural to the nonhuman thing.
personification