C CALL OF THE WILD: QUESTIONS AND JOURNAL PROMPTS

Call of the Wild: Chapter 1 Characterization – Describe Buck character (looks, personality, behavior). How does Bucks personality change? Who are the key characters in developing Buck’s new identity? Setting – Where does Buck live at the beginning? What role does this setting play in Buck’s personality at the beginning? How does the change of setting bring a change in Buck? Plot – How is Bucks life at the beginning? What/who changes his life? Theme – What does the man in the red sweater teach Buck? Why does Buck give in? Why do you think the other dog never gives in? Since this story is an allegory about Jack London, what does this say about how Jack London views the world?

Journal Prompt: Prediction Write what you think is going to happen to Buck in 3-4 sentences. Be specific! Don’t just write, “he’ll go _____” and call it good.

Call of the Wild: Chapter 2 Plot – What is happening? How is Buck’s relationship to the other dogs? What are some of the things Buck learns in this chapter? Characterization – Describe the personalities of the dogs. Setting – How does the setting affect Buck and Curly as they arrive? How does Buck adapt to the setting? Theme – Explain the “Law of Club and Fang” as it pertains to the dogs. How can this apply to society? How does Curly’s experience apply to the idea of kill or be killed? How can this apply to society? Why are the dogs so excited to work?

Journal Prompt: Define What is the “Law of Club and Fang”? How does Buck adapt to this law? How does this law apply to life as a teenager? (Answer with 2 paragraphs of 4 or more sentences)

Call of the Wild: Chapter 3 Plot –What causes Buck to start fighting back at Spitz? What happens with the wild dogs, and what is the result? How does Francois feel toward Buck? Characterization – Why does Buck avoid Spitz at the beginning? What is starting to secretly grow within Buck? How does Buck start out in this chapter, and how does he end? What is Francois occupation? Setting – What affect do the wild dogs have on the team? What are some of the dangers nature provides the team? Theme – What drives Buck further down the primitive road? How does Dolly fit into the topics? How does Buck fit in after the fight with Spitz? Why is it important for the dogs to work together as a team? How is the team dynamic undermined? How is the “dominant primordial beast” strong in Buck?

Journal Prompt: North vs South Despite the fact that Buck was a Southland, pampered dog, he winds up as the team leader. How did Buck become the top dog? Do you think the other hardened, Northland dogs like Sol-leks and Joe will accept Buck as the new leader? (Explain in a thorough paragraph)

Call of the Wild: Chapter 4 Plot – At first, who is Spitz’s replacement? How does Buck react to this? What happens to Francois and Perrault? What are some of the things Buck dreams of at night? Characterization – Talk about Buck’s new role. How is Buck handling everything? What happens with Dave? Setting – How does Buck adapt to the changes? Theme – Why do you think Dave did not want to give up his spot? What is Jack trying to tell us about society with Dave’s situation? How does the line “Buck knew, every dog knew” fit in with the topics?

Journal Prompt: Leadership How is Buck a more effective leader than Spitz?

Call of the Wild: Chapter 5 Plot – How many miles have the dogs traveled in less than five months? Who are the new owners of the team? How are the new owners handling the dogs? What happens to Buck and the rest of the team at the end? Characterization – Describe the new owners. Why are they there? What are they like? Setting – How do the new owners adapt to their environment? How does the change in climate affect the journey? Theme – Compare and contrast John Thornton and the new owners. Nature has its own laws, how do these laws affect the climax of the chapter?

Journal Prompt: Nature vs. Man It can be argued that nature always wins when mankind tries to fight it. How did the law of nature defeat Hal, Mercedes, and Charles? How did other people try to help the three understand this concept?

Call of the Wild: Chapter 6 Characterization – How has Buck changed? How has he earned a reputation? What remains the same with Buck? Describe Thornton’s personality. Setting – Nature constantly challenges Buck and Thornton, but they continue to overcome these challenges and form stronger bonds. What were some of the challenges? Plot – What are all the things Buck does to show his affection to Thornton? Theme – How is Thornton different from any other human Buck has encountered? What new law do think Buck learns? Even with this new law, Buck still has a yearning. What is he yearning for?

Journal Prompt: The Law of Love Chapter 6 is all about Buck’s love for Thornton. How does Buck show his love? How is Buck’s relationship with Thornton different than his previous relationship with Judge Miller? Do you think Buck would prefer the hardworking life with Thornton, or easy life in the sun kissed valley of Santa Clara? Explain.

Call of the Wild: Chapter 7 Plot – Who is Buck dreaming of running alongside early in the chapter? What does Buck hunt? What happens with the Yeehat Indians? What happens each year after the Yeehat incident? Setting – What place does the team look for? Characterization – Who does Buck meet in the forest? Theme – What two identities is Buck torn between at the beginning of the chapter? What is it the draws Buck to the wild? What is the final push for Buck to finally answer the call? Do you think Buck still follows the Law of Club and Fang at the end? Is Bucks transformation a triumph or tragedy?

Journal Prompt: Short Legged Hairy Man Which teacher do you think best fits the physical descriptions of the short legged, hairy man? What is peculiar about this human?