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Summary:
Buck, a Saint Bernard-Scotch shepherd mix, lived the good life on Judge Miller’s ranch in the Santa Clara Valley until he
was kidnapped by Manuel, a gardener’s assistant with a gambling problem. Manuel shipped Buck north to become a sled dog in the Yukon Territories. In Seattle Buck was broken by a man with a club, providing him with his initiation into his
savage new life. There he and Curly, a good-natured Newfoundland, were purchased by Perrault and François who were couriers for the Canadian Government. On board the Narwhal, Buck and Curly joined Spitz and Dave, two other dogs,
for the journey north. Arriving in the Yukon, Buck experiences snow for the first time.

Questions:
1. 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?
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.”?
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?

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Summary:
During his first few days in the Yukon, Buck had to learn many lessons to survive under the frigid north’s unwritten “law
of club and fang.” He learned from watching Curley’s violent death that the husky dogs of the north fought like wolves
and that to be knocked off your feet in a fight was a death sentence. He learned how to pull a sled after François harnessed him between Dave and Spitz (the lead dog) who were seasoned sled dogs. François, Dave, and Spitz were stern teachers who taught Buck by punishing his mistakes with fangs and whip.
When Perrault added three more dogs to the team, Buck learned by watching how they got along with the other dogs. Billie and Joe were brothers. Billie was good-natured and was quickly bullied by Spitz. Joe met Spitz’s aggression with snarls and growls so terrible that Spitz left him alone. The third dog, Sol-leks (the angry one) was a grizzled veteran who only wanted to be left alone to do his job. Buck learned the hard way not to approach Sol-leks on his blind side. From Billie, Buck learned how to build a warm nest in the snow to survive the frigid nights. In the next few days, the team traveled forty miles per day. Harnessed between Dave and Sol-leks, Buck learned even more about being a sled dog when they rewarded his every mistake with snarls and bites. Buck’s final lesson moved him another step from his previous “civilized” life. He learned to guard his food fiercely and to eat it quickly before other dogs could steal it. The “law of club and fang” also taught him to become an accomplished
thief who would steal food from human or dog with no remorse.
As much as he learned from watching, Buck’s survival was aided by an awakening of “instincts long dead.” Quickly he
became more and more like his wild ancestors.

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?
5. 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 answer

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Summary:
As their journey north proceeded, Buck became stronger and wiser. Because of this wisdom, he ignored Spitz’s bullying, knowing that he wasn’t ready to fight Spitz. This wisdom failed him when Spitz stole his warm nest one especially frigid
night. Buck and Spitz were poised to fight to the death when the camp was over-run by ravenous wild dogs from a nearby Indian village. The nine team dogs were all injured in the attack and barely escaped with their lives after fighting their
way into the forest to hide.
With four miles left to Dawson City, the team faced the hardest part of the trip in terrible condition. During this period,
Buck learned new respect for Perrault and François. Even though they pushed the dogs to make time, they often put
the dogs’ welfare before their own. Several days into their nightmare journey, François saved Buck by killing Dolly, one
of the team that had caught hydrophobia and chased Buck for miles trying to attack him. François again saved Buck from
Spitz’s attack after Buck collapsed in exhaustion following his escape from Dolly.
The climax of the chapter comes when Buck and Spitz finally fight. Relying on fierceness and cunning that came from all
that he had learned in the north, as well as his reawakened instincts, Buck killed Spitz as a ring of savage huskies looked on.

Questions:
1. Describe Spitz’s character using examples from the chapter to support your answer.
2. How do François and Perrault display their true natures in this chapter? Give specific examples to support your answer.
3. How does Buck begin to undermine Spitz’s authority in this chapter? What were the effects of Buck’s actions? What does this say about Buck’s transformation from a “southland dog?”
4. In the following quotation what does London mean by “the dominant primordial beast” ?
A pause seemed to fall. Every animal was motionless as though turned to stone. Only Spitz quivered and bristled as he staggered back and forth,
snarling with horrible menace, as though to frighten off impending death. Then Buck sprang in and out; but while he was in, shoulder had at last
squarely met shoulder. The dark circle became a dot on the moon-flooded snow as Spitz disappeared from view. Buck stood and looked on, the
successful champion, the dominant primordial beast who had made his kill and found it good. (31)
5. What traits have helped Buck thrive in his new world? Of them, which do you think is the most important? Why?

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Summary:
The next day Perrault and François deciphered what happened to Spitz from Buck’s fresh wounds. They decided to make Sol-leks lead dog because of his experience and were shocked when Buck attacked the older dog demanding to take Spitz’s place. For the rest of the morning, the men tried to force Buck back into his place in line to no avail. Aware that they were falling behind schedule, they gave in and put Buck as lead dog. The men were delighted to find that Buck was an outstanding leader. He made quick, sure decisions and soon forced the rest of the team to do their best. He even succeeded in bullying the fierce Joe into shape, something Spitz had never been able to do. The team finished the run in record time and then was sold by a tearful
Perrault and François to a “Scotch-half breed.” Under his direction, the team pulled a heavy load of mail back down the trail they had just traveled. Along the way, Dave became ill. His condition worsened until the drivers unharnessed him so that
he could run along with the team without pulling the heavy load. But, Dave’s pride as a sled dog would not accept his new role. He forced the drivers to let him serve in the traces until he could no longer go on. At that point the driver had to shoot him. This was another lesson for Buck.

Questions:
1. 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?

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Summary:
After a month on the trail, Buck and the rest of the team were exhausted. But, instead of receiving the rest they needed
and deserved, they were sold to greenhorns from the United States. Hal, Charles, and Mercedes were weak, inexperienced, and foolish. They did not listen to the experienced drivers but left town with the team still weak and exhausted. Early in the trip they overfed the dogs to try to strengthen them. This resulted in their having to underfeed the dogs later in the
trip. Several of the new team dogs starved and the experienced dogs suffered horribly under the men’s callous care. When they reached John Thornton’s camp, the dogs were near the end of their stamina and the trail was deteriorating. Ignoring Thornton’s advice not to go on, they prepared to head out onto treacherous ice. Buck refused to go any farther due to
exhaustion and a feeling of “impending doom.” Hal whipped and beat Buck nearly to death until John Thornton saved him.
Watching together, Thornton and Buck witnessed the remaining members of the team and their foolish human drivers
disappear into the black water as the ice gave way.

Questions:
1. Reread London’s first description of Hal and Charles. (41) What do you think will happen to them based on this initial description?
2. What was Mercedes’ reaction when experienced men went through her belongs to lighten the load? What does this say
about her and about her relationship with her husband and brother?
3. Compare Charles, Hal, and Mercedes to any other characters you’ve met in other books, movies, plays, television shows, or real life. What traits did Buck have that allowed him to adapt to the north that they lacked?
4. Why do you think London included these three characters in the book? What do they represent?
5. Why did Buck refuse to rise and lead the team? What did he have that his masters lacked?

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Call of the Wild Audiobook Chapter 5 and 6

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Summary:
Under Thornton’s loving care, Buck regained his strength. For the first time in his life, Buck experienced “love, genuine
passionate love.” Buck more than rewarded Thornton’s care by saving his life on several occasions. The first came in Circle City when “Black” Burton attacked Thornton. Buck nearly killed Burton and was saved from death when the local jury
ruled that he was only defending his master. The second time came when Thornton was thrown overboard into treacherous rapids. Thornton’s partners, Pete and Hans, tied a rope around Buck and he swam to Thornton who was then pulled
to safety with his arms wrapped tightly around Buck’s neck. The last incident happened that winter in Dawson. Thornton
foolishly bet all of his and his friends’ money that Buck could break from the ice and pull a sled carrying a thousand
pounds for a hundred yards. With his love for Thornton driving him, Buck was able to complete this seemingly impossible task.

Questions:
1. How did Buck’s relationship with John Thornton differ from his relationships with his previous masters? How does
London illustrate Buck’s intense feelings for Thornton? How is this in keeping with his new, more primitive self? How
does Buck balance his love for Thornton with his more primitive self?
2. What does London mean by the following quotation:
“He was older than the days he had seen and the breaths he had drawn.” (57)
3. How does Buck’s love for Thornton compare to Dave’s love of toiling in the traces?
4. Explain the meaning of the following quotation:
[Each] day mankind and the claims of mankind slipped farther from him. Deep in the forest a call was sounding, and as often as he heard this call, mysteriously thrilling and luring, he felt compelled to turn his back upon the fire, and to plunge into the forest … But as often as he gained the soft unbroken earth and the green shade, the love of John Thornton drew him back to the fire again. (57)

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Call of the Wild Audiobook Chapter 5 and 6

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Summary:
With the money they won betting on Buck, Thornton and his partners traveled deep into the wilderness to search for a
fabled lost mine. Buck enjoyed the hunting and fishing that went along with their travels. The men found a great gold strike and toiled night and day. This left Buck to wander the wilderness until he met a timber wolf. Responding to the call, he traveled with the wolf for miles. Buck then felt the pull of his master and returned to Thornton’s camp where he
didn’t leave his master’s sight for two days before he felt the call of the wild wolf again. Soon Buck was again wandering the
wilderness. He grew in strength and cunning over the months. He was at his peak when, during one of his wanderings, he attacked and killed a giant bull moose by himself. After this he felt the call of his master and returned to camp. As he
approached camp, he found Nig, one of Thornton’s other dogs dead from a Yeehat arrow. Hurrying into camp he found
that the Yeehats had massacred Thornton, Pete, Hans, and all of the dogs. Driven into a murderous rage at the death of
his master, Buck killed several of the Yeehat party until they sought refuge in the forest. With his master dead, Buck was
free to fully answer the call of the wild. Joining the wolf pack, he quickly became their leader, and for many years afterward,
the Yeehats would tell stories of the giant wolf-like creature that ruled a hidden valley that they were afraid to enter.

Questions:
1. London describes Buck’s dreams of the primitive man: “The salient thing of this other world seemed fear.” (68) What
does he mean by this? Why would that be true? Why isn’t Thornton’s world filled with fear?
2. Why is Buck intent on befriending the wolf? What makes him break off their travels to return to camp? What does this say about Buck’s place in the world?
3. What does Buck’s fight with the bear and the moose display about his embrace of the call? Why do you think London
included them in the story? What predictions can you make about Buck’s future?
4. What does Buck learn from his slaughter of the Yeehats? Does this make his answering of the call harder or easier? Explain.
5. Does the book have a happy or sad ending? Explain your answer. What do you think London would say?

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1. Select one of the following items for research:
• Jack London’s life
• Klondike Gold Rush and/or the California Gold Rush (compare and contrast)
• Dog breeds: Scotch Shepherds and St. Bernards. What other breeds would fare well in the Artic Circle?
• Alaska: its people and climate
• The Iditarod and sled racing
• Geography: Create a map of the west coast, from the Yukon Territory to San Diego (1), and mark places along the
path mentioned in the novel.
• Wolves and dogs: behaviors and pack mentality
2. Jack London writes about his main character Buck as if he were a person. This literary technique is called “anthropomorphism,”
or giving human qualities to nonhumans. By using anthropomorphism, London helps readers identify with Buck.
• Write a journal entry about pets or animals you have known that behave almost as if they were people. Detail events
and expressions that helped you discover what that animal was thinking.
• Photo journaling: Using lots of pictures of dogs, write a journal entry about what each dog is thinking. What clues
give you an indication of the dog’s thoughts?
3. Create a running journal of Buck’s character and degree of “wildness” throughout the novel. Document each situation
that changes him and tell how he changes or adapts.

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Choose 1 Activity to Complete:
1. Research the Yukon: its climate, geography, and people. Create a landscape (2 or 3-dimensional) that shows your understanding of the place.