The Call of the Wild ​
Reading/Discussion Questions: Chapter One: What kind of dog is Buck when we first meet him? How does Buck go “Into the Primitive” in this chapter, literally and/or figuratively? What does the man in the red sweater teach Buck? Is this a good or a bad lesson to learn? Chapter Two: What type of masters are Francois and Perrault? Who are the other dog characters at this point? What are their personalities? What is the importance of the vicarious lesson Buck learns through Curly’s death? What is the law of club and fang? Does this law rule in the Southland as well? What moment signifies a turning point for Buck’s personal character in this chapter? (19) What is the significance of Buck being kicked out of the men’s tent and having to learn how to stay warm at night? Who helps him? Chapter Three: What is significant about the “last straw” that makes Buck attack Spitz openly? What does it teach us and Buck when Dolly goes mad? How does Buck eventually kill Spitz, and what is the importance of the rabbit­chase? What does it mean to be the “Dominant Primordial Beast”? Chapter Four: Why do you think Buck is so determined to be lead dog? How does he go about insisting on his way, and what do his methods show he has learned since coming to the Northland? What “vision” does Buck see sometimes in the campfire? What does this signify? What do we learn from Dave’s death? What ingrained personality trait does London portray both Dave and Buck as sharing in this chapter? Chapter Five: Describe Hal, Charles, and Mercedes. What type of people are they? What seems to be the biggest character flaw of these owners? Why do the dogs begin to die off? Which dogs last the longest, and why? Apart from his extreme fatigue, why does Buck simply refuse to continue on across the ice after stopping at the mouth of White River? What type of man does John Thornton seem to be? Why does John Thornton not try harder to convince Hal, Charles, and Mercedes to not go any further? Why is he willing to stand up for Buck? Chapter Six: What is special about the way in which Buck loves John Thornton? How is it different from his relationship with Judge Miller. Why? What further understanding has Buck gained of the Law of Club and Fang? (59) The Call of the Wild ​
Reading/Discussion Questions: What experiment does John Thornton conduct that proves the depth of Buck’s love for him? What happens in the bar? How does Buck save John Thornton’s life? What remarkable feat does Buck accomplish that earns John Thornton a lot of money? Why is Buck able to accomplish something so impossible? Chapter Seven: What does John Thornton decide to fund with the money he wins? What kind of a man is John Thornton? How is this trip significantly different from Buck’s previous trips with other masters? What do John Thornton and his party end up finding instead of the Lost Cabin? What does Buck experience again during days when he lies by the fire, and how is it different or different to his initial experiences? What new longings does Buck begin to feel? What do they cause him to do? How does Buck make a new friend? What causes him to head back to camp? What event causes Buck to fully realize his killer instincts? How is this change important? Why does Pete say that “when [Buck] was made, the mold was broke”? (76) How does Buck overcome the bull moose? Who are the Yeehats? What does Buck catch them doing? How does he respond? How does Buck understand death? Why is Buck so proud of his response to the Yeehats? Why is Buck finally willing to join the wolf pack? Who is the visitor who goes each summer to the valley which the Yeehats will never enter? What is he doing? Final Discussion Questions: ● Describe the recurring vision that Buck has in the Northland. What does this vision symbolize? How does it change over time, and what might those changes mean? ● What is the role of love in this story? How does Buck’s understanding of love develop? ● Discuss the idea of nature (instinct) vs. nurture (experience) as it affects Buck’s survival in various environments. Be sure to include his strategy for survival in the Southland. ● What does it mean to be civilized? What is the role of morality in civilized society? ● Why is the plot climax the climax? What changes in Buck when he realizes that John Thornton is dead? ● What is the relevance/importance of the legend that develops about Buck after he joins the wild? ● What do the deaths of Hal, Mercedes, and Charlie teach the reader about the importance of experience to survival? Is instinct enough? ● What is the role of work in this story? How do the humans and dogs interact with it differently?