The Call of the Wild
Study Guide
Chapter One—Into the Primitive
Vocabulary
primitive—an early stage; simple; crude
veranda—a wide porch
demesne—an area under one’s control; domain
populace—population, number
unwonted—unusual
obscure—hidden
recesses—alcoves, hiding places
egotistical—thinking only of one’s self
insular—cut off from
progeny—children
intimated—hinted, suggested
lacerated—cut, torn
impending calamity—coming closer
boded ill—was a sign of bad things in the future
metamorphosed—changed into
morose—sad
weazened—wrinkled with age
1. From whose perspective is part of this chapter told? Why is this viewpoint a little unusual?
2. In what type of narration is the story told?
3. What has created the demand for large, strong dogs?
4. London describes Buck as “king over all…things of Judge Miler’s place, humans included.” (p.12)
Since he is not really a king, why does the narrator refer to him in that way?
5. Why does Manuel steal Buck?
6. Explain how Buck gets from Manuel to Perrault.
7. What has happened to Buck’s temperament during his journey? Find a quote that shows his
transformation.
8. What lesson does Buck learn from the man with the club that he never forgets?
9. There are many incidents of anthropomorphism in the book. Find one on page 17 and explain it.
10. Why does Perrault say that Buck is “one in ten thousand”?
Chapter Two—The Law of Club and Fang
Vocabulary
primordial—primitive
peril—danger
imperative—important, necessary
vicarious—secondhand, rather than direct experience
draught—pulling
reproof—blame
ere—before
introspective—inward-looking
appeasing—soothing
diabolical—devilish
incarnation—exactness; absolute
discomfiture—embarrassment
belligerent—warlike, angry
prowess—power
indiscretion—an unwise act
consternation—confusion; fear
ignominious—marked by shame or disgrace
disconsolate—very sad, gloomy
ravenous—very hungry
placating—calming, soothing
fastidiousness—neatness; attention to detail
heralded—announced
primeval—primitive
1. Judging from the chapter title, what would you guess that this chapter is about?
2. What is the first thing Buck learns about dog fights? What is the second thing?
3. Why might you guess that Spitz is going to be Buck’s chief enemy?
4. Who do Perrault and Francois work for? Why is a good dog team so important to them?
5. From this point on, what is the setting for this story?
6. Why does sol-leks get upset when a dog approaches him on his blind side?
7. Find an example of foreshadowing in this chapter. What does the example to to the reader?
8. What lesson does Buck learn about surviving the cold winter nights?
9. Buck learns how to work in the harness from Dave and Sol-leks, and he learns much by observing
others, but what does the narrator say he learned from instinct?
10. On page 21 the narrator says, “This first theft marked Buck as fit to survive in the hostile Northland
environment.” What point is London making in the quotation?
11. What does London mean when he says, “His development (or retrogression) was rapid”? (pg. 22)
12. What is implied about Buck on the last paragraph of this story? Relate it to the title.
Chapter Three—The Dominant Primordial Beast
Vocabulary
prone—having a tendency
precipitate—foolish, unwise
divined—guessed
trice—instant
din—noise
daunted—stopped, discouraged
preeminent—outstanding, excellent
shirks—avoids work
malingerer—something or someone who avoids work
goaded—pushed
grievously—seriously
dubiously—doubtful
prostrate—lying flat
resolutely—determinedly
skirted—avoided
travail—difficulty
covert—hidden, secret
insidious—evil
placatingly—calming
wraith—ghost
wan—pan, faint
ecstasy—joy
paradox—mystery
exultantly—triumphantly
inexorable—unable to be stopped
resolutely—firmly
1. What is foreshadowed in the last sentence of the second paragraph
2. Why”? does the narrator say that a fight between Buck and Spriz is inevitable?
3. How does the narrator show that Buck is getting more like his wild, untamed ancestors?
4. On page 33 how does the narrator show that Buck is now truly a savage animal?
5. On pages 35-36, what vivid picture does the author depict?
6. Why does the narrator refer to Buck as the “dominant, primordial beast
Chapter Four—Who Has Won to Mastership
Vocabulary
obdurate—stubborn, firm
celerity—swiftness
consultation—a meeting in which views are exchanged
perplexed—confused, bewildered
remnant—something left over
lugubriously—sadly
1. Why does Buck refuse to be harnessed to the sled at first?
2. How is delivering dispatches different from simply delivering the mail?
3. What is another sign that Buck is becoming more of a wild animal and less of a domesticated dog?
4. On pages 42-43, what are the dreams Buck has of a man squatting by a fire in the darkness?
5. Dave is hurt internally. Why does he still insist on his place in the harness?
6. Inn the last paragraph what may we infer happens behind the river trees?
Chapter Five—The Toil of Trace and Trail
Vocabulary
congested—crowded
salient—standing out; attracting attention
callowness—immaturity
manifestly—completely
slipshod—poorly maintained
slovenly—sloppily
inevitable—not capable of being avoided or prevented
remonstrance—a strong objection
abide—to remain, stay
superfluous—unnecessary; beyond what is required
averred—stated positively
zeal—eagerness and enthusiasm
formidable—inspiring fear, dread, or alarm
cajole—coax
amenities—courteous acts of polite behavior
copious—full, plenty
perambulating—walking about
innocuously—harmlessly, innocently
terse—short, brief
Q.E.D.—(Latin)—therefore
voracious—greedy
importuned—pleaded, urged
evinced--showed
1. Identify the literary term in the following quotation: “The congested mail was taking on Alpine
proportions.” (pg. 48)
2. “Both men were manifestly out of place, and why such as they should adventure the North is part of the
mystery of things that passes understanding.” (pg. 48) London sometimes tends to be wordy. How might
the above sentence be put more simply?
3. 3. In your opinion, does Landon’s style of writing make the story more or less enjoyable for you?
4. What is the meaning of this sentence: “The two mongrels were without spirit at all; bones were the only
things breakable about them”? (pg. 52)
5. During the trip, what human qualities does London attribute to Buck? What is this term called? Do you
think Buck might know something like this?
6. How do the people change in the course of the trip?
7. How does the people’s own arrogance bring on disaster?
8. What had saved Buck?
9. Who saves Buck? How is it done? What do you expect will happen next?
10. Find the irony in the last thing John says.
Chapter Six—For the Love of a Man
Vocabulary
waxed—grew
feigned—false
ministrations—aid, help
transient—moving on
entice—to attract by tempting
convalescence—period of recovery from an illness
expediency—selfishly, practically
peremptorily—allowing no contradiction
imperious—overbearing, domineering
animated—lively
plethoric—excessive amount
provocation—act of provoking, arousing
extremity—the end
conjuration—the act of practicing magic
1. Why is Buck surprised that Thornton’s two other dogs, Nig and Skeet, are not jealous of the
attention Thornton pays Buck?
2. In this chapter, what do “fire” and “fire and roof” symbolize or represent?
3. In what ways is Buck still a wild, cunning dog?
4. When the narrator says, “Kill or be killed, eat or be eaten, was the law and this mandate, down out of
the depths of Time, he obeyed,” what law is London talking about? (pg. 64)
5. In contrast to “fire,” what does the author use to represent or symbolize the wild, primitive life?
6. Buck, on occasions, answers the call of the wild but always returns. Why?
7. On what three occasions does Buck show his fierce devotion to Thornton?
8. Explain how the following sentence is a metaphor: “…another exploit…that put his name many
notches higher on the totem-pole of Alaskan fame.” (pg. 69)
9. Since you have seen so many amazing deeds performed by Buck, is pulling one thousand pounds
surprising? Support your opinion.
Chapter Seven—The Sounding of the Call
Vocabulary
salient—outstanding
obliterated—completely removed
commingled—mixed together
overture—an offer or proposal
pertinacity—stubbornness
paroxysms—spasms or fits
contagion—disease
certitude—freedom from doubt
calamity—disaster
stealthily—secretly
cessation—stopping, ending
vigil—period of alert watchfulness
1. On page 76, Buck has the old dream again. What is he dreaming about?
2. Besides visions of the hairy, prehistoric man, what else is making Buck uneasy?
3. Answering the call of the wild one night, what does Buck come upon that runs off?
4. To satisfy his blood-lust, what larger animal does he stalk and finally kill?
5. After marching out of camp, how is Buck transformed?
6. What is the first indication to the reader that there might be trouble back at the camp?
7. When Buck finds Nig with an arrow protruding from his body, why are we not surprised that there are
Indians in the area?
8. What is Buck now free to do after he discovers the destroyed camp?
9. In what ways have the wolves in the area changed and why?
10. What has become of Buck over the years?