|The Call of the Wild
Theme: Surviving in the Wild
Grades: Grades 7-8
The Call of the Wild is a classic dog story that explores the
role environment plays in shaping character. Buck is a privileged, dignified
dog who is taken from his southern Californian home and shipped to Alaska
during the 1890's Gold Rush. Along the way, Buck is mistreated by a
series of owners, and he learns to survive as a member of a dog sled
team. As a result, Buck soon realizes that in these more primitive settings,
"the law of club and fang" overrides the rules of civilized society.
With each new experience Buck regressess, or reverts to a more primitive
state. Finally, an experience of loss challenges Buck's last ties to
- Concept Web.
Ask students to work independently or in small groups to create a
word web, a spider map, or another graphic organizer that explores
one or more of the following concepts: the wild, nobility, instinct,
civilization. You might encourage students who are having difficulty
getting started to 1) define the concept, perhaps beginning with a
dictionary entry; 2) give specific examples from their own experience
to illustrate it; and 3) list their personal reactions to and associations
with the concept.
- Panel Discussion.
Have students hold a panel discussion on the characteristics of dogs
and wolves. Students may focus on some of the questions that follow:
- What physical characteristics do dogs and wolves share? How
do they differ?
- In what ways are the instincts and behaviors of dogs like those
of wolves? How do they differ? What are the advantages and disadvantages
of trying to "tame" a wolf?
- What might it take to make a tame animal turn wild?
Ask students the following question: Who is civilized in The
Call of the Wild and who is wild, or uncivilized? Divide students
into two groups and have them debate two sides to the question.
Instruct them to define each term, answer the question, and cite
specific examples from the novel. Have each side explain what, in
their opinion, is the most important difference between being civilized
- Letter to the Author.
Have your students identify three of Buck's character traits; instruct
them to first identify the traits that the narrator admires, and then
identify the traits that they agree are positive and admirable traits.
Have them imagine that they could converse with Jack London about
their opinions; have them write a letter to Jack London in which they
explain why they agree or disagree with London's evaluations.
- Dog Training.
Have your students research different methods for training "wild"
dogs, and write a comparison of their finding with Buck's training
as a sled dog.
- Return to Civilization?
Instruct students to research incidents of dogs taken from the wild
and "tamed," and vice versa. Have them answer the following question
after they have completed their research: Could Buck have returned
to civilized life on the plantation?