Chapter 3
Discussion Questions:
1.) Describe Spitz's character using examples from the chapter to support your answer.
Spitz is very mean and a bully. He is mean when he takes Buck's sleeping nest. And Spitz is is a bully when he picks fights with Buck on purpose.
2.) How do Francois and Perrault display their true natures in this chapter? Give specific examples to support your answer?
They show that they are fair when they hit the dog that started the fight, they are protective when they fight the wild dogs to protect their dogs, and they are efficient with their job by getting to places quickly and on time.
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"?
Buck begins to undermine Spitz's authority when he fights with Spitz and doesn't let Spitz take his stuff. The effects were that the dogs started doing their own thing and Perrault and Francois started to lose control. It means that Buck is now more of a wolf than a dog.
4.) In the following quotation what does London mean by the "dominant primordial beast"?
"A pause seemed to fall. Every animals 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." (p. 31)
London means that now Buck is the dog in charge and has instincts from that time.
5.) What traits have helped Buck thrive in his new world? Of them, why do you think is most important? Why?
Imagination, quick learning, and leadership have helped him thrive. I think the most important is his imagination. I think so because being able to come up with new ways to do things is important. Also it helps to be able to fight a battle in your head as well as in real live.
1.) Describe Spitz's character using examples from the chapter to support your answer.
Spitz is very mean and a bully. He is mean when he takes Buck's sleeping nest. And Spitz is is a bully when he picks fights with Buck on purpose.
2.) How do Francois and Perrault display their true natures in this chapter? Give specific examples to support your answer?
They show that they are fair when they hit the dog that started the fight, they are protective when they fight the wild dogs to protect their dogs, and they are efficient with their job by getting to places quickly and on time.
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"?
Buck begins to undermine Spitz's authority when he fights with Spitz and doesn't let Spitz take his stuff. The effects were that the dogs started doing their own thing and Perrault and Francois started to lose control. It means that Buck is now more of a wolf than a dog.
4.) In the following quotation what does London mean by the "dominant primordial beast"?
"A pause seemed to fall. Every animals 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." (p. 31)
London means that now Buck is the dog in charge and has instincts from that time.
5.) What traits have helped Buck thrive in his new world? Of them, why do you think is most important? Why?
Imagination, quick learning, and leadership have helped him thrive. I think the most important is his imagination. I think so because being able to come up with new ways to do things is important. Also it helps to be able to fight a battle in your head as well as in real live.
Vocabulary:
Malingerer - pretend to be sick to avoid work
"Pike, the malingerer"(p. 33)
Marauders - raid for plunder
"to find the marauders gone"(p. 34)
Covert - secret, disguised
"With the covert mutiny of Buck"(p. 41)
Insidious - stealthily treacherous or deceitful
"The insidious revolt"(p. 43)
Travail - Painfully difficult work, toil
"the articulate travail of existence"(p. 42)
Placatingly - appeasing
"and whined not half so placatingly"(p. 43)
Inexorable - unyielding, unalterable
"Buck was inexorable"(p. 48)
Malingerer - pretend to be sick to avoid work
"Pike, the malingerer"(p. 33)
Marauders - raid for plunder
"to find the marauders gone"(p. 34)
Covert - secret, disguised
"With the covert mutiny of Buck"(p. 41)
Insidious - stealthily treacherous or deceitful
"The insidious revolt"(p. 43)
Travail - Painfully difficult work, toil
"the articulate travail of existence"(p. 42)
Placatingly - appeasing
"and whined not half so placatingly"(p. 43)
Inexorable - unyielding, unalterable
"Buck was inexorable"(p. 48)
Activities (Choose one):
1.) Write a journal entry about a bully you have know. How is your bully similar to Spitz?
She is mean and rude. She doesn't mind anyone's privacy, always wondering what we are doing. She is like Spitz because she stole some of my food once. And Spitz had once stolen Buck's. I really didn't like her. And now I don't see her anymore.
1.) Write a journal entry about a bully you have know. How is your bully similar to Spitz?
She is mean and rude. She doesn't mind anyone's privacy, always wondering what we are doing. She is like Spitz because she stole some of my food once. And Spitz had once stolen Buck's. I really didn't like her. And now I don't see her anymore.