call of the wild essay outline

The Call of the Wild

Jack london, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Jack London's The Call of the Wild . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

The Call of the Wild: Introduction

The call of the wild: plot summary, the call of the wild: detailed summary & analysis, the call of the wild: themes, the call of the wild: quotes, the call of the wild: characters, the call of the wild: symbols, the call of the wild: literary devices, the call of the wild: theme wheel, brief biography of jack london.

Historical Context of The Call of the Wild

Other books related to the call of the wild.

• Full Title: The Call of the Wild
• When Written: 1903
• Where Written: California
• When Published: 1903
• Literary Period: Naturalism
• Genre: Adventure novel
• Setting: The late 1890s in Santa Clara, CA, briefly; then Alaska and the Canadian Klondike during the gold rush.
• Climax: Buck killing the Yeehats to avenge John Thornton's murder.
• Point of View: Third-person limited narrator, who narrates from Buck's perspective

Extra Credit for The Call of the Wild

A Darwinist designer. London was an avid Darwinist. In 1905 he purchased a ranch in Glen Ellen, California to develop farming techniques based on Darwin's theories.

A dog lover. London fought for custody of his husky, Brown Wolf, from his first wife, Bessie Maddern.

Themes and Analysis

The call of the wild, by jack london.

There is a range of themes, symbols, and key moments one should consider when analyzing Jack London’s ‘The Call of the Wild.’ These include Buck’s fight with Spitz, arrogance, man vs. nature, and more. 

About the Book

Article written by Emma Baldwin

B.A. in English, B.F.A. in Fine Art, and B.A. in Art Histories from East Carolina University.

Jack London employs a unique narrative perspective throughout this novel and asks readers to consider the dangers of over-civilization and the importance, or lack thereof, of material possessions and more.

The Call of the Wild Themes 

Transformation .

The novel’s main focus is Buck’s transformation from a pet dog in California to a wild dog running with a pack of wolves in the Alaskan wilderness. Throughout the book, he learns what it means to be “wild” and manages the skills it takes to survive in the harsh environment of the freezing North.

The wild is one of the most important themes in Jack London’s literary work. The concept of the wild “calling” to Buck is important to his evolution as a character and revitalizing his natural instincts. It’s not until the novel’s end that he fully gives in to the “call of the wild” and joins a pack of wolves in the wilderness.

The wild also presents horrifying dangers to everyone involved in the novel. Even Thornton, an avid outdoorsman, loses his life somewhat unexpectedly.

Mastery 

The theme of mastery is present throughout the entire novel. It begins with Buck in California experiencing a kind master who provides him with everything he needs in life. Judge Miller is wealthy and lives a life of relative ease. 

Buck’s perception of mastery changes when he’s thrust into the wild North and is no longer the master of his own environment, nor does he have a master who inspires loyalty. Throughout the novel, the various characters are all striving to master their surroundings and one another.

Analysis of Key Moments in The Call of the Wild 

• Buck is stolen from his California home by Manuel. 
• He meets Curly and watches Spitz kill her. 
• He is purchased by Francois to work as a sled dog. 
• He fights and kills Spitz and becomes the lead dog. 
• Francois sells the team to another mail carrier who mistreats them. 
• The team of dogs is sold again to three Americans. 
• They treat the dogs cruelly and show a great deal of arrogance about their environment. 
• John Thonront tries to warn them about thin ice, but they don’t listen. 
• Buck refuses to go out on the ice and is beaten by Hal. 
• John saves his life, and Buck watches as the remaining dogs and the Americans drown after plunging through the ice. 
• John Thornton becomes Buck’s best master and inspires his love and loyalty. 
• The two travel together and Buck proves his strength. 
• Thornton finds gold shortly before being killed by Yeehat Native Americans. 
• Buck kills tribe members in vengeance before joining a pack of wolves.

Style, Tone, and Figurative Language

Jack London employed an unusual writing style for ‘ The Call of the Wild .’ Much of the book is written from the perspective of Buck, a dog. But, he also uses a human narrator to provide integral details to one’s understanding of the story. 

Throughout, Jack London does not shy away from the violence and terror of life in the Yukon territory. There are moments in which the language is very stark and others in which it is more poetic. For example:

He was mastered by the sheer surging of life, the tidal wave of being, the perfect joy of each separate muscle, joint, and sinew in that it was everything that was not death, that it was aglow and rampant, expressing itself in movement, flying exultantly under the stars.

He also employs a contemplative tone throughout, as is seen in the above quote . Buck is constantly analyzing his situation and trying to understand what it takes to survive. Buck’s situation is also presented as incredibly sympathetic. Readers are consistently on Buck’s side and hoping that he finds happiness. 

London employs multiple examples of figurative language throughout this book. They include: 

• Metaphors 
• Personification

Analysis of Symbols 

Mercedes’ possessions .

Mercedes’ possessions symbolize over-civilization, arrogance, and ignorance. She feels the sled with so many items and even ditches other essentials in favor of her fashionable possessions that she helps bring about the final disaster that the falls her, her husband, and her brother.

The traces, or the bindings that attach the sled dogs to the sled symbolize service and labor. The dogs take pride in their strength and what they’re able to accomplish. But, at the same time, they don’t have a choice in the matter. Their master decides where they go and how fast they need to get there, and the dogs have to obey. 

The Call of the Wild 

The call of the wild is one of the primary symbols in this book. It’s a metaphorical call that keeps Buck’s attention and makes him want to step away from the remnants of his civilized life. It is not until the end of the book that he fully indulges “call” and leaves civilization and his human masters behind.

Why did Jack London write The Call of the Wild ?

London wrote this book to share some of what he saw while living for a year in the Yukon Territory. He also wrote it to convey the theme of transformation and how, over a period of time, one’s entire life and intentions can change. Buck transformed from a pet to a wild dog from the first to the last chapter. 

What is the meaning behind The Call of the Wild ?

The meaning behind the symbol “the call of the wild” is that the “call” triggers one’s instincts and desire to escape civilization. London suggests that wild instincts are far more natural to humanity and non-human animals, like dogs, than are the confines of civilized life. 

What can you learn from The Call of the Wild ?

You can learn that tapping into your instincts may provide insight and allow you to survive in difficult situations. The novel also teaches about the dangers of over-civilization and dependence on material possessions.

What is the main conflict of the novel The Call of the Wild ?

The main conflict is civilization versus the wild. Buck deals with an intense transformation as he has forced to contend with the new reality of the freezing northern Yukon. There, he has to set aside a civilized life and learn what it takes to survive in the wild.

About Emma Baldwin

Emma Baldwin, a graduate of East Carolina University, has a deep-rooted passion for literature. She serves as a key contributor to the Book Analysis team with years of experience.

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The Call of the Wild Essay

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The Call of the Wild - Study Guide

You don't have to love dogs to appreciate that Jack London 's The Call of the Wild (1903) is one of the best American novels. Why? We hope our study guide is particularly helpful for teachers and students to better understand the nuances of the story and its significance in American Literature.

Read the novel: The Call of the Wild , Character Analysis & Summary , Genre & Themes , Symbolism , Historical Context , Quotes , Discussion Questions , Paired Readings , Useful Links , and Notes/Teacher Comments

Character Analysis & Summary

Buck - The 140 pound Saint Bernard and Scotch Shepherd mix dog, who is the narrator of the story.

Judge Miller - Buck's first owner who raised him in a big house in the "sun-kissed" Santa Clara Valley, before Buck was abducted to the Yukon Territory to become a sled dog.

John Thornton - The first kind-hearted owner Buck has ever had in the Yukon, leading his team of sled dogs, which he treats humanely, compared to other men.

Perrault, Francois, Curly - French Canadian miners assembling their dog teams to find gold. Buck didn't like them, but respected them as a new kind of men. Perrault, in particular, knew dogs, recognizing Buck as "one in ten thousand."

Spitz - The dog who challenges Buck for the leadership position of the pack, losing a "fight to the death."

Yeehat Indians - The fictional tribe Jack London invented for the story, who are responsible for attacking Thornton's camp and murdering him (and his friends). Buck got his revenge by killing some, so they fear him as an evil spirit, a "Ghost Dog" they fear who dwells in the valley they will not enter.

Plot Summary

The story is told by a dog named Buck, a 140 pound Saint Bernard- Shepherd mix, who is abducted from his comfortable life as a pet to endure the cruel, chaotic, and harsh conditions as a working sled dog during the Klondike Gold Rush in the 1890s. Buck is mistreated by many owners before he ends up in the kindly hands of John Thornton, after enduring a severe beating for refusing to make an unsafe river crossing. Buck lets Thornton nurse him back to health. Thornton recognizes the dog's intelligence, strength, and assumed leadership of the pack as they endure many hardships in their quest to find gold. Their circumstances reduce their goal to mere survival, as both cannot ever fully recover from the cruelty of other men. Their enduring friendship becomes the defining featuring of their survival. Yeehat Indians attack Thornton's camp, killing Thornton, Hans, Pete and the dogs Skeet and Nig. Buck attacks the chief and rips his throat, the others try to shoot Buck, but hit their friends instead. Buck is regarded as an Evil Spirit, the Ghost Dog who kills hunters and warriors in the valley they refuse to enter. Buck provided his instinct and hardened heart; he is now truly wild. But he'll never forget the enduring love from one man, proven better than one in ten thousand.

Genre & Themes

London's story is in the genre of adventure fiction, though with a realistic historical setting; sub-genre is survival.

Primary Themes

Man/Dog vs. nature Man vs. man Man vs. dog Dog vs. dog

The law of club and fang

Secondary Themes

Authority hierarchies ( dominant primordial beast )

Some scars never heal ( physical and emotional )

Instinct rules : kill what you eat, trust your reflexes, trust no one, you might survive

Comparative Themes

Discipline with compassion ( Thornton ) vs. violence ( other men ) Conform vs. fight Brains vs. brawn ( Buck has both ) Trust ( Buck lets Thornton heal him ) vs. distrust ( Buck endures a beating rather than make an unsafe river crossing )

Chapter Headings

1: Into the Primitive 2: The Law of Club and Fang 3: The Dominant Primordial Beast 4: Who Has Won to Mastership 5: The Toil of Trace and Trail 6: For the Love of a Man 7: The Sounding of the Call

London employs a number of symbols in the story that impart a number of lessons (for both man and beast):

The Club - the symbol of domination and submission under its rule. It represents man's undisputed total domination over the dogs, there's no ambiguity in its power.

The Fang - represents the dogs' social hierarchy of established dominance, and their forced cooperative working relationship as a team subject to man's domination. It also represents the dogs' instinct for survival, work, and focus-on-mission, and their utter contrast to domestic dogs as pets.

Red - The color represents blood, death, and the cruelty capable of all men. The "man in the red sweater" whom Buck never forgot, is the symbol of all things cruel and hateful about man.

Historical Context

Jack London's story is set during the Klondike Gold Rush, in which an estimated 100,000 prospectors came to the Yukon, Canada after gold was discovered by local miners and reported to Seattle, triggering a stampede of wanna-be prospectors between 1896 - 1899. Most went home poor, but had plenty of stories to tell. The trip required passage from Southeast Alaska over Chilkoot Pass to the Yukon River, descending to the Klondike. Between the hazards of elevation and extreme weather conditions, many did not surive or abandoned their quest. By 1889, folks lost interest and the goldfield were abandoned for the most part, though gold mining activity continued until 1903, the same year London published his most famous book.

It's worth mentioning that the Yeehat Indian tribe is fictionalized. No such North American tribe exists. London made it up, along with their legend of the "Ghost Dog."

Explain what the following quotes mean and how they relate to the story:

"Old longings nomadic leap, Chafing at custom's chain; Again from its brumal sleep Wakens the ferine strain." Chpt. 1 epigraph

"During the four years since his puppyhood he had lived the life of a sated aristocrat; he had a fine pride in himself, was even a trifle egotistical, as country gentlemen sometimes become because of their insular situation." Chpt. 1

"They were new dogs, utterly transformed by the harness...the toil of the traces seemed the supreme expression of their being, and all that they lived for and the only thing in which they took delight." Chpt. 2

"An oath from Perrault, the resounding impact of a club upon a bony frame, and a shrill yelp of pain, heralded the breaking forth of pandemonium. The camp was suddenly discovered to be alive with skulking furry forms--starving huskies, four or five score of them, who had scented the camp from some Indian village. They had crept in while Buck and Spitz were fighting, and when the two men sprang among them with stout clubs they showed their teeth and fought back." Chpt. 3

"The driver went about his work, and he called to Buck when he was ready to put him in his old place in front of Dave...Buck was in open revolt. He wanted, not to escape a clubbing, but to have the leadership. It was his by right. He had earned it, and he would not be content with less." Chpt. 4

"He remembered the man in the red sweater, the death of Curly, the great fight with Spitz and the good things he had eaten or would like to eat. He was not homesick. The Sunland was very dim and distant, and such memories had no power over him. Far more potent were the memories of his heredity that gave things he had never seen before a seeming familiarity; the instincts (which were but the memories of his ancestors become habits) which had lapsed in later days, and still later, in him, quickened and became alive again. " Chpt. 4

"There was no power of recuperation left, no reserve strength to call upon. It had been all used, the last least bit of it. Every muscle, every fiber, every cell, was tired, dead tired. And there was reason for it. In less than five months they had traveled twenty-five hundred miles, during the last eighteen hundred of which they had but five days' rest." Chpt. 5

"They were perambulating skeletons. There were seven all together, including him. In their very great misery they had become insensible to the bite of the lash or the bruise of the club...when the club or whip fell upon them, the spark fluttered feebly up, and they tottered to their feet and staggered on." Chpt. 5

"Those who were looking on heard what was neither bark nor yelp, but a something which is best described as a roar, and `they saw Buck's body rise up in the air as he left the floor for Burton's throat...Buck loosed his teeth from the flesh of the arm and drove in again for the throat. This time the man succeeded only in partly blocking, and his throat was torn open...[Buck's] reputation was made, and from that day his name spread through every camp in Alaska." Chpt. 6

"But especially he loved to run in the dim twilight of the summer midnights, listening to the subdued and sleepy murmurs of the forest, reading signs and sounds as a man may read a book, and seeking for the mysterious something that called -- called, waking or sleeping, at all times, for him to come.” Chpt. 7

"'Never was there such a dog,' said John Thornton one day, as the partners watched Buck marching out of camp." Chpt. 7

“His cunning was wolf cunning, and wild cunning; his intelligence, shepherd intelligence and St. Bernard intelligence; and all this, plus an experience gained in the fiercest of schools, made him as formidable a creature as any that roamed the wild.” Chpt. 7

"The Yeehats tell of a Ghost Dog that runs at the head of the pack. They are afraid of this Ghost Dog, for it has cunning greater than they, stealing from their camps in the fierce winters, robbing their traps, slaying their dogs, and defying their bravest hunters." Chpt. 7

Discussion Questions

1. Why does London have Buck narrate the story?

2. Discuss the story's survival theme, particularly the meaning of " the law of club and fang. "

3. Describe Buck's character and how he establishes his dominance of the pack. Compare his innate abilities ( his breed and instincts ) versus his learned behaviors ( he was a pet who learned how to be a dominant Yukon dog ).

5. Provide textual evidence how London reveals the strong emotional connection between John Thornton and Buck, and how both been forever damaged by the cruelty of other men.

6. Describe Thornton's relationship with all the dogs, compared to Buck in particular.

7. Contrast specific behaviors of working sled dogs in this story ( how they eat, fight, work together, relate to humans ) versus domestic house dogs.

8. Identify and discuss the use of symbols in the novel ( start with the club, fang, red, food ).

9. Is this story considered " historical fiction "-- a realistic portrayal of the Yukon and the Klondike Gold Rush of the 1890s? Can you find any inaccuracies? Here's an Overview of the Klondike Gold Rush

10. Explain the legend of the "Ghost Dog."

11. Explain the idiom, "It's a dog-eat-dog world" as it relates to this story.

12. Read about Jack London 's life, including his year in the Yukon where he "found himself." How does his own story influence this one?

Movie time ! Watch the 1935 movie, ( yes, this is the old one in black & white ), The Call of the Wild (1935) , starring Clark Gable and Loretta Young, shot on Mt. Baker, Washington, where the cast endured real cruel winter conditions. Complete two columns contrasting book vs. movie adaptation ( really, a female love interest? )

Creative writing prompt : Write a story of your own using anthropomorphism narrating your pet's story. What stories would he/she tell about living with you?

Paired Reading Suggestions

Compare another story's plot, setting, symbols, writing style, and relationships with The Call of the Wild :

White Fang , considered its sequel. Which novel do you like better and why?

The Luck of Roaring Camp , Bret Harte 's short story about an unexpected baby's arrival to a mining camp.

A Dark Brown Dog , Stephen Crane 's short story anthroporphizing an alienated dog, set in the Jim Crow South during Reconstruction. What does the dog symbolize?

Holding Her Down , about hobos riding the Canadian Pacific rail lines.

To Build a Fire is our all-time favorite Jack London story about a man who slowly freezes to death, his dog knows better.

Read London's lesser-known story about an aging boxer: A Piece of Steak , compare both stories' themes of survival and the high stakes of a potential life-or-death fight.

Compare Lord Byron 's tribute poem to his beloved dog, Boatswain, Inscription on the Monument of a Newfoundland Dog

The Star Rover is a brutal story about a professor serving a life sentence for murder at San Quentin, San Francisco Bay.

Not known for his poetry, Daybreak is a touching departure from London's survival genre, about unrequitted love (requiring a different type of survival skills).

You choose : Select another author's survival story you like. Can the protagonist die and still fit this genre?

Useful Links

Biography and Works by Jack London

The Call of the Wild lesson plans & capstone project ideas

Anthropomorphism in The Call of the Wild

The Call of the Wild summary & background

History of the Klondike Gold Rush, 1896 - 1899

Sled Dogs: An Alaskan Epic

Indian Tribes of North America by region

20 Great American Short Stories

Short Stories for High School

Short Stories for Middle School

Notes/Teacher Comments

Visit our Teacher Resources for recommended works, supporting literacy instruction across all grade levels

American Literature's Study Guides

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Home Essay Samples Literature Call of The Wild

"Call of the Wild": Literary Analysis of Themes and Character Development

Table of contents, primal instincts and survival, civilization versus wilderness, buck's transformation and growth, conclusion: nature's unyielding influence.

• London, J. (1903). The Call of the Wild. Macmillan.
• Lundin, A. (1990). Jack London: A Writer's Fight for a Better America. University of Illinois Press.
• Stasz, C. (2009). Jack London A Life. Macmillan.
• Lehan, R. (1999). The City in Which I Love You: American Literature and the Idea of Home. NYU Press.
• Michaels, W. B. (2004). Unbecoming. Duke University Press.

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The Call of the Wild

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A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-2

Chapters 3-4

Chapters 5-6

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Compare and contrast Buck and Spitz . How are they alike? How are they different? Through their character arcs, what message is London giving the reader about the characteristics necessary for surviving in the wilderness?

The Call of the Wild features many supporting dogs. Choose two of your favorites. Then, using direct quotes from the text, describe each dog’s unique characteristics. How does each supporting dog’s character arc contribute to London’s themes on survival?

Perrault and François push Buck and the other dogs hard, as do Hal and Charles. Why were Perrault and François successful, whereas Hal and Charles failed? Use direct quotes in your paper.

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Call of the Wild

By jack london, call of the wild essay questions.

Anthropomorphism is one of the primary literary techniques used by Jack London in The Call of the Wild . How was London able to use this technique to express his ideas about human as well as canine nature?

Explain how the beginning of The Call of the Wild illustrates the idea of "survival of the fittest". Use examples from the text to justify your answer.

How does Buck feel about the man in the red sweater? Is he supposed to be a negative character? Defend your answer with examples from the book.

Mercedes, the only female character in The Call of the Wild , is weak, unlikable and selfish. Is London necessarily suggesting that women had no place in the Klondike, or is Mercedes gender irrelevant to her flaws?

At the end of the novel, do you believe that every dog would be happier living free in the wild? Defend your answer with examples from the story.

London suggests that people, like dogs, have wilder natures that are tempered by civilization. Does London also suggest in The Call of the Wild that people who are able to give in to their wilder instincts are happier and nobler than those who are not? Make sure to consider people in the Klondike as well as those in Buck's original home.

Why does Buck dream of ancient man? What could that relationship offer him that is missing from his other relationships with men?

When the dogs are in John Thornton's camp, why do the dogs besides Buck give in to Hal's whipping and pull the sled?

Why does Dave beg to remain at the traces, even though it will kill him? Would Buck have made the same decision?

What is the call of the wild? Explain how Buck slowly came to understand this call.

Call of the Wild Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Call of the Wild is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Buck fears the man in the red sweater mainly because of..?

Buck fears his club.

London calls Buck "a live hurricane of fury"; what figures of speech does he use here?

The above phrase is an example of metaphor.

In the context of this excerpt, the “Call of the Wild” most likely refers to?

I'm sorry, you have not provided the excerpt in question. Please include all information in your posts.

Study Guide for Call of the Wild

Call of the Wild study guide contains a biography of Jack London, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Call of the Wild
• Call of the Wild Summary
• Character List

Essays for Call of the Wild

Call of the Wild literature essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Call of the Wild.

• The Biting of the Snow- Buck's Evolution Through Call of the Wild
• Fatherly Influence in Into the Wild

Lesson Plan for Call of the Wild

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to Call of the Wild
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• Call of the Wild Bibliography

E-Text of Call of the Wild

Call of the Wild E-Text contains the full text of Call of the Wild

• Chapter III

Wikipedia Entries for Call of the Wild

• Introduction
• Publication history

62 Call of the Wild Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best call of the wild topic ideas & essay examples, 📍 simple & easy call of the wild essay titles, 💡 most interesting call of the wild topics to write about, ❓ call of the wild essay questions.

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• How “The Call of the Wild” Is Actually a Testimony of Charles Darwin
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• The Love for Nature in “The Call of the Wild” by Jack London
• The Effects of Group Influence in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding and “The Call of the Wild” by Jack London
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• Similarities and Differences of “The Call of the Wild” and “Of Mice and Men”
• Compare and Contrast: “The Call of the Wild” Book and Movie
• Excitement of the Gold Rush in “The Call of the Wild” by Jack London
• Why Does the Title “The Call of the Wild” Represent the Story’s Main Theme?
• What Type of Masters Are Francois and Perrault in “The Call of the Wild”?
• What Role Does Atavism Play in Buck’s Development as a Wild Animal in “The Call of the Wild”?
• To What Extent Does London Anthropomorphize Buck—That Is Present Him Like a Human Being in “The Call of the Wild”?
• Why Is the Novel “The Call of the Wild” a Good Example of Naturalistic Writing?
• Who Is the Better Master in “The Call of the Wild”?
• How Does the Call of the Wild Affect Buck’s Behavior Throughout the Novel?
• Why Is the Title “The Call of the Wild” So Significant?
• How Was London Able to Use Anthropomorphism to Express His Ideas About Human as Well as Canine Nature in “The Call of the Wild”?
• How Does Buck Feel About the Man in the Red Sweater in “The Call of the Wild”?
• Is London Necessarily Suggesting That Women Had No Place in the Klondike in “The Call of the Wild”?
• At the End of “The Call of the Wild”, Do You Believe That Every Dog Would Be Happier Living Free in the Wild?
• Why Does Buck Dream of Ancient Man in “The Call of the Wild”?
• What Is the Role of Work in “The Call of the Wild”?
• How Does the Personality of Buck Change With the Setting of “The Call of the Wild”?
• What Is Meant by Naming Certain Chapters “The Toil of Trace and Trail,” “Into the Primitive,” and “The Dominant Primordial Beast” in “The Call of the Wild”?
• When the Dogs Are in John Thornton’s Camp, Why Do the Dogs Besides Buck Give in to Hal’s Whipping and Pull the Sled in “The Call of the Wild”?
• Why Does Dave Beg to Remain at the Traces, Even Though It Will Kill Him in “The Call of the Wild”?
• What Does London Mean by the Title “The Call of the Wild”?
• How Is Buck Affected by the Various Masters That He Has in “The Call of the Wild”?
• Why Do You Think London Chose to Have John Thornton Massacred in “The Call of the Wild”?
• What Did Buck Learn From His Experience in the Northland in “The Call of the Wild”?
• How Did Buck Get From California to the Point When He Was Joining the First Dog Team in “The Call of the Wild”?
• What Kind of Dog Is Buck When We First Meet Him in “The Call of the Wild”?
• Why Does Buck Feel That It’s Necessary to Steal and Fight in “The Call of the Wild,” Even Though He Doesn’t Want To?
• How Did You Feel About Buck Becoming Wild in “The Call of the Wild”?
• What Do Mercedes’ Possessions Symbolize in the Difference Between Civilization and the Wilderness in “The Call of the Wild”?
• What Changes in Buck When He Realizes That Johnthornton Is Dead in “The Call of the Wild”?
• What Does It Mean to Be Civilized in “The Call of the Wild”?
• What Acts Were Buck Forced to Do While He Was Living as a Sled Dog That He Thought He Would Never Have to Do in “The Call of the Wild”?
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

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Bibliography

IvyPanda . "62 Call of the Wild Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." December 26, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/call-of-the-wild-essay-examples/.

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Books — Call of The Wild

Essays on Call of The Wild

Prompt examples for "call of the wild" essays, survival instinct in the wilderness.

Discuss the theme of survival instinct in the wilderness as portrayed through the experiences of Buck, the central character. How does he adapt and evolve to thrive in his harsh environment?

Human vs. Animal Nature

Examine the conflict between human and animal nature in the novel, focusing on how Buck's instincts and behaviors change as he reconnects with his primal instincts.

The Bond Between Humans and Dogs

Analyze the various human-dog relationships in the story, including Buck's connection with different owners. What do these relationships reveal about the human-canine bond?

Transformation and Growth

Discuss the transformation and growth of Buck as a character, both physically and psychologically, throughout the novel. How does he change as he experiences the wild?

The Call of the Wild

Examine the concept of the "call of the wild" as a recurring theme in the novel. What does it symbolize, and how does it affect Buck's choices and actions?

Exploration of Human Nature

Dive into the exploration of human nature as depicted in the interactions between humans and dogs in the story. How do the characters' actions reflect human qualities and motivations?

Narrative Style and Perspective

Analyze the narrative style and perspective used in the novel. How does the use of a third-person limited point of view enhance the reader's understanding of Buck's experiences?

Wilderness as a Character

Discuss the role of the wilderness itself as a character in the novel. How does the environment influence the characters and their decisions?

Social Commentary and Critique

Explore the social commentary and critique embedded in the novel, particularly regarding the treatment of animals and the impact of the Gold Rush on nature.

Comparative Analysis with Other Animal Stories

Compare and contrast "Call of the Wild" with other famous animal-centered stories or novels, discussing similarities and differences in themes, characters, and messages.

Analysis of Buck’s Character Development in "The Call of The Wild" by Jack London

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Literary Analysis of The Call of The Wild by Jack London

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Struggle for Freedom in Jack London’s The Call of The Wild

A report on the book call of the wild by jack london, jack london’s representation of his own life experience in the call of the wild.

1903, by Jack London

Adventure fiction

The central character of the novel is a dog named Buck. The story opens at a ranch in Santa Clara Valley, California, when Buck is stolen from his home and sold into service as a sled dog in Alaska. He becomes progressively more primitive and wild in the harsh environment, where he is forced to fight to survive and dominate other dogs. By the end, he sheds the veneer of civilization, and relies on primordial instinct and learned experience to emerge as a leader in the wild.

The major theme of the novel is adaptability and survival. Other themes include the power of Instinct, loyalty, power, companionship, the joy of labor, and the virtue of humanity.

Buck, Spitz, Dave, Curly, Billee, Dolly, Joe, Sol-leks, Pike, Dub, Teek and Koona, Skeet and Nig, The Wild Brother, Judge Miller, Manuel, Perrault

In 1897 Jack London went to the Klondike by way of Alaska during the height of the Klondike Gold Rush. In Alaska, London found the material that inspired him to write The Call of the Wild.

When it was published in 1903, The Call of the Wild was an immediate success.Though it has been and is still, at times, classified as a children’s book, its themes and overarching narrative are suited for mature readers. The novel was banned in 1929 in Italy and Yugoslavia, supposedly because of London’s openly socialist views. In 1933 it was burned by the Nazi Party for similar reasons. The 1935 film The Call of the Wild, directed by William Wellman and starring Clark Gable, focuses solely on John Thornton and Buck, while a 1972 film of the same name, starring Charlton Heston, stays truer to the plot of the novel.

“There is an ecstasy that marks the summit of life, and beyond which life cannot rise. And such is the paradox of living, this ecstasy comes when one is most alive, and it comes as a complete forgetfulness that one is alive.” “He was mastered by the sheer surging of life, the tidal wave of being, the perfect joy of each separate muscle, joint, and sinew in that it was everything that was not death, that it was aglow and rampant, expressing itself in movement, flying exultantly under the stars.”

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IN THE GARDEN

Where Do the Gardeners You Admire Turn for Advice? To These Newsletters.

A horticulture expert shares his must-read list.

By Margaret Roach

As a boy in Tennessee, Jared Barnes learned from his great-grandfather to place his lanky tomato seedlings on their sides when he was transplanting them, so they could root in all along their stems.

It was one of many gifts of horticultural knowledge that he derived from their time together. But besides getting young Jared off to a strong start in the garden, like those fledgling plants, they taught him something else: We gardeners will always have questions, with each new plant or task or problem, and we need reliable sources we can turn to — someone to ask, who will have answers, the way his great-grandfather did.

It’s similar to the dynamic he witnessed in what was once his favorite segment on the nightly news. “As a kid, I wanted to be a meteorologist for a little while,” he recalled. “And part of the reason is because every night I saw someone get up in front of a group of people and share knowledge and information.”

Although he once drew a hurricane outline on the chalkboard when the teacher left the classroom — an attempt to explain the eye of the storm to his fellow second-graders — translating the weather was not in his future. (And for his efforts, he received a scolding.) Instead, he grew up to be a horticulturist.

Dr. Barnes, 38, is now an associate professor of horticulture at Stephen F. Austin State University, in Nacogdoches, Texas, where he teaches a rotating schedule of eight courses, from the introductory unit, Cultivating Plants, to plant propagation, plant breeding, public-garden management and more.

About four years ago, he began expanding his audience with a free weekly email newsletter called “plant-ed,” which includes a numbered list of links to must-reads that have caught his attention, as well as the latest article from his own blog.

Creating the newsletter, he said, is one of his “forcing functions” — a term perhaps more familiar to those who work in math or science, meaning a “systems way of thinking where a choice that you’ve made then forces something else to occur.”

His commitment to publishing the newsletter weekly, he figured, would ensure that he diligently surveyed the landscape of horticultural information — research reports, magazines, websites, social media and other newsletters — to find his own selections to recommend.

Down the Rabbit Hole, After Answers

Another catalyst for combing through the current literature: his curious students.

“They think of things that I wouldn’t have,” Dr. Barnes said. “Some of these rabbit holes I go down in my newsletter are after they ask me a question, and I’ll say, ‘I have no clue, but let’s look into it.’”

Inspired by the native-plant trials at Mt. Cuba Center , in Delaware, which he follows closely, he recently oversaw the addition of a 7,000-square-foot trial garden at the Plantery, a campus botanic garden that serves as a living lab. More than 30 students helped.

“In a few years, we hope to have performance data similar to Mt. Cuba’s reports — but for Southern plants,” he said.

He is also constantly on the lookout for inspiration for his personal garden, a landscape he shares with his wife, Karen Barnes, and their 9-month-old daughter, Magnolia. They call it Ephemera Farm, a reminder to take notice of the small things before it’s too late.

“They’re here and then they’re gone,” he said. “And I feel like in East Texas they oftentimes can be gone a little bit faster, because we’re hotter and things bloom quicker.”

His garden “is definitely more wild and ecological in style and design,” he said, which may explain why his top go-to newsletters are ecologically focused.

In beds close to his log cabin-style house, woodland ephemerals, including maroon-flowered Trillium gracile, a native of Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana, have just finished blooming. Next come treasures like Indian pink (Spigelia marilandica), with its red-and-yellow blooms, which can be found as far north as Maryland and into parts of the Midwest.

Beyond those beds, prairie-inspired naturalistic plantings dominate.

“As a kid, I loved walking on my great-grandfather’s hill, through the broomsedge and the grasses, and I love the feeling that environment evokes,” he said. “I’ve tried to do that same thing here: create a place where we can cultivate that feeling.”

He finds inspiration in contemporary wild landscapes, too. Stands of Hubricht’s bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii) that he saw in Arkansas made an impression, as did a quarter-mile stretch of white false indigo (Baptisia alba) just 20 minutes from home and a breathtaking stand of yellow-flowered B. sphaerocarpa about half an hour away. Those three are in his garden now.

When something doesn’t cooperate, he uses his researcher’s skill set to find the cause — for example, why his clasping jewelflower (Streptanthus maculatus), a mustard family wildflower native to Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma, had reached barely six inches tall instead of the expected three feet.

A newsletter that he discovered held the answer: The plants had balked at his very acidic 4.2 pH soil. The solution? Lime.

A lot of what he is trying feels experimental. That’s because there’s not much information available about taking a Southeastern approach to creating such landscapes, he said. For the most part, he hunts for clues from elsewhere, hoping they can be adapted.

One such source: the Northeast-based ecological horticulturist Rebecca McMackin’s Grow Like Wild newsletter , published at the full moon most months.

“Hers is just so rich with good science information,” Dr. Barnes said. “She tends to focus a lot more on insects and other organisms as well, about the ways they interact with plants.”

In one issue, Ms. McMackin wrote about how a succession of red flowers sustains migrating hummingbirds headed north each spring, a topic she revisited in a recent TED Talk . Although she was using a local example, Eastern red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), it underscored for Dr. Barnes what he had witnessed in his garden with native Penstemon murrayanus, which “the hummingbirds go wild for.”

The insight she shared: Red flowers and hummingbirds co-evolved, forging exchanges of nectar for pollination services. So it’s not surprising that birds have an extra photoreceptor that allows them to see red especially well.

Ms. McMackin, in turn, subscribes to Dr. Barnes’s newsletter, and both regularly read the monthly Bulletin of the Ecological Landscape Alliance , a membership organization of landscape professionals and keen gardeners that promotes sustainable, biodiverse approaches to landscape design.

They both also enjoy The Prairie Ecologist, from Chris Helzer , the director of science for The Nature Conservancy in Nebraska, and his photographs of plants and creatures of the prairie community. “He’s someone on the ground, on the front lines of that habitat,” Dr. Barnes said, “helping me be better informed.”

From England, Clues to Meadow Making

Both gardeners also look forward to an email hailing from farther afield: Dig Delve , a weekly dispatch from the naturalistic landscape designer and author Dan Pearson and his partner, Huw Morgan, who garden in the West of England.

Dr. Barnes was fascinated to read about how they had been able to transform their grass-dominated fields into flowering meadows without tilling or other soil disturbance. If they had simply tried overseeding into the dense growth, they would have failed. But they succeeded because they included the seed of yellow rattle (Rhinanthus minor), a U.K.-appropriate annual species that is hemiparasitic with grasses.

Hemiparasitic plants get some of their nutrients through photosynthesis, but steal others using rootlike structures called haustoria, which grow inside the tissue of host plants. In this case, that weakened the grasses enough for some wildflowers to get a foothold. Aha!

Dr. Barnes wondered if he could identify native hemiparasites in his region that might do the same thing and help him with meadow making. He is currently experimenting with wood betony (Pedicularis canadensis) and Indian paintbrush (Castilleja indivisa), “tapping into what nature does, to garden better,” he said.

He often finds good leads to share in the monthly GrassSolutions email from Hoffman Nursery , a wholesaler specializing in grasses and sedges (Carex). The emails combine blog posts by the Hoffman staff and citations of recommended articles from elsewhere. Ideas that have caught Dr. Barnes’s attention lately include suggestions for using grasslike plants in urban habitats and on green roofs.

To pique his interest and earn a mention in his own newsletter, however, subjects don’t need to match his particular garden conditions. He knows that his Zone 8b garden, with its extremely acidic soil, 50 inches of annual rainfall and recent temperatures ranging from minus 6 to 116 degrees Fahrenheit, is hardly the typical scenario for most subscribers.

And then there are the deer, gophers, armadillos and wild boar. Yes, feral pigs.

“The first year we lived here, I walked outside one morning, and it was like someone had run a tiller or tractor through a space like half a basketball court in our backyard,” Dr. Barnes recalled. “It was absolutely horrifying.”

Now a double fence — two parallel, six-foot-high stretches of welded wire mesh strung between wood posts — limits access by various species wishing to investigate (or plow) the garden, and so do motion-activated sprinklers.

Does anyone subscribe to a niche newsletter on gardeners’ animal adventures — or have a favorite resource on another garden topic to recommend? Do share. He’s listening.

Margaret Roach is the creator of the website and podcast A Way to Garden , and a book of the same name.

If you have a gardening question, email it to Margaret Roach at [email protected], and she may address it in a future column.