The Call of the Wild

By Jack London

a. Synopsis

Buck, a St. Bernard/Scottish Collie mix, lives happily in California until he is sold to gold rush traffickers by an employee. In Canada, large dogs are required to pull sleds. He is sold to two people who transport him to Canada's Klondike region. He adapts to the extreme cold and fights with other dogs. Buck confronts a pack's leader and defeats him. 

Buck's next masters are inexperienced miners and when experienced miner John Thornton crosses them, he recognizes the danger and warns them not to cross a river, but the miners ignore his warnings. Buck understands the danger and refuses to cross. Thornton, disgusted by the miners' treatment of Buck, intervenes. The miners decide to attempt and die crossing the river. 

Buck loves his new master, Thornton, and saves him from drowning and they have several adventures together. While Buck and Thornton continue on their quest for gold, Buck explores the surrounding area and befriends a wolf who is part of a pack of sled dogs. One night, after a short hunt, Buck returns to camp and sees his master murdered by a group of Indians. Buck kills them in revenge and follows his friend, the wolf, into the forest.

b. Timeline of main events

c. Learning gains 

• The book "The Call of the Wild" taught me that despite the changes we may have in life, we have to know how to adapt to them.
• I have come to understand that life is a continuous struggle and it's there where you decide to move forward or give up.
• I managed to understand that a dog's love is so sincere towards its master and that it's not called the human's best friend for nothing.
• Feeling empathy for others is a great lesson that the novel teaches me, since putting ourselves in someone else's shoes will help us to understand their reality.
• I was able to recognize that adapting to a new life could change certain things but what we will always maintain is our essence regardless of the changes.

d. Message to the author's book

What I liked the most:

• The historical parts that the author focuses on, such as the gold rush and the ways of life of some sled dogs.
• The overcoming power of a dog who fights to survive at any cost.
• Buck managed to adapt and finally continue to live despite the difficulties.

Questions:

• Why didn't Buck ever think of returning to his home in California where he lived comfortably?
• Why did Mr. Miller never look for Buck until he found him?
• Why did Buck have to be sold several times instead of staying with one master?

e. Map highlighting the most important messages in the book