Chapter 3: The Dominant Primordial Beast
Discussion Questions:
1.) Describe Spitz's
character using examples from the chapter to support your
answer.
Spitz's is the lead dog and Spitz's gets killed.
2.) How do Francois and Perrault
display their true natures in this chapter? Give specific examples to
support your answer?
Perrault is not a nice guy and he hits the dogs when they don't behave. Francois is a nice guy because he gave buck his moccassins. Francois and Perrault do their job quickly.
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 is brave and not afraid of Spitz. Also when Buck killed Spitz it was total chaos. Buck is becoming more of a wolf and less than a southland dog.
4.) In the following quotation
what does London mean by the "dominant primordial
beast"?
It means that before Spitz was the leader until Buck killed him so now buck is 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 ast squarely met
shoulder. The dark circle became a dot on the moon-flooded snow as Spitz
disappeared from view. Buck stoof and looked on, the successful champion,
the dominant primordial beast who had made his kill and found it good. (p.
31)
5.) What traits have helped Buck thrive in
his new world? Of them, why do you think is most important?
Why?
Buck thrives in his new world by using his imagination to help him. It is important because he is very aggressive. Also because he can catch up with the pack.
1.) Describe Spitz's
character using examples from the chapter to support your
answer.
Spitz's is the lead dog and Spitz's gets killed.
2.) How do Francois and Perrault
display their true natures in this chapter? Give specific examples to
support your answer?
Perrault is not a nice guy and he hits the dogs when they don't behave. Francois is a nice guy because he gave buck his moccassins. Francois and Perrault do their job quickly.
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 is brave and not afraid of Spitz. Also when Buck killed Spitz it was total chaos. Buck is becoming more of a wolf and less than a southland dog.
4.) In the following quotation
what does London mean by the "dominant primordial
beast"?
It means that before Spitz was the leader until Buck killed him so now buck is 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 ast squarely met
shoulder. The dark circle became a dot on the moon-flooded snow as Spitz
disappeared from view. Buck stoof and looked on, the successful champion,
the dominant primordial beast who had made his kill and found it good. (p.
31)
5.) What traits have helped Buck thrive in
his new world? Of them, why do you think is most important?
Why?
Buck thrives in his new world by using his imagination to help him. It is important because he is very aggressive. Also because he can catch up with the pack.
Vocabulary:
Malingerer - don't do work. "Pike the malingerer leaped upon the crippled animal." (p.16)
Marauders - to destroy. " At daybreak they limped warily back to camp, to find the marauders gone and the two men in bad tempers." (p.17)
Covert - not openly shown. "With the covert mutiny of Buck, a general insubordination sprang up and increased." (p.20)
Insidious - causing harm." The insidious revolt led by buck had destroyed the solidarity of the team." (p.21)
Travail - laborious nature." The articulate travail of existence." (p.21)
Placatingly - to be less angry about something. "And even Bilee, the good-natured, was less good-natured, and whined not half so placatingly as in his former days." (p.21-22)
Inexorable - not able to be stopped. "Buck was inexorable." (p.24)
Malingerer - don't do work. "Pike the malingerer leaped upon the crippled animal." (p.16)
Marauders - to destroy. " At daybreak they limped warily back to camp, to find the marauders gone and the two men in bad tempers." (p.17)
Covert - not openly shown. "With the covert mutiny of Buck, a general insubordination sprang up and increased." (p.20)
Insidious - causing harm." The insidious revolt led by buck had destroyed the solidarity of the team." (p.21)
Travail - laborious nature." The articulate travail of existence." (p.21)
Placatingly - to be less angry about something. "And even Bilee, the good-natured, was less good-natured, and whined not half so placatingly as in his former days." (p.21-22)
Inexorable - not able to be stopped. "Buck was inexorable." (p.24)
2.) Draw the fight between Buck and Spitz. Create human dialogue for each
of the characters showing their emotional and mental
states.
of the characters showing their emotional and mental
states.