Chapter 5 The toil of trace and trail
Discussion Questions:
1.) Reread London's first description of Hal and Charles. What do you think will happen to them based on this initial description?
The first description of Hal and Charles says that Hal has a revolver and a
hunting knife, so I'm guessing a couple dogs would be beaten up. Also I don't think that Hal doesn't know what he is doing.
2.) What was Mercedes' reaction when experienced men went though to lighten the load? What does this say about her and about her relationship with her husband and brother?
Mercedes reaction when experienced men went through the load was that she was
overreacting when the experienced men told them to throw away useless things,
while Hal and Charles agrees to the men. This says that she is a brat, and only thinks about herself.
3.) Compare Charles, Hal and Mercedes to any other characters you've met in other books, movies, plays, television shows, or real life. What traits did Buck have that allowed him to adapt to the north that they lacked?
I would compare them to the home alone bad guys.
4.) Why do you think London included these three characters in the book? What do they represent?
I think London included these characters in the book because they represent
how untrained people down in the south would be like up north.
5.) Why did Buck refuse to rise and lead the team? What did he have that his masters lacked?
Buck refused to rise and lead the team because he thought if he got up,
Buck would suffer more of the tiredness than the whips and clubs. His masters lacked
experience and the pack didn't get enough rest.
1.) Reread London's first description of Hal and Charles. What do you think will happen to them based on this initial description?
The first description of Hal and Charles says that Hal has a revolver and a
hunting knife, so I'm guessing a couple dogs would be beaten up. Also I don't think that Hal doesn't know what he is doing.
2.) What was Mercedes' reaction when experienced men went though to lighten the load? What does this say about her and about her relationship with her husband and brother?
Mercedes reaction when experienced men went through the load was that she was
overreacting when the experienced men told them to throw away useless things,
while Hal and Charles agrees to the men. This says that she is a brat, and only thinks about herself.
3.) Compare Charles, Hal and Mercedes to any other characters you've met in other books, movies, plays, television shows, or real life. What traits did Buck have that allowed him to adapt to the north that they lacked?
I would compare them to the home alone bad guys.
4.) Why do you think London included these three characters in the book? What do they represent?
I think London included these characters in the book because they represent
how untrained people down in the south would be like up north.
5.) Why did Buck refuse to rise and lead the team? What did he have that his masters lacked?
Buck refused to rise and lead the team because he thought if he got up,
Buck would suffer more of the tiredness than the whips and clubs. His masters lacked
experience and the pack didn't get enough rest.
Salient - very important. "This belt was the most salient thing about him." (p.32)
Callow - a person who doesn't have much experience. "It advertised his callowness- a callowness sheer and unutterable." (p.32)
Chaffering - haggle over a price of something. "Buck heard the chaffering, saw the money pass between the man and the
Government agent" (p.32)
Apprehensively - fearful that something bad will happen. ""Buck watched them apprehensively as they proceeded to take down the tent and
load the sled." (p.32)
Remonstrance - to protest. "Mercedes continually fluttered in the way of her men and kept up an unbroken
chattering of remonstrance and advice." (p.32)
Averred - state to be the case. "She averred she would not go an inch" (p.35)
Jaded - tired. "jaded and tired, he was facing the same trail once more" (p.35)
Voracious - wanting great quantities of food. "The Outside dogs, whose digestions had not been trained by chronic famine to
make the most of little, had voracious appetites" (p.36)
Cajole - to persuade. "could not cajole him into giving the dogs still more" (p.36)
Innocuously - unharmful. "With the dogs falling, Mercedes weeping and riding, Hal swearing innocuously,
and Charles's eyes wistfully watering, they staggered into John Thornton's camp." (p.39)
Terse - sparing in the use of words. "He whittled and listened, gave monosyllabic replies, and, when it was asked,
terse advice." (p.39)
Inarticulate - unable to speak. "And then, suddenly, without warning, uttering a cry that was inarticulate and
more like the cry of an animal." (p.40)
Callow - a person who doesn't have much experience. "It advertised his callowness- a callowness sheer and unutterable." (p.32)
Chaffering - haggle over a price of something. "Buck heard the chaffering, saw the money pass between the man and the
Government agent" (p.32)
Apprehensively - fearful that something bad will happen. ""Buck watched them apprehensively as they proceeded to take down the tent and
load the sled." (p.32)
Remonstrance - to protest. "Mercedes continually fluttered in the way of her men and kept up an unbroken
chattering of remonstrance and advice." (p.32)
Averred - state to be the case. "She averred she would not go an inch" (p.35)
Jaded - tired. "jaded and tired, he was facing the same trail once more" (p.35)
Voracious - wanting great quantities of food. "The Outside dogs, whose digestions had not been trained by chronic famine to
make the most of little, had voracious appetites" (p.36)
Cajole - to persuade. "could not cajole him into giving the dogs still more" (p.36)
Innocuously - unharmful. "With the dogs falling, Mercedes weeping and riding, Hal swearing innocuously,
and Charles's eyes wistfully watering, they staggered into John Thornton's camp." (p.39)
Terse - sparing in the use of words. "He whittled and listened, gave monosyllabic replies, and, when it was asked,
terse advice." (p.39)
Inarticulate - unable to speak. "And then, suddenly, without warning, uttering a cry that was inarticulate and
more like the cry of an animal." (p.40)
4.) Imagine you are one of Buck's owners: Francois, Perault, the Scotch
half-breed, Hal, Charles, or Mercedes. Write a letter home to a friend
telling about your experience in the Yukon. Be sure your letter reflects
the personality of the character you have chosen.
Dear Bob the builder,
Today you're not going to believe this but Hal, Charles, and Mercedes and the rest of the pack except Buck died. I think it happened by the ice melting and they drowned in it. But now without dogs or leaders nobody will be going to Dawson because they died. Also I know that Buck is now living with John Thorton and is getting better. I think that John Thorton will lead Buck to Dawson. Buck loves john Thorton very much because he saved Buck from being drowned. I hope Buck will get better and he can go to Dawson with John Thorton.
From,
Pizza guy
half-breed, Hal, Charles, or Mercedes. Write a letter home to a friend
telling about your experience in the Yukon. Be sure your letter reflects
the personality of the character you have chosen.
Dear Bob the builder,
Today you're not going to believe this but Hal, Charles, and Mercedes and the rest of the pack except Buck died. I think it happened by the ice melting and they drowned in it. But now without dogs or leaders nobody will be going to Dawson because they died. Also I know that Buck is now living with John Thorton and is getting better. I think that John Thorton will lead Buck to Dawson. Buck loves john Thorton very much because he saved Buck from being drowned. I hope Buck will get better and he can go to Dawson with John Thorton.
From,
Pizza guy