Madison Miller Essays - English-language Films, Literature

Madison Miller 7 th Grade IB-Prep Summer Reading Assignment July 17, 2017 The Call of the Wild By: Jack London Beginning Passage Page: 10 " In midair, just as his jaws were about to close on the man, he received a shock that checked his body and brought his teeth together with an agonizing clip. He whirled over, fetching the ground on his back and side. He had never been struck by a club in his life, and did not understand. With snarl that was part bark and more scream he was again on his feet and launched into the air. And again, the shock came and he was brought crushingly to the ground. This time he was aware that it was the club, but his madness knew no caution. A dozen times he charged, and as often the club broke the charge and smashed him down" Critical Response I like to call this the law of survival because in order to survive Buck must learn that if he attacks the man, even if it is justified and he rightfully earned it yo u will get hit back. Buck is kept in a crate, and the man that took him from Judge Miller's property starves and beats the dog. Upon release, Buck attacks the man. The man gains control over the dog and beats him with a club, momentarily breaking his spirit. Buck concludes that a man with a club is the law. After wolf-like dogs kill the man's friend Curly, Buck realizes that he'll never again experience the posh life that he'd had in California again. These events signify the revelation that life isn't fair and that the only rule of the wilderness was that made by the "club and fang." The law of survival instantly becomes clear to Buck. Middle Passage Page: 36 "A pause seemed to fall. Every animal 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 l n ooked on, the successful champion, the dominant primordial beast who had made his kill and found it good." Critical Response This quote is from the final paragraph in chapter 3 of The Call of the Wild, describing the battle between Buck and Spitz. The paragraph marks the moment that Buck comes into his own by defeated Spitz by killing him and then taking Spitz's place as the team's lead dog. He has left his life as a pampered pet far behind and now he is the champion and became a powerful wild beast. Throughout the novel, the author suggests that life in the wild is defined by a struggle for knowledge, and the Buck vs. Spitz duel is the perfect example of this struggle, the moment when Buck establishes himself as a master of the kill or be killed way of life in the wild. End Passage Page: 62 " Each day mankind and the claims of mankind slipped farther from him. Deep in the forest a call was sounding, and as often as he heard this call, mysteriously thrilling and luring, he felt compelled to turn his back upon the fire, and to plunge into the forest. But as often as he gained the soft unbroken earth and the green shade, the love of John Thornton drew him back to the fire again." Critical Response I picked this quote from chapter6 and it explains the tension building up inside of Buck during his time with John Thornton, who is the ideal master. Thornton's relationship with Buck represents a perfect friendship between a dog and their owner. The author tells us that this is the first time that Buck has loved a human. Yet it is clear that Buck is supposed to free in the wild, so Buck doesn't know whether to stay with his owner or go free into the wild. But after Thornton is killed and Buck avenges his death,