Chapter 1: Into the Primitive
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Answer the following questions in COMPLETE SENTENCES using textual evidence (proof from the novel) to support your answers.
In the beginning of Chapter 1, how is Buck described? Buck is described as the leader of the Judge's backyard.
Based on this description, how do you think he will deal with the hardships of the Yukon Territory? He have tough times since he has never been to the Yukon before so he will have tough times.
Which of his traits will serve him in his new life? His sense of smell and his leadership. Which will he have to abandon to survive? His good life at the Judge's place.
What important lesson did Buck learn from the man with the club? That the man is stronger than any dog.
What is meant by the line, "It was his introduction to the reign of primitive law, and he met the introduction halfway."? That he met it half way that was he fought the man with the club but he stopped do he didn't get hurt too much.
How did Francois begin to earn Buck's respect? He earned Buck's respect because he was fair to all the dogs. From the description of this incident, predict what Buck's relationship will be with "a big, snowy-white fellow from Spitzbergen."? He would not have a very good future with Spitz.
What is the significance of the title of this chapter? The significance of this title is that the primitive law is never mess with man if you are a wild animal.
VOCABULARY:
Provide a definition based on how the word is used in the context of the story and provide the quote from the text.
Demesne - A big area of land "And over this great demense Buck ruled." (p. 2)
Populous - many of something "They came and went, resided in the populous kennels," (p. 2)
Imperiously - dictatorial "Among the terriers he stalked imperiously," (p. 3)
Sated - satisfied "During the four years since his puppyhood he had lived the life of a sated aristocrat;" (p. 3)
Insular - isolated ", as country gentlemen sometimes become because of their insular situation." (p. 3)
Progeny - offspring or other stuff "For to play a system requires money, while the wages of a gardener's helper do not lap over the needs of a wife and numerous
progeny." (p. 4)
Deft - skillful "In quick rage he sprang at the man, who met him halfway, grappled him close by the throat, and with a deft twist threw him over on his back." (p. 5)
Futilely - not successfully "Then the rope tightened mercilessly, while Buck struggled in a fury, his tongue lolling out of his mouth and his great chest panting
futilely." (p. 5)
Vilely - badly "Never in all his life had he been so vilely treated, and never in his life had he been so angry." (p. 5)
Hydrophobia - rabies " 'If I don't get the hydrophoby -' " (p. 6)
Impending - about to happen "He did not know why, but he felt oppressed by the vague sense of impending calamity." (p. 7)
Calamity - misfortune "He did not know why, but he felt oppressed by vague sense of impending calamity." (p. 7)
Surcharged - additional force "Straight at the man he launched his one hundred and forty pounds of fury, surcharged with the pent passion of two days and nights."
(p. 10)
Slaver - drool ", his beautiful coat sprayed and flecked with bloody slaver." (p. 10)
Primitive - earliest of the kind "It was his introduction to the reign of primitive law," (p. 12)
Cunning - skill employed shrewdly ", he faced it with the latent cunning of his nature aroused." (p. 13)
ACTIVITIES:
Choose ONE activity from the list below to complete and post on your weebly page. Post the activity question on your weebly page as well as your response.
1.) Read the beginning quotation (also known as an epigraph) that prefaces this novel. Draw a picture that represents the conflict. Post your illustration on your weebly page as well as the epigraph.
2.) In a 5-7 sentence journal entry tell about a time that you del nervous or scared in a situation or of a person. Were your instincts correct? Explain.
I was nervous when I was in a choir performance and I supposed to go up with this person to sing a few lines but she didn't show up. I got a little scared since I had to sing it by my self in front of a big crowd. As the play kept moving on closer to my part I was starting to forget my lines a little. I have never done a solo before so that is why I was nervous also. When it came to my solo I missed the first line but I got the rest. After the show I thought that wasn't so bad as I thought it would be.
3.) Write a definition of "being good" as it applies to your life at school or at home. Create a thinking map (t-chart, double rubble or venn diagram) to answer the following questions. What actions does "being good" include? What behaviors or actions does it not include? How does school "good behavior" differ from home "good behavior"?
4.) What is "primitive law"? Is there "primitive law" in your life? Create a collage that shows what primitive law entails and upload the collage to your weebly page.
Answer the following questions in COMPLETE SENTENCES using textual evidence (proof from the novel) to support your answers.
In the beginning of Chapter 1, how is Buck described? Buck is described as the leader of the Judge's backyard.
Based on this description, how do you think he will deal with the hardships of the Yukon Territory? He have tough times since he has never been to the Yukon before so he will have tough times.
Which of his traits will serve him in his new life? His sense of smell and his leadership. Which will he have to abandon to survive? His good life at the Judge's place.
What important lesson did Buck learn from the man with the club? That the man is stronger than any dog.
What is meant by the line, "It was his introduction to the reign of primitive law, and he met the introduction halfway."? That he met it half way that was he fought the man with the club but he stopped do he didn't get hurt too much.
How did Francois begin to earn Buck's respect? He earned Buck's respect because he was fair to all the dogs. From the description of this incident, predict what Buck's relationship will be with "a big, snowy-white fellow from Spitzbergen."? He would not have a very good future with Spitz.
What is the significance of the title of this chapter? The significance of this title is that the primitive law is never mess with man if you are a wild animal.
VOCABULARY:
Provide a definition based on how the word is used in the context of the story and provide the quote from the text.
Demesne - A big area of land "And over this great demense Buck ruled." (p. 2)
Populous - many of something "They came and went, resided in the populous kennels," (p. 2)
Imperiously - dictatorial "Among the terriers he stalked imperiously," (p. 3)
Sated - satisfied "During the four years since his puppyhood he had lived the life of a sated aristocrat;" (p. 3)
Insular - isolated ", as country gentlemen sometimes become because of their insular situation." (p. 3)
Progeny - offspring or other stuff "For to play a system requires money, while the wages of a gardener's helper do not lap over the needs of a wife and numerous
progeny." (p. 4)
Deft - skillful "In quick rage he sprang at the man, who met him halfway, grappled him close by the throat, and with a deft twist threw him over on his back." (p. 5)
Futilely - not successfully "Then the rope tightened mercilessly, while Buck struggled in a fury, his tongue lolling out of his mouth and his great chest panting
futilely." (p. 5)
Vilely - badly "Never in all his life had he been so vilely treated, and never in his life had he been so angry." (p. 5)
Hydrophobia - rabies " 'If I don't get the hydrophoby -' " (p. 6)
Impending - about to happen "He did not know why, but he felt oppressed by the vague sense of impending calamity." (p. 7)
Calamity - misfortune "He did not know why, but he felt oppressed by vague sense of impending calamity." (p. 7)
Surcharged - additional force "Straight at the man he launched his one hundred and forty pounds of fury, surcharged with the pent passion of two days and nights."
(p. 10)
Slaver - drool ", his beautiful coat sprayed and flecked with bloody slaver." (p. 10)
Primitive - earliest of the kind "It was his introduction to the reign of primitive law," (p. 12)
Cunning - skill employed shrewdly ", he faced it with the latent cunning of his nature aroused." (p. 13)
ACTIVITIES:
Choose ONE activity from the list below to complete and post on your weebly page. Post the activity question on your weebly page as well as your response.
1.) Read the beginning quotation (also known as an epigraph) that prefaces this novel. Draw a picture that represents the conflict. Post your illustration on your weebly page as well as the epigraph.
2.) In a 5-7 sentence journal entry tell about a time that you del nervous or scared in a situation or of a person. Were your instincts correct? Explain.
I was nervous when I was in a choir performance and I supposed to go up with this person to sing a few lines but she didn't show up. I got a little scared since I had to sing it by my self in front of a big crowd. As the play kept moving on closer to my part I was starting to forget my lines a little. I have never done a solo before so that is why I was nervous also. When it came to my solo I missed the first line but I got the rest. After the show I thought that wasn't so bad as I thought it would be.
3.) Write a definition of "being good" as it applies to your life at school or at home. Create a thinking map (t-chart, double rubble or venn diagram) to answer the following questions. What actions does "being good" include? What behaviors or actions does it not include? How does school "good behavior" differ from home "good behavior"?
4.) What is "primitive law"? Is there "primitive law" in your life? Create a collage that shows what primitive law entails and upload the collage to your weebly page.