Chapter 2: The Law of Club and Fang
Discussion Questions:
1.) What are the "laws of club and fang" that Buck learned in Chapter 2? The laws of club and fang is that if you don't do something right you get hit by a club and if you don't fight against other dogs you will get bit. How are these laws different from what Buck was used to? He was domesticated, got as much food as he needed, he lived with the judges family in a house, he
2.) What is the one thing that Dave and Sol-leks live for? They lived to be left alone. Why do you think they are like this? They might have been attacked before and they don't like anybody. How do you think they got this way? By seeing animal cruelty so they feel like they don't like anybody. Can you think of examples of other animals or humans that show these traits? When people get upset or mad or are in a bad move. What does this tell you about animal and human nature?
3.) If you were Buck, which of the other sled dogs would you choose to be your teacher and why? Billie because he is friendly and doesn't want to fight. How is this dog like or unlike Francois as a teacher? Francois is a bad teacher because he abuses the dogs.
4.) What trait insures that Buck will survive in the north? His sharp teeth and his coat of fur. How is this aspect of his character shown in the story? He learns quickly on how to survive in the wild by learning from the other dogs. How would this trait be accepted in his former life? This trait would be excepted when learning a trick from his owner. What does this say about the differences in the two worlds? In the domesticated world you get what you want and in the primitive world you have to fight to get what you want.
5.) Explain the meaning of the following quotation:
"And not only did he learn by experience, but instincts long dead became alive again. The domesticated generations fell from him. In vague ways he remembered back to the youth of the breed, to the time the world dogs ranged in packs through the primeval forest and killed their meat as they ran it down...Thus, as a token of what a puppet thing life is, the ancient song surged through him and he came into his own again." The first sentence means that he turned from a domesticated pet to becoming a dog that has to fight for survival.
6.) In adapting to his new world, has Buck developed or retrogressed? Defend your answer. Buck developed because in the book it says that Buck is learning from the other dogs how to survive in the cold.
1.) What are the "laws of club and fang" that Buck learned in Chapter 2? The laws of club and fang is that if you don't do something right you get hit by a club and if you don't fight against other dogs you will get bit. How are these laws different from what Buck was used to? He was domesticated, got as much food as he needed, he lived with the judges family in a house, he
2.) What is the one thing that Dave and Sol-leks live for? They lived to be left alone. Why do you think they are like this? They might have been attacked before and they don't like anybody. How do you think they got this way? By seeing animal cruelty so they feel like they don't like anybody. Can you think of examples of other animals or humans that show these traits? When people get upset or mad or are in a bad move. What does this tell you about animal and human nature?
3.) If you were Buck, which of the other sled dogs would you choose to be your teacher and why? Billie because he is friendly and doesn't want to fight. How is this dog like or unlike Francois as a teacher? Francois is a bad teacher because he abuses the dogs.
4.) What trait insures that Buck will survive in the north? His sharp teeth and his coat of fur. How is this aspect of his character shown in the story? He learns quickly on how to survive in the wild by learning from the other dogs. How would this trait be accepted in his former life? This trait would be excepted when learning a trick from his owner. What does this say about the differences in the two worlds? In the domesticated world you get what you want and in the primitive world you have to fight to get what you want.
5.) Explain the meaning of the following quotation:
"And not only did he learn by experience, but instincts long dead became alive again. The domesticated generations fell from him. In vague ways he remembered back to the youth of the breed, to the time the world dogs ranged in packs through the primeval forest and killed their meat as they ran it down...Thus, as a token of what a puppet thing life is, the ancient song surged through him and he came into his own again." The first sentence means that he turned from a domesticated pet to becoming a dog that has to fight for survival.
6.) In adapting to his new world, has Buck developed or retrogressed? Defend your answer. Buck developed because in the book it says that Buck is learning from the other dogs how to survive in the cold.
Vocabulary:
Primordial - original "He had been suddenly jerked from the heart of civilization and flung into the heart of things primordial." (p. 17)
Reproof - act of reproving "he growled sharp reproof now and again," (p. 19)
Tuition - instruction "and under the combined tuition of his two mates and François made remarkable progress." (p. 19)
Appeasingly - quietly "turned to run when he saw that appeasement was of no avail, and cried (still appeasingly)" (p. 20)
Diabolically - evilly "and eyes diabolically gleaming" (p. 20)
Disconsolate - hopeless "Miserable and disconsolate, he wandered about among many tents," (p. 21)
Gee - word used to command horses or dogs to go right "François, guiding the sled at the gee-pole," (p. 26)
Primordial - original "He had been suddenly jerked from the heart of civilization and flung into the heart of things primordial." (p. 17)
Reproof - act of reproving "he growled sharp reproof now and again," (p. 19)
Tuition - instruction "and under the combined tuition of his two mates and François made remarkable progress." (p. 19)
Appeasingly - quietly "turned to run when he saw that appeasement was of no avail, and cried (still appeasingly)" (p. 20)
Diabolically - evilly "and eyes diabolically gleaming" (p. 20)
Disconsolate - hopeless "Miserable and disconsolate, he wandered about among many tents," (p. 21)
Gee - word used to command horses or dogs to go right "François, guiding the sled at the gee-pole," (p. 26)
Activities: (Choose one of the activities listed below to complete)
1.) Write about a time you were in a completely new situation. How did you feel? Did you become more comfortable over time? If so, how? If not, why not?
2.) Draw a picture of Spitz as a person. How would his "personality" translate into human behavior?
3.) Illustrate the sled team as described in Chapter 2, paying close attention to the order of the dogs in relationships to the sled and each other.
4.) How fair is the division of food among the dogs? The division of food is not fair because the domesticated dogs that joined are not used to eating very little. Argue for the plan or for an alternate method, giving reasons for your argument. I think the people giving the food should start at a normal amount of food then lower the amount every day until they are capable of eating one pound and still in good condition. This is good because the dogs could adapt to how much they eat.
5.) What qualifies as "moral" or "immoral" in Buck's new world? Create a collage that represents the "more fundamental and primitive code" and contrast it with the moral code of the Judge.
6.) Looking at the titles of the first three chapters, make predictions about what will happen to Buck in the rest of the novel.
My prediction on what's going to happen in the rest of the novel that Buck will become stronger and stronger. He might eventually kill Spitz and he will take his spot.
In the end I think he stay in the wild to live as a wolf or somehow make it back to Judge Miller's place and live happily with his family once again.
1.) Write about a time you were in a completely new situation. How did you feel? Did you become more comfortable over time? If so, how? If not, why not?
2.) Draw a picture of Spitz as a person. How would his "personality" translate into human behavior?
3.) Illustrate the sled team as described in Chapter 2, paying close attention to the order of the dogs in relationships to the sled and each other.
4.) How fair is the division of food among the dogs? The division of food is not fair because the domesticated dogs that joined are not used to eating very little. Argue for the plan or for an alternate method, giving reasons for your argument. I think the people giving the food should start at a normal amount of food then lower the amount every day until they are capable of eating one pound and still in good condition. This is good because the dogs could adapt to how much they eat.
5.) What qualifies as "moral" or "immoral" in Buck's new world? Create a collage that represents the "more fundamental and primitive code" and contrast it with the moral code of the Judge.
6.) Looking at the titles of the first three chapters, make predictions about what will happen to Buck in the rest of the novel.
My prediction on what's going to happen in the rest of the novel that Buck will become stronger and stronger. He might eventually kill Spitz and he will take his spot.
In the end I think he stay in the wild to live as a wolf or somehow make it back to Judge Miller's place and live happily with his family once again.