Chapter 3: The Dominant Primordial Beast
Discussion Questions:
1.) Describe Spitz's character using examples from the chapter to support your answer.
Spitz is mean to other dogs because he takes Bucks "nest", takes food from the other dogs, and punishes other dogs.
2.) How do Francois and Perrault display their true natures in this chapter? Give specific examples to support your answer?
Francois is kind because he makes snows shoes for Buck and he is also fair because he hits the dogs that are bad and he doesn't have favorites. Perrault is protective because when the wild dogs attacked camp he protected them with his club.
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 growls at Spitz every time he gets near Spitz. The effects was that all the dogs started to do their own thing instead of listening to Spitz. Buck is turning from a "southland dog" to a primordial beast because he is stealing food and attacking Spitz the leader.
4.) In the following quotation what does London mean by the "dominant primordial beast"?
He is the dominant primordial beast because he kills Spitz and his wolf instincts are coming back to him.
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 last 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?
Some traits that helped him is that he is fearless, aggressive, athletic, a quick learner, and he has an imaginative mind. I think his imagination will be the most important because he needs imagination to find a different way to do something that makes it easier.
1.) Describe Spitz's character using examples from the chapter to support your answer.
Spitz is mean to other dogs because he takes Bucks "nest", takes food from the other dogs, and punishes other dogs.
2.) How do Francois and Perrault display their true natures in this chapter? Give specific examples to support your answer?
Francois is kind because he makes snows shoes for Buck and he is also fair because he hits the dogs that are bad and he doesn't have favorites. Perrault is protective because when the wild dogs attacked camp he protected them with his club.
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 growls at Spitz every time he gets near Spitz. The effects was that all the dogs started to do their own thing instead of listening to Spitz. Buck is turning from a "southland dog" to a primordial beast because he is stealing food and attacking Spitz the leader.
4.) In the following quotation what does London mean by the "dominant primordial beast"?
He is the dominant primordial beast because he kills Spitz and his wolf instincts are coming back to him.
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 last 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?
Some traits that helped him is that he is fearless, aggressive, athletic, a quick learner, and he has an imaginative mind. I think his imagination will be the most important because he needs imagination to find a different way to do something that makes it easier.
Vocabulary:
Malingerer - to avoid working "Pike, the malingerer, leaped upon the crippled animal," (p. 34)
Marauders - to roam around looting people "At daybreak they limped warily back to camp, to find the marauders gone and the two men in bad temper." (p. 35)
Covert - concealed "With the covert mutiny of Buck," (p. 42)
Insidious - entrap "The insidious revoltled by Buck had destroyed the solidarity of the team." (p. 44)
Placatingly - appeasingly "And even Billee, the good-natured was less good-natured, and whined not half so placatingly as in former days." (p. 44)
Inexorable - unyielding "Buck was inexorable." (p. 50)
Malingerer - to avoid working "Pike, the malingerer, leaped upon the crippled animal," (p. 34)
Marauders - to roam around looting people "At daybreak they limped warily back to camp, to find the marauders gone and the two men in bad temper." (p. 35)
Covert - concealed "With the covert mutiny of Buck," (p. 42)
Insidious - entrap "The insidious revoltled by Buck had destroyed the solidarity of the team." (p. 44)
Placatingly - appeasingly "And even Billee, the good-natured was less good-natured, and whined not half so placatingly as in former days." (p. 44)
Inexorable - unyielding "Buck was inexorable." (p. 50)
Activities (Choose one):
1.) Write a journal entry about a bully you have know. How is your bully similar to Spitz?
2.) Draw the fight between Buck and Spitz. Create human dialogue for each of the characters showing their emotional and mental states.
3.) Write a poem reflecting the compassion and kindness that the drivers, Francois and Perrault, have for their dogs.
4.) Compose a song describe Buck's and Spitz's death battle.
5.) Research the symptoms of rabies and the disease's treatments. Who in the pack could have been diagnosed with this disease? Explain what leads you to this conclusion.
1.) Write a journal entry about a bully you have know. How is your bully similar to Spitz?
2.) Draw the fight between Buck and Spitz. Create human dialogue for each of the characters showing their emotional and mental states.
3.) Write a poem reflecting the compassion and kindness that the drivers, Francois and Perrault, have for their dogs.
4.) Compose a song describe Buck's and Spitz's death battle.
5.) Research the symptoms of rabies and the disease's treatments. Who in the pack could have been diagnosed with this disease? Explain what leads you to this conclusion.