Chapter 6: For the Love of a Man
Discussion Questions:
1.) How did Buck's relationship with John Thornton differ from his relationships with his previous masters? How does London illustrate Buck's intense feelings for Thornton? How is this in keeping with his new, more primitive self? How does Buck balance his love for Thornton with his more primitive self?
His relationship with John Thornton is different from his relationships with other masters because Buck actually loves John Thornton. He shows Buck's intense feeling for John Thornton by Buck biting his hand with love and following Thornton around everywhere. He balances that by never stealing from John Thornton or hurting Skeet and Nig but he steals from other peoples tents and attacks any other dog.
2.) What does London mean by the following quotation: "He was older than the days he had seen and the breaths he had drawn."
He means that "He" is old but London is describing him in a more exciting way.
3.) How does Buck's love for Thornton compare to Dave's love of toiling in the traces?
Buck's love for John Thronton is much stronger than Dave's love of toiling in the traces because Buck follows Thornton around everywhere he goes but Dave does love toiling in the traces but doesn't show it all the time.
4.) Explain the meaning of the following quotation:
"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 share, the love of John Thornton drew him back to the fire again."
This means he is becoming more and more of a wolf but he loves John Thornton so he stays with him.
1.) How did Buck's relationship with John Thornton differ from his relationships with his previous masters? How does London illustrate Buck's intense feelings for Thornton? How is this in keeping with his new, more primitive self? How does Buck balance his love for Thornton with his more primitive self?
His relationship with John Thornton is different from his relationships with other masters because Buck actually loves John Thornton. He shows Buck's intense feeling for John Thornton by Buck biting his hand with love and following Thornton around everywhere. He balances that by never stealing from John Thornton or hurting Skeet and Nig but he steals from other peoples tents and attacks any other dog.
2.) What does London mean by the following quotation: "He was older than the days he had seen and the breaths he had drawn."
He means that "He" is old but London is describing him in a more exciting way.
3.) How does Buck's love for Thornton compare to Dave's love of toiling in the traces?
Buck's love for John Thronton is much stronger than Dave's love of toiling in the traces because Buck follows Thornton around everywhere he goes but Dave does love toiling in the traces but doesn't show it all the time.
4.) Explain the meaning of the following quotation:
"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 share, the love of John Thornton drew him back to the fire again."
This means he is becoming more and more of a wolf but he loves John Thornton so he stays with him.
Vocabulary:
Eloquent - having fluent, forceful, and appropriate speech "And when, released, he sprang to his feet, his mouth laughing, his eyes eloquent, his throat vibrant with unuttered sound." (p. 140)
Nudge - to push gently "Unlike Skeet, who was wont to shove her nose under Thornton's hand and nudge and nudge till petted, or Nig, who would stalk up and rest his great Thornton's knee, Buck was content to adore at a distance."(p. 141)
Reverently - a feeling of respect with awe "John Thornton would reverently exclaim, 'God! you can all but speak!' " (p. 140)
Feigned - pretended "And Buck understood the oaths to be love words, so the man understood this feigned bite for a caress." (p. 141)
Transient - not permanent "His transient masters since he had come into the Northland had bred in him a fear that no master could be permanent." (p. 142)
Aroused - stirred action "The strain of the primitive, which the Northland had aroused in him." (p. 143)
Tenderfoot - an inexperienced person " 'Black' Burton, a man evil-tempered and malicious, had been picking a quarrel with a tenderfoot at the bar, when Thornton stepped good-naturedly between." (p. 149)
Contagion - the communication of a disease "He had caught the contagion of excitement, and he felt that in some way he must do a great thing for John Thornton." (p. 162)
Conjuration - the act of calling a sacred name "It seemed like a conjuration." (p. 164)
Eloquent - having fluent, forceful, and appropriate speech "And when, released, he sprang to his feet, his mouth laughing, his eyes eloquent, his throat vibrant with unuttered sound." (p. 140)
Nudge - to push gently "Unlike Skeet, who was wont to shove her nose under Thornton's hand and nudge and nudge till petted, or Nig, who would stalk up and rest his great Thornton's knee, Buck was content to adore at a distance."(p. 141)
Reverently - a feeling of respect with awe "John Thornton would reverently exclaim, 'God! you can all but speak!' " (p. 140)
Feigned - pretended "And Buck understood the oaths to be love words, so the man understood this feigned bite for a caress." (p. 141)
Transient - not permanent "His transient masters since he had come into the Northland had bred in him a fear that no master could be permanent." (p. 142)
Aroused - stirred action "The strain of the primitive, which the Northland had aroused in him." (p. 143)
Tenderfoot - an inexperienced person " 'Black' Burton, a man evil-tempered and malicious, had been picking a quarrel with a tenderfoot at the bar, when Thornton stepped good-naturedly between." (p. 149)
Contagion - the communication of a disease "He had caught the contagion of excitement, and he felt that in some way he must do a great thing for John Thornton." (p. 162)
Conjuration - the act of calling a sacred name "It seemed like a conjuration." (p. 164)
Activities (choose one):
1.) List Buck's similarities with John Thornton.
2.) Research animal rescue organizations and the behaviors of abused animals. How would Buck's relationships with John Thornton fit into a behavior pattern of an abused dog?
3.) Find a video clip representing the law of the wilderness as details in the story.
4.) Describe how Thornton exploits Buck's love for him and why Buck continues to perform seemingly impossible, yet unnecessary tasks for his master.
Thornton exploits Buck's love for him by trying to shake him of when Buck gives him friendly bites because that is what Buck likes. Thornton also exploits Buck's love by cursing Buck lovingly which Buck also likes. Buck performs these seemingly impossible tasks for his master that he doesn't need to do because he loves John Thornton and he want do anything for him.
1.) List Buck's similarities with John Thornton.
2.) Research animal rescue organizations and the behaviors of abused animals. How would Buck's relationships with John Thornton fit into a behavior pattern of an abused dog?
3.) Find a video clip representing the law of the wilderness as details in the story.
4.) Describe how Thornton exploits Buck's love for him and why Buck continues to perform seemingly impossible, yet unnecessary tasks for his master.
Thornton exploits Buck's love for him by trying to shake him of when Buck gives him friendly bites because that is what Buck likes. Thornton also exploits Buck's love by cursing Buck lovingly which Buck also likes. Buck performs these seemingly impossible tasks for his master that he doesn't need to do because he loves John Thornton and he want do anything for him.