The Call of the Wild

The Call of the Wild 

• Genre: Fiction; adventure; classic 
• Originally Published: 1903 
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 1120L; grades 8-12 
• Structure/Length: 7 chapters; approximately 232 pages; approximately 3 hours, 50 minutes on audio
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: The story follows Buck, a large and powerful St. Bernard-Scotch Collie. Kidnapped from his comfortable life in California, Buck is sold into service as a sled dog in the harsh Yukon Territory during the Klondike Gold Rush. The central conflict is Buck’s struggle for survival and adaptation to the brutal conditions, leading to his eventual wild awakening. 
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Animal cruelty and violence; harsh survival conditions; depiction of death and struggle

Jack London, Author 

• Bio: Born 1876; died 1916; American novelist, journalist, and social activist; known for his adventurous and rugged writing style; themes often include nature, survival, and the human condition; significant figure in American literature; writings heavily influenced by his experiences in the Klondike Gold Rush
• Other Works: The Sea-Wolf (1904); White Fang (1906); The Iron Heel (1908); Martin Eden (1909)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• You Must Be Resilient To Survive in the Wild
• Life and Death Are Intertwined and Dependent on One Another
• Mutual Respect and Love Create Functional Communities

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will: