Discussion Questions:
1.) Reread London'd first description of Hal and Charles. What do you think will happen to them based on this initial description?
I think that based on London's description of Hal and Charles I think that they will have a hard time on the route to Dawson.
2.) What was Mercedes' reaction when experienced men went though to lighten the load? What does this say about her and about her relationship with her husband and brother?
I think that Mercedes reaction was mad because she is acting like a princess. This says that she only thinks about herself the relationship between her brother and hrs husband she always gets her way because she always has a tantrum.
3.) Compare Charles, Hal and Mercedes to any other characters you've met in other books, movies, plays, television shows, or real life. What traits did Buck have that allowed him to adapt to the north that they lacked?
Charles is the tall guy that's sorta going along with what's going on from Home Alone. Hal is the short little guy from Home Alone. Mercedes is Kim Kardashian because they are both drama queens and always get what they want.
4.) Why do you think London included these three characters in the book? What do they represent?
I think that London included these three characters in the book to make it more intense. Charles, Hal, and Mercedes represent the story and to make the story more intense.
5.) Why did Buck refuse to rise and lead the team? What did he have that his masters lacked?
Buck refused to rise and lead the team because he knows that the ice was melting and didn't want to go on. Buck has experience that his masters don't have.
Vocabulary:
Salient - most important; “This belt was the most salient thing about him.” Pg. 105
Callow - immature; “It advertised his callowness—a callowness sheer and unutterable." Pg.105
Chaffering - an agreement; “Buck heard the chaffering, saw the money pass between the man and the Government agent, and knew that the Scotch half-breed and the mail-train drivers." Pg.106
Apprehensively - anxious; “Buck watched them apprehensively as they proceeded to take down the tent and load the sled.” Pg. 106
Remonstrance - forcefully reproachful protest; “Mercedes continually fluttered in the way of her men and kept up an unbroken chattering of remonstrance and advice.” Pg. 107
Averred - state or assert; “She averred she would not go an inch, not for a dozen Charleses." Pg. 114
Jaded - tired, bored, or lacking; “Dawson, and the knowledge that, jaded and tired, he was facing the same trail once more, made him bitter.” Pg. 117
Voracious - wanting great quantities of food; “The Outside dogs, whose digestions had not been trained by chronic famine to make the most of little, had voracious appetites.” Pg. 118
Cajole - persuade someone to do something; “Mercedes, with tears in her pretty eyes and a quaver in her throat, could not cajole him into giving the dogs still more." Pg. 118
Innocuously - not harmful or offensive; “And though they were making poor time, the heavy load they dragged sapped their strength severely.”
Terse -
Inarticulate -
Activities: (choose one)
1.) Write a poem detailing what is feels like to be "dead tired."
2.) Draw a picture of Hal and Charles' camp based on the description in the text. Draw another picture of what you imagine Francois and Perrault's camp would have looked like. Explain what the manner in which the camps are kept tells about the people who own them.
3.) Write a journal entry about a time you didn't listen to someone with more experience than you. What happened? What did you learn?
4.) Imagine you are one of Buck's owners: Francois, Perault, the Scotch half-breed, Hal, Charles, or Mercedes. Write a letter home to a friend telling about your experience in the Yukon. Be sure your letter reflects the personality of the character you have chosen.
5.) Write a dialogue between the Insiders and the Outsiders regarding their situations.
1.) Reread London'd first description of Hal and Charles. What do you think will happen to them based on this initial description?
I think that based on London's description of Hal and Charles I think that they will have a hard time on the route to Dawson.
2.) What was Mercedes' reaction when experienced men went though to lighten the load? What does this say about her and about her relationship with her husband and brother?
I think that Mercedes reaction was mad because she is acting like a princess. This says that she only thinks about herself the relationship between her brother and hrs husband she always gets her way because she always has a tantrum.
3.) Compare Charles, Hal and Mercedes to any other characters you've met in other books, movies, plays, television shows, or real life. What traits did Buck have that allowed him to adapt to the north that they lacked?
Charles is the tall guy that's sorta going along with what's going on from Home Alone. Hal is the short little guy from Home Alone. Mercedes is Kim Kardashian because they are both drama queens and always get what they want.
4.) Why do you think London included these three characters in the book? What do they represent?
I think that London included these three characters in the book to make it more intense. Charles, Hal, and Mercedes represent the story and to make the story more intense.
5.) Why did Buck refuse to rise and lead the team? What did he have that his masters lacked?
Buck refused to rise and lead the team because he knows that the ice was melting and didn't want to go on. Buck has experience that his masters don't have.
Vocabulary:
Salient - most important; “This belt was the most salient thing about him.” Pg. 105
Callow - immature; “It advertised his callowness—a callowness sheer and unutterable." Pg.105
Chaffering - an agreement; “Buck heard the chaffering, saw the money pass between the man and the Government agent, and knew that the Scotch half-breed and the mail-train drivers." Pg.106
Apprehensively - anxious; “Buck watched them apprehensively as they proceeded to take down the tent and load the sled.” Pg. 106
Remonstrance - forcefully reproachful protest; “Mercedes continually fluttered in the way of her men and kept up an unbroken chattering of remonstrance and advice.” Pg. 107
Averred - state or assert; “She averred she would not go an inch, not for a dozen Charleses." Pg. 114
Jaded - tired, bored, or lacking; “Dawson, and the knowledge that, jaded and tired, he was facing the same trail once more, made him bitter.” Pg. 117
Voracious - wanting great quantities of food; “The Outside dogs, whose digestions had not been trained by chronic famine to make the most of little, had voracious appetites.” Pg. 118
Cajole - persuade someone to do something; “Mercedes, with tears in her pretty eyes and a quaver in her throat, could not cajole him into giving the dogs still more." Pg. 118
Innocuously - not harmful or offensive; “And though they were making poor time, the heavy load they dragged sapped their strength severely.”
Terse -
Inarticulate -
Activities: (choose one)
1.) Write a poem detailing what is feels like to be "dead tired."
2.) Draw a picture of Hal and Charles' camp based on the description in the text. Draw another picture of what you imagine Francois and Perrault's camp would have looked like. Explain what the manner in which the camps are kept tells about the people who own them.
3.) Write a journal entry about a time you didn't listen to someone with more experience than you. What happened? What did you learn?
4.) Imagine you are one of Buck's owners: Francois, Perault, the Scotch half-breed, Hal, Charles, or Mercedes. Write a letter home to a friend telling about your experience in the Yukon. Be sure your letter reflects the personality of the character you have chosen.
5.) Write a dialogue between the Insiders and the Outsiders regarding their situations.