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 because he laughed when Curly died.
2.) How do Francois and Perrault display their true natures in this chapter? Give specific examples to support your answer?
Francois and Perrault display their true natures in the chapter by protecting Buck and the other dogs from the five new dogs. They also like to do their work fast.
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 undermined Spitz because he growled at him every time he got close and he also fights with Spitz. The effects of Bucks actions was not listening to Spitz and after a while the other dogs also stopped listening to Spitz and they started to do their own stuff.
4.) In the following quotation what does London mean by the "dominant primordial beast"?
"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 ast 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)
In the quotation London means by "dominant primordial beast" because Buck killed Spitz so he wouldn't be
5.) What traits have helped Buck thrive in his new world? Of them, why do you think is most important? Why?
1.) Describe Spitz's character using examples from the chapter to support your answer.
Spitz is mean because he laughed when Curly died.
2.) How do Francois and Perrault display their true natures in this chapter? Give specific examples to support your answer?
Francois and Perrault display their true natures in the chapter by protecting Buck and the other dogs from the five new dogs. They also like to do their work fast.
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 undermined Spitz because he growled at him every time he got close and he also fights with Spitz. The effects of Bucks actions was not listening to Spitz and after a while the other dogs also stopped listening to Spitz and they started to do their own stuff.
4.) In the following quotation what does London mean by the "dominant primordial beast"?
"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 ast 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)
In the quotation London means by "dominant primordial beast" because Buck killed Spitz so he wouldn't be
5.) What traits have helped Buck thrive in his new world? Of them, why do you think is most important? Why?
The traits that helped Buck thrive in his new world was that instead of him being a pet he was being to become a wolf. I think it was important because he needed to get out of the pet side and become a wolf in order to hunt animals and do things wolves do.
Vocabulary:
Malingerer - a person who malingers; “Pike, the malingerer, leaped upon the crippled animal,." Pg. 54
Marauders - a person who marauds; “At daybreak they limped warily back to camp, to find the marauders gone and the two men in bad tempers.” Pg. 56
Covert - not openly acknowledged or displayed; “With the covert mutiny of Buck, a general insubordination sprang up and increased.” Pg. 67
Insidious - proceeding in a gradual or subtle way; "The insidious revolted led by Buck had destroyed the solidarity of the team." Pg.
Travail - painful; “Wailings and half-sobs, and was more the pleading of life, the articulate travail of existence.” Pg. 69
Placatingly - making someone less angry or hostile;
“And even Billee, the good-natured, was less good-natured, and whined not half so placatingly as in former days
Inexorable - difficult to stop or prevent; "Buck was inexorable." Pg. 79
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 ad 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.
Vocabulary:
Malingerer - a person who malingers; “Pike, the malingerer, leaped upon the crippled animal,." Pg. 54
Marauders - a person who marauds; “At daybreak they limped warily back to camp, to find the marauders gone and the two men in bad tempers.” Pg. 56
Covert - not openly acknowledged or displayed; “With the covert mutiny of Buck, a general insubordination sprang up and increased.” Pg. 67
Insidious - proceeding in a gradual or subtle way; "The insidious revolted led by Buck had destroyed the solidarity of the team." Pg.
Travail - painful; “Wailings and half-sobs, and was more the pleading of life, the articulate travail of existence.” Pg. 69
Placatingly - making someone less angry or hostile;
“And even Billee, the good-natured, was less good-natured, and whined not half so placatingly as in former days
Inexorable - difficult to stop or prevent; "Buck was inexorable." Pg. 79
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 ad 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.