STUDY GUIDE THE
CALL OF THE
WILD JACK LONDON
Saddleback E-Book
SADDLEBACK EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHING, INC.
STUDY GUIDE THE
CALL OF THE WILD JACK LONDON
1
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn The Call of the Wild A Christmas Carol Frankenstein The Red Badge of Courage The Scarlet Letter A Tale of T wo Cities Treasure Island
Development and Production: Laurel Associates, Inc. Cover Art: Black Eagle Productions
Three Watson Irvine, CA 92618-2767 E-Mail:
[email protected] Website: www.sdlback.com Copyright © 1999 by Saddleback Educational Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher, with the exception below. Pages labeled with the statement Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 are intended for reproduction. Saddleback EducationalPublishing grants to individual purchasers of this book the right to make sufficient copies of reproducible pages for use by all students of a single teacher. This permission is limited to a single teacher, and does not apply to entire schools or school systems.
ISBN 1-56254-255-9 Printed in the United States of America 05 04 03 02 01 00 M 99
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
2
CONTENTS 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Notes to the Teacher............................ 4 Facts About the Author ....................... 5 Facts About the Times......................... 5 Facts About the Characters ................. 6 Chapter Summaries ............................. 7 Answer Key ...................................... 10 Literary Glossary .............................. 12 CHAPTER EXERCISES
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Words and Meanings, Ch. 7 ..... 29 Drawing Conclusions, Ch. 7 .... 30 Cause and Effect, Ch. 7 ............ 31 Words and Meanings, Ch. 8 ..... 32 Inference, Ch. 8 ........................ 33 Idioms, Ch. 8 ............................ 34 Personalizing the Story, Ch. 8 .. 35 Words and Meanings, Ch. 9 ..... 36 Inference, Ch. 9 ........................ 37
Words and Meanings, Ch. 1 ..... 14 Who and Where, Ch. 1 ............. 15
END-OF-BOOK EXERCISES
Words and Meanings, Ch. 2 ..... 16
25 26 26
Sequence of Events, Ch. 2 ........ 17 Inference, Ch. 2 ........................ 18 Words and Meanings, Ch. 3 ..... 19
Book Sequence ......................... 38 Final Exam, Part 1 .................... 39 Final Exam, Part 2 .................... 40
Making Predictions, Ch. 3 ........ 20 UNIVERSAL EXERCISES
Words and Meanings, Ch. 4 ..... 21
27 28 29 30 31 32 33 33
Inference, Ch. 4 ........................ 22 Comprehension Check, Ch. 4 ... 23 Words and Meanings, Ch. 5 ..... 24 Character Study, Ch. 5.............. 25 Words and Meanings, Ch. 6 ..... 26 Sequence of Events, Ch. 6 ........ 27 Point of View, Ch. 6 ................. 28 3
Beyond the Text ....................... 41 Plot Study ................................. 42 Theme Analysis ........................ 43 Character Study ........................ 44 Vocabulary Study ..................... 45 Glossary Study ......................... 46 Book Review, Part 1 ................. 47 Book Review, Part 2 ................ 48
SADDLEBACK CLASSICS
NOTES TO THE TEACHER THE NOVELS
Saddleback Classics were expressly designed to help students with limited reading ability gain access to some of the world’s greatest literature. While retaining the essence and stylistic “flavor” of the original, each Saddleback Classic has been expertly adapted to a reading level that never exceeds grade 4.0.
reproducible, are designed to be used chapter-by-chapter as the student’s reading of the novel proceeds. At least two exercises are provided for each book chapter. One of the two always focuses on key vocabulary. The other may be a simple comprehension check or present an important literary concept such as character analysis, point of view, inference, or figurative language. A two-page final exam is also included in every Saddleback Classics Study Guide.
A perfect introduction to later, more indepth investigations of the original works, Saddleback Classics utilize a number of strategies to ensure the involvement of reluctant readers: airy, uncomplicated page design, shortened sentences, easy-reading type style, elimination of archaic words and spellings, shortened total book length, and handsome illustrations.
USING THE STUDY GUIDES
Before assigning any of the reproducible exercises, be sure your students each have a personal copy of the Glossary and the Facts About the Author and About the Times. Students will need to be familiar with many of the literary terms in order to complete the worksheets. The Facts About the Author and About the Times lend themselves to any number of writing, art, or research projects you may wish to assign.
THE STUDY GUIDES
The Saddleback Classics Study Guides provide a wealth of reproducible support materials to help students extend the learning experience. Features include critical background notes on both the author and the times, character descriptions, chapter summaries, and eight “universal” exercises—focusing on plot, theme, character, vocabulary, important literary terms, and book report structure. All may be used to follow up the reading of any Saddleback Classic novel.
The title-specific exercises may be used as a springboard for class discussions or role-playing. Alternatively, you may wish to assign some exercises as homework and others as seatwork during the closing minutes of a class period. All exercises in this Guide are designed to accommodate independent study as well as group work. The occasional assignment of study partners or competitive teams often enhances interest and promotes creativity.
In addition to the universal exercises, 26 title-specific exercises are included to review, test, or enrich the student’s grasp of important vocabulary and concepts. These enjoyable worksheets, all
4
THE CALL
OF THE
WILD
FACTS ABOUT THE AUTHOR
JACK LONDON (1876–1916) London’s literary interests included science fiction and serious novels about the plight of the underprivileged. Although he wrote for only 16 years, he produced an impressive body of work: 19 novels, 18 books of essays and short stories, and numerous other books.
EARLY LIFE
Born in 1876, Jack London was raised in dire poverty in the slums of Oakland, California. As a boy of ten, he sold newspapers on the streets before going to school each day. While still a teenager, he worked as an oyster pirate, a cannery laborer, and a salmon fisherman.
OTHER WORKS
His most popular works, however, are The Call of the Wild and White Fang, which have been translated into 30 languages and are still popular all over the world.
PROFESSIONAL CAREER
Before he was 20, he joined the gold rush to Alaska. His stepsister loaned him $1,500 for his trip to the Klondike. The only “gold” he found there, however, was the rich and colorful material he used in his wonderful adventure stories.
LATER LIFE
Troubled all of his life by ill health and financial problems, Jack London died at the age of 40 in 1916.
While still very young, Jack London was making a name for himself as a reporter for the Hearst newspaper chain. But, like all of his other jobs, this one didn’t last long. Early in 1900, at the age of 24, he began his career as a serious writer.
FACTS ABOUT THE TIMES powered airplane, and the first car trip across the United States was made in 65 days.
In 1876, when Jack London was born . . . Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone, Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer had been out a year, and the first American zoo was established in Philadelphia.
In 1916, when Jack London died . . . Jazz was sweeping the United States, the Battle of Verdun was fought in World War I, Pancho Villa invaded Columbus, New Mexico, and the first Rose Bowl football game was held.
In 1903, when The Call of the Wild was published . . . Work began on the Panama Canal, Orville and Wilbur Wright flew the first
5
THE CALL
OF THE
WILD
FACTS ABOUT THE CHARACTERS HAL
BUCK
Mercedes’s brother; a headstrong, cruel man
A very large, intelligent dog whose life is
changed forever when he is stolen from his pleasant home in California and transported to the Alaskan frontier to become a working sled dog
JOHN THORNTON
The man who rescues Buck from the Americans and teaches Buck true love
JUDGE MILLER
Buck’s owner in California
HANS AND PETE
John Thornton’s partners
MANUEL
The Judge’s gardener’s helper who steals and sells Buck to pay off gambling debts
MATTHEWSON
The man who bets that Buck can’t pull a thousand-pound load
THE MAN IN THE RED SWEATER
A member of the stolen-dog ring who teaches Buck that “a man with a club is a lawgiver”
JIM O’BRIEN
The man who lends Thornton a thousand dollars to bet on Buck
PERRAULT AND FRANÇOIS
THE YEEHATS
Two French-Canadians who are Buck’s first masters in Alaska. They carry messages for the Canadian government
A fierce tribe of Indians who murder Thornton and his partners SPITZ
THE SCOTCHMAN
A white dog who is Buck’s archenemy among all the other dogs
Buck’s second master who delivers mail to gold seekers in the North
CURLY
CHARLES
A Newfoundland dog who accompanies Buck on the voyage of the Narwhal
One of Buck’s foolish and inexperienced American masters
DAVE, BILLEE, JOE, SOL-LEKS, PIKE, and DUB
MERCEDES
Another of Buck’s American masters; Charles’s wife
Other dogs on the sled team with Buck
6
THE CALL
OF THE
WILD
CHAPTER SUMMARIES CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 3
The story begins in 1897, at the beginning of the Alaskan gold rush. The main character, Buck, is introduced as a large beast belonging to a man named Judge Miller. Buck is the offspring of a Saint Bernard, Elmo, and a Scotch shepherd, Shep. Buck is not aware that his contented life will soon end forever. One night Manuel, a gardener’s helper on the estate, steals and sells Buck to settle his gambling debts. Before Buck knows what is happening, a stranger is tightening a rope around his neck and throwing him into a railroad baggage car. Buck is on his way to a much different life in the frozen Northland.
Buck, feeling fearful about the future, sees the man in the red sweater selling off other dogs, one by one. Soon a goodnatured French-Canadian named Perrault buys Buck and a Newfoundland named Curly to use in carrying messages for the Canadian government. On the Seattle docks, they board the Narwhal, a ship bound for Alaska. There Buck meets Perrault’s partner, François, as well as two more dogs named Spitz and Dave. Buck recognizes François as a fair man when he punishes Spitz for trying to steal Buck’s food. As the Narwhal heads north, the weather gets colder. On deck, Buck gets his first sight and taste of snow.
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 4
Recognizing that he is riding in a railroad baggage car, buck bites the hand of the stranger but is once again choked into unconsciousness. In the next scene, Buck is being held in a shed behind a bar on the San Francisco waterfront. Here the rope is removed and, after a struggle, Buck is put into a narrow wooden crate. Confused and angry at the bad treatment, Buck is then put in a railroad express car and teased by the express men. He doesn’t eat or drink for two nights. Finally he arrives in Seattle and is given over to a club-wielding man in a red sweater who cruelly beats Buck into submission. Buck learns that a man with a club is a lawgiver; it is his first introduction to the rule of primitive law.
After landing in Dyea Beach, Alaska, Buck is shocked to learn how savage both the gold-seekers and their dogs are. He sees huskies knock Curly off her feet and kill her; when Spits laughs at the sight, Buck makes a lifelong enemy. Soon Perrault and François buy more dogs and begin training the team. They are pleased with Buck for both his strength and intelligence. In a short time, Buck learns the “toil of the traces” by pulling with the other dogs behind Spitz, the leader. The life of a sled dog is hard; Buck never gets enough to eat. Over time he learns to steal food when he can and to eat anything. As he grows stronger, his primitive instincts seem to come alive again.
7
become very weary. Dave, exhausted, becomes sick and can’t do his work. Eventually, the Scotchman has to shoot Dave so the team can go on ahead.
CHAPTER 5
As the spirit of the wild beast is renewed in Buck, he continues to hate the bullying Spitz, although he wisely avoids fighting. One day, however, Spitz steals Buck’s snow nest. François is urging Buck to punish Spitz when suddenly the camp is attacked by a swarm of starving huskies. The team dogs try to drive them off but are wounded by the huskies’ brutal attack. When at last the huskies are routed, half the camp’s food supply is gone. François is afraid the huskies’ bites will infect the sled dogs with “madness,” but the messages must be delivered so they strike out on the trail to Dawson. It is a hard trip. Perrault and the two dogs break through the ice a few times, and François has to make moccasins for Buck’s sore feet. One dog, Dolly, does become mad; François puts her down with an axe. Buck begins to openly challenge Spitz, which leads to a final showdown. Thanks to his powers of imagination, Buck is able to trick Spitz and eventually kill him.
CHAPTER 7
When the team reaches Skagway 30 days later, Buck’s weight has dropped from 140 to 115. All the dogs are injured or simply worn out. Huge piles of mail are waiting to be delivered, however; the Scotchman is ordered to sell the exhausted team and quickly start off again with fresh dogs. Buck and his team are sold to a trio of goldseekers from the United States—Hal, Charles, and Mercedes—who don’t know what they are doing. They badly overload the sled and complain that the dogs are lazy when they can’t make the sled move. Finally, Hal whips the dogs to force them ahead. Unfortunately, the path turns into a steep slope and the sled and its contents topple. Now, “outside” dogs are bought to make a huge team of 14 dogs—too many for the amount of dog food one sled can carry. Unwisely, Hal cuts rations and the dogs begin to die off. When the crippled team reaches John Thornton’s camp, Thornton at once sees the owners’ ignorance and cruelty. He takes Buck from Hal. Leaving angrily, Hal ignores Thornton’s warning about thin ice and soon sinks under the ice along with his sled, partners, and dogs.
CHAPTER 6
François tries to install Sol-leks as lead dog, but is challenged by Buck, who feels he has earned the right to lead the team. When Perrault finally gives in, Buck proves to be a capable leader, having good judgment and the ability to react quickly. Perrault and François are very impressed at how well he disciplines the other dogs. Then Perrault is ordered to sell the team in Skagway. Buck’s new owner is a Scotchman whose job is to carry mail. Over the winter the dogs travel 1,800 miles and
CHAPTER 8
Thornton has been left in camp by his partners in order to heal his frozen feet. Now, all through the sunny spring, he and
8
Since there is little to do in camp while the men are working, Buck finds himself more and more drawn by a mysterious “call” he senses from the forest. At last he ventures into the forest and meets a wild timber wolf; they sit and howl together, which somehow fills Buck with a “wild happiness.” For some time, Buck is pulled back to camp by his love of Thornton and then is drawn back to the forest by the mysterious call. He spends more and more time in the forest.
Buck eat and rest up. Warming to Thornton’s affection, Buck knows real love for the first time. Fortunately, Thornton’s other dogs, Skeet and Blackie, show no jealousy toward Buck. When Thornton’s partners return, they notice the amazing devotion between Buck and his master. Buck has a chance to prove his loyalty by protecting Thornton from an angry man in a bar; Buck slashes the man’s throat. This event is told and retold, making Buck famous throughout the mining camps. He has another opportunity to show his love when he pulls Thornton from raging river rapids. Finally, Buck makes good on Thornton’s bet that he can pull 1,000 pounds for 100 yards.
One day Buck returns to camp and finds that the Yeehat Indians have murdered all the men and dogs. After mourning at Thornton’s side all day, Buck hears a chorus of yelps in the forest. Now, because of Thornton’s death, Buck’s last tie to man has been broken. So he joins the pack.
CHAPTER 9
Financed by their bets on Buck’s amazing performance, Thornton and his partners set out on a months-long journey to find a fabulous lost gold mine they have heard about. What they find instead is a rich deposit of gold in the Stewart River Valley. Every day they earn thousands of dollars worth of gold dust and nuggets.
It is said that the Yeehats still tell the tale of a giant Ghost Dog who leads the pack and visits the river valley alone every summer. They say he howls but once there, long and sadly, before returning to his wild brothers.
9
THE CALL
OF THE
WILD
ANSWER KEY 1 WORDS AND MEANINGS: C HAPTER 1
B. Accept any reasonable prediction. 1. Buck will carry messages for the Canadian government. 2. The dogs will soon leave the ship and begin working for the Canadian government.
A. 1. Klondike 2. kennels 3. grandchildren 4. companion 5. Manuel 6. orchard 7. collar 8. dignity 9. fury B. ACROSS : 2. muscles 4. wages 5. baggage 7. Klondike DOWN: 1. estate 3. rage 6. gold
8 WORDS AND MEANINGS: C HAPTER 4 A. ACROSS : 1. slashed 3. peril 5. savages 7. civilization 8. ancestors DOWN: 1. shivering 2. husky 4. instincts 6. fang B. 1. ancestors 2. slashed 3. fang 4. shivering 5. civilization 6. peril 7. savages 8. instincts
2 WHO AND WHERE: C HAPTER 1 A. 1. San Diego 2. Manuel 3. Alice and Mollie 4. Shep 5. Santa Clara 6. Elmo 7. Judge Miller 8. Toots and Ysabel B. 1. F 2. T 3. F 4. T 5. F
3 WORDS AND MEANINGS: C HAPTER 2
9 INFERENCE: C HAPTER 4
A. 1. cower 2. waterfront 3. bristled 4. cunning 5. rabies 6. express 7. crate 8. mistreat B. ACROSS: 1. rabies 5. cunning 6. express 7. waterfront DOWN: 2. bristled 3. mistreat 4. crate 5. cower
Answers should approximate: 1. Buck hated Spitz for laughing when Curly died. 2. Buck felt a wild thing’s fear of the trap. 3. They preferred running on a packed trail because the surface was smoother and it was easier to pull the sled. 4. He would die a swift, terrible death. 5. The other dogs would steal his food. 6. He began to howl at night, long and wolflike, just as his ancient ancestors had done.
4 SEQUENCE OF EVENTS: C HAPTER 2 1. 8/senses 2. 3/shed 3. 10/crates 4. 5/suffering 5. 1/shriek 6. 7/mistreat 7. 6/recognized 8. 4/file 9. 9/primitive 10. 2/bartender
10 COMPREHENSION CHECK: C HAPTER 4
5 INFERENCE: C HAPTER 2
A. 1. b 2. a 3. c 4. c 5. a 6. c B. Answers should approximate: 1. under the snow in their snow nests 2. The frozen ice on the lake had to melt. 3. They were much more alert and active. 4. Sol-leks slashed Buck’s shoulder to the bone.
Answers should approximate: 1. Buck had taken train trips with the judge. 2. The stranger wanted to disguise the fact that Buck was a stolen dog. 3. Buck had bitten his hand and leg. 4. They growled and barked and crowed in silly ways. 5. They wanted to see what Buck did when the crate was opened. 6. He read Buck’s name in the bartender’s letter. 7. He meant that Buck knew he couldn’t overcome the club. 8. He gave in to the club but was determined to be cunning.
11 WORDS AND MEANINGS: C HAPTER 5 A. ACROSS : 1. mercy 4. moccasins 7. thaw 8. agony DOWN: 2. ration 3. rival 5. nest 6. vain B. 1. thaw 2. ration 3. agony 4. rival 5. mercy 6. moccasins 7. nest 8. vain
12 CHARACTER STUDY: C HAPTER 5
6 WORDS AND MEANINGS: C HAPTER 3
A. 1. Spitz 2. Buck 3. Sol-leks 4. Dave 5. Perrault 6. Dolly B. 1. sneaky, vicious 2. cautious, imaginative 3. watchful, hard-working 4. one-eyed, battle-scarred 5. fair, experienced 6. terrified, crying
A. ACROSS : 1. opinion 4. yawned 5. sum 6. propeller 8. bully 9. sneaky DOWN: 2. newcomers 3. demand 5. scrawny 7. future B. 1. opinion 2. demand 3. bully 4. yawned 5. sum C. 1. d 2. c 3. b 4. a
13 WORDS AND MEANINGS: C HAPTER 6 A. 1. revolt 2. unruly 3. traces 4. moody 5. judgment 6. zero 7. grumbled 8. examined 9. retreated 10. whine B. ACROSS: 2. traces 5. grumbled 6. moody DOWN: 1. zero 3. revolt 4. unruly
7 MAKING PREDICTIONS: C HAPTER 3 A. Wording will vary. 1. One or more dogs would go away forever. 2. He thought Perrault would buy Buck. 3. He expected fair, caring treatment. 4. He expected him to be sly and sneaky. 5. He thought Dave would make trouble.
14 SEQUENCE OF EVENTS: C HAPTER 6 1. 6/record 2. 1/fury 3. 8/strength 4. 5/team 5. 10/gunshot 6. 3/position 7. 2/club 8. 4/loafing 9. 7/passed 10. 9/gasping
10
4. Buck was afraid Thornton would pass out of his life. 5. He wanted to join the wolves in the forest. 6. He learned that they were close to Thornton. 7. He broke three ribs. 8. The load was made up of 20 bags of flour that weighed 50 lbs. each.
15 POINT OF VIEW: C HAPTER 6 Answers should approximate: 1. F RANÇOIS’ VIEWPOINT: As the most experienced dog, Sol-leks should take Spitz’s place. BUCK’ S VIEWPOINT: Buck thought leadership was his by right; that he had earned it and wouldn’t settle for less. 2. SCOTCHMAN’S VIEWPOINT: Dave might be able to rest up if he didn’t have to work for a while. DAVE’S VIEWPOINT: He didn’t want to leave the team; his pride was hurt. 3. FRANÇOIS ’ VIEWPOINT: He thinks Buck is afraid of being beaten. B UCK ’S VIEWPOINT : Buck was in open revolt; he was trying to make it clear that he would only settle for Spitz’s job. 4. DAVE AND SOL-LEKS’ S VIEWPOINT : They didn’t care as long as they could do their work. BUCK ’S VIEWPOINT: The correct choice had been made; he was satisfied.
21 IDIOMS: C HAPTER 8 1. b 2. a 3. b 4. c 5. c 6. a
22 PERSONALIZING THE STORY: C HAPTER 8 Answers will vary.
23 WORDS AND MEANINGS: C HAPTER 9 A. 1. dozing 2. nuggets 3. howls 4. brother 5. restless 6. deposit 7. roamed 8. porcupine B. ACROSS: 1. sing-song 4. dozing 5. porcupine 7. howls 8. restless DOWN: 2. nuggets 3. brother 4. deposit 6. roamed
16 WORDS AND MEANINGS: CHAPTER 7
24 INFERENCE: C HAPTER 9
A. ACROSS : 1. timid 4. haul 7. starvation 8. strike 9. brutes D OWN: 2. disaster 3. masters 5. wrenched 6. rut 8. slope B. 1. starvation 2. disaster 3. haul 4. slope 5. wrenched 6. masters 7. rut 8. strike 9. brute
Answers should approximate: 1. They were searching for the lost gold mine. 2. They found a rich deposit of gold. 3. There wasn’t much to do and he felt a mysterious call. 4. He wanted to join them, not fight them. 5. Buck loved Thornton and couldn’t bear to leave him. 6. He saw Yeehat Indians dancing in the camp ruins. 7. They became confused by the speed of Buck’s attack. 8. He found that Thornton was dead.
17 DRAWING CONCLUSIONS: C HAPTER 7 Wording will vary. 1. Buck knew they had no experience and did not know what they were doing. 2. The dogs were very thin and clearly exhausted; they needed a long rest before going on. 3. One sled could not carry enough food for 14 dogs; they ran short of food. 4. He thought they were “lazy brutes.” 5. He was outraged at Hal’s cruelty; he threatened to kill Hal if he struck Buck one more time. 6. The sled had cracked through the thin ice and sunk. Both Buck and Thornton had observed that the ice was unsafe.
25 BOOK SEQUENCE 1. 10/wept 2. 1/library 3. 11/knuckles 4. 6/sniffed 5. 4/allow 6. 2/stranger 7. 12/howled 8. 5/recognized 9. 8/mush 10. 9/feet 11. 7/lifeless 12. 3/bartender
26 FINAL EXAM, P ART 1 1. b 2. c 3. a 4. d 5. c 6. a 7. a 8. d FINAL EXAM, P ART 2 Wording will vary. 1. When he was beaten by the man in the red sweater, Buck learned that a man with a club was a lawgiver. 2. They seemed to be fair men and they knew about dogs. 3. No, it did not guarantee fair play. Curly was killed for making a friendly approach to a big husky. 4. Sol-leks has just one eye and his face is battle-scarred. The name Sol-leks means “angry one.” 5. The dogs were weak and worn out. Hal and Charles had badly overloaded the sled. 6. He defended him in a barroom argument. He saved him from drowning. He pulled a sled loaded with 1,000 pounds.
18 CAUSE AND EFFECT: C HAPTER 7 1. g 2. f 3. h 4. b 5. d 6. a 7. j 8. i 9. e 10. c
19 WORDS AND MEANINGS: CHAPTER 8 A. 1. partners 2. provoked 3. raft 4. tolerate 5. devotion 6. jealousy 7. unhitched B. ACROSS : 3. jealousy 4. partners 5. raft 6. devotion 7. gold dust DOWN: 1. tolerated 2. unhitched 4. provoked
20 INFERENCE: C HAPTER 8 Wording will vary. 1. He won back his strength. 2. She cleaned Buck’s wounds. 3. Thornton touched him, spoke to him, gazed at him lovingly.
27–33
11
Answers will vary.
SADDLEBACK CLASSICS
LITERARY GLOSSARY effect in literature, an impression created by the writer
action what happens in a story; the acts or events that take place
Murder mysteries often create a suspenseful, chilling effect.
The war story was full of battle action.
author the writer of a book, story, article, etc.
event a specific occurrence; something that happens
Ernest Hemingway was an American author.
A plane crash is the first event in that adventure novel.
author’s purpose the author’s specific goal or reason for writing a certain book
fiction a literary work in which the plot and characters are the products of the author’s imagination
In that novel, the author’s purpose was to make readers laugh.
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a popular work of fiction.
character a fictional person who plays a part in a story or novel
imagery figures of speech that help the reader to visualize the characters or setting; pictures in words
Long John Silver is an important character in Treasure Island.
classic excellent artwork, novel, painting, symphony, etc. that remains popular over many years
In Stephen Crane’s imagery, the color of blood suggests courage.
introduction a short reading that presents and explains a novel; sometimes the first part of a novel that sets the scene
Norman Mailer’s The Naked and the Dead has become an American classic
climax the outcome of the novel’s main conflict
The introduction to Frankenstein is in the form of a letter.
The capture of the criminal was the climax of the detective story.
mood the overall feeling or atmosphere the author creates in a story or novel
conflict The struggle between characters or forces at the center of the story
The author’s skillful use of language created a dismal, hopeless mood.
The conflict was resolved when the suspect confessed.
moral the instructive point of a story or novel; the lesson to be drawn by the reader
description the parts of a story or novel that tell about the appearance of the setting or characters
The moral of the story is to choose your friends carefully.
His description of the Alps was breathtaking.
motive the driving force, either internal or external, that makes a character do something
dialogue words spoken by the characters in a novel, story, or play
What was the character’s motive for lying?
The dialogue in that comedy is very witty and amusing.
12
sequence the order in which story events take place
narrator, narration the character who tells the story in his or her own words; the telling of a story’s events
To solve the crime, the detective must determine the exact sequence of events.
Jim Hawkins is both the narrator of and a character in Treasure Island.
setting where and when a story happens; the location and time
novel a long form of fictional literature with a complex plot
The setting of A Christmas Carol is London in the mid-1800s.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is one of the greatest American novels.
style the special way a writer uses language to express both literary form and his or her own life experience
pace the speed at which a story or novel develops and moves along
Ernest Hemingway’s style is famous for his use of short sentences and easy-to-understand words.
The pace of the rescue scene was very fast and exciting.
passage a section of a written work; may include just one line or several paragraphs
symbol a person or thing that stands for, or represents, something else In Hawthorne’s famous novel, the scarlet letter is a symbol for adultery.
My favorite passage described the character’s childhood.
plot the chain of events in a story that leads to its outcome
theme the central meaning of a story, play, or novel; the main idea, the point
The war novel’s plot is packed with action.
Ambition and revenge are common themes in Shakespeare’s plays.
point of view the mental position from which a character sees the events of the story unfold
tone the feeling given by the author’s voice; the attitude expressed by the author’s use of language
The character’s great wealth influenced his point of view about the poor.
Is the tone of her dialogue humorous or formal?
quotation a passage quoted; the exact words spoken by a character; the words set off between quotation marks
voice the author’s unique way of telling a story; a combination of personality and use of literary tools; the quality that sets one writer apart from other writers
“It was a season of hope. It was a season of despair,” is a famous quotation from A Tale of Two Cities.
Mark Twain’s colorful voice is not hard to recognize.
realism the author’s emphasis on showing life as it really is, not romanticized or idealized Stephen Crane used great realism in describing the sights and sounds of battle.
13
THE CALL
OF THE
WILD •
Chapter
1
1
WORDS AND MEANINGS NAME
A.
DATE
Circle the word that correctly completes each statement. 1. In 1897, gold was discovered in the ( Santa Clara Valley / Klondike ). 2. Many of Judge Miller’s dogs lived in ( kennels / arbors ). 3. Buck carried the Judge’s ( servants / grandchildren ) on his back. 4. Buck’s father had been the Judge’s constant ( companion / groom ). 5. ( Elmo / Manuel ) was a gardener’s helper at Judge Miller’s place. 6. Buck thought he was taking a walk through the ( orchard / pastures ). 7. Manuel put a piece of thick rope under Buck’s ( legs / collar ). 8. Buck accepted the rope with quiet ( determination / dignity ). 9. When the stranger tightened the rope, Buck struggled in a ( fury / furry ) of surprise and anger.
B.
Use the clues to solve the crossword puzzle.
1
ACROSS
2
2. Gold-seekers needed dogs with strong _____ . 4. Manuel’s _____ could not support his gambling.
3
5
B
5. Two men threw Buck into a _____ car.
E
M
S 4
R
W
6
G
G
E
O 7
K
D
7. In 1897, gold was discovered in the _____ . DOWN
1. Buck was born on Judge Miller’s great _____ . 3. Buck felt _____ when the men teased him. 6. A precious metal, _____ , had been discovered in the Northland. 14
Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
THE CALL
OF THE
WILD •
Chapter
2
1
WHO AND WHERE NAME
A.
DATE
Help! Someone has mixed up the characters and locations in the sentences. Rewrite the sentences correctly on the back of this sheet. 1. Trouble was coming for every strong dog from Puget Sound to Santa Clara. 2. Judge Miller had a terrible weakness—he loved to gamble. 3. The Judge’s daughters, Toots and Ysabel, would take Buck with them on early morning walks. 4. Buck’s mother, Elmo, was a Scotch shepherd. 5. Judge Miller’s place was in the sunny San Diego Valley. 6. Buck’s father, Shep, was a Saint Bernard. 7. Manuel went to a meeting of the Raisin Growers’ Association. 8. Some dogs, such as Mollie and Alice, lived in hidden corners of the house.
B.
Write T or F to show whether each statement is true or false. 1. _____ Big dogs were needed in the frozen Southland. 2. _____ Gold had been discovered in the Klondike. 3. _____ Judge Miller’s place was called College Park. 4. _____ The stranger threw Buck over on his back. 5. _____ Money was passed between Alice and Manuel.
Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
15
THE CALL
OF THE
WILD •
Chapter
3
2
WORDS AND MEANINGS NAME
A.
DATE
Write a word from the box under the definition it matches. waterfront
cower
express
rabies
cunning
bristled
crate
mistreat
1. to pull away in fear
5. disease animals can transmit to humans
__________________________
__________________________
2. ocean’s edge where docks and wharves are
6. fast transportation; makes few stops
__________________________
__________________________
3. hair stood up stiffly
7. box made of wooden slats
__________________________
__________________________
4. slyness; skill at trickery
8. to abuse; deal with harshly
__________________________
B.
__________________________
Use clues to complete the crossword puzzle. ACROSS
1. The kidnapper worried that Buck would give him _____ .
1
R
2
7. The kidnapper took Buck to the San Francisco _____ .
16
M
4
C
5
C
W
6
N 7
W
T
X
S
F E
5. Buck would need all of his _____ to face his new life. 6. Buck’s crate was put into an _____ railroad car.
3
B
D
T
3. Buck couldn’t understand why anyone would _____ him.
DOWN
4. Buck was flung into a _____ that was like a cage.
2. Buck _____ at the touch of the man in the red sweater.
5. To Buck it would never be necessary to _____ before men.
Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
THE CALL
OF THE
WILD •
Chapter
4
2
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS NAME
DATE
First complete the lines from the story with a word from the box. Then number the events to show the order in which they happened. shriek
bartender
primitive
crates
mistreat
file
suffering
recognized
shed
senses
1. _____ Buck’s ____________________ slowly came back to hm, but not his strength. 2. _____ Buck was in a little ____________________ in back of a bar on the San Francisco waterfront. 3. _____ More dogs arrived in ____________________ and at the end of ropes. 4. _____ The lack of water caused Buck great ____________________ . 5. _____ The loud ____________________ of a train whistle told Buck where he was. 6. _____ Buck knew the man in the red sweater would be the next one to ____________________ him. 7. _____ So changed was Buck that the Judge himself would not have ____________________ him. 8. _____ Finally the men were able to ____________________ the heavy brass collar from Buck’s neck. 9. _____ The club was Buck’s introduction to the rule of ____________________ law. 10. _____ That night the stranger told a ____________________ what had happened. Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
17
THE CALL
OF THE
WILD •
Chapter
5
2
INFERENCE NAME
DATE
Answer the questions in your own words. Write in complete sentences. 1. How did Buck already “know the feeling of riding in a baggage car”? __________________________________________________________________ 2. Why did the stranger tell the baggage man that Buck “had fits”? __________________________________________________________________ 3. Why did the kidnapper worry that he might catch rabies? __________________________________________________________________ 4. What did the men in the express railroad car do that “outraged Buck’s dignity”? __________________________________________________________________ 5. What “show” did the men who carried the crate want to watch? __________________________________________________________________ 6. How did the man in the red sweater know Buck’s name? __________________________________________________________________ 7. What did the man in the red sweater mean when he told Buck, “Now you know your place”? __________________________________________________________________ 8. In what way was Buck “beaten but not broken”? __________________________________________________________________
18
Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
THE CALL
OF THE
WILD •
Chapter
6
3
WORDS AND MEANINGS NAME
A.
DATE
Use the clues to complete the crossword puzzle.
1
2
O 4
ACROSS
1. As he got to know François, Buck’s _____ of him improved.
3
D
N
Y
5
W
S
6
P
P
L
4. Dave _____ and went to sleep, even though the ship was rolling. 5. For so fine a dog, $300 was not an unfair _____ .
7
R
F
8
B
6. When the ship’s _____ was quiet, Buck knew that a change was at hand.
Y
U
8. Perrault said that Buck was “One _____ dog!” 9. Spitz would smile while thinking up a _____ trick.
M
9
S
K
DOWN
2. Dave showed no interest in the _____ , Buck and Curly. 3. The price of dogs shot up because of the _____ . 5. The _____ little man who bought Buck was a French-Canadian. 7. When he was sold, Buck felt fearful of the _____ .
B.
C.
Read the definitions. Unscramble the matching puzzle words. 1. NIPOONI
____________________ : personal belief or judgment
2. ADDNEM
____________________ : buyers’ desire for something
3. LUBYL
____________________ : great, exceptional
4. WEANDY
____________________ : took a deep, sleepy breath
5. MUS
____________________: an amount of money
Write a letter to match each puzzle word on the left with its antonym (opposite) on the right. 1. ____ scrawny
a. bold
2. ____ future
b. oldtimers
3. ____ newcomers
c. past
4. ____ sneaky
d. muscular
Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
19
THE CALL
OF THE
WILD •
Chapter
7
3
MAKING PREDICTIONS NAME
A.
DATE
Answer the questions in your own words. 1. When Buck saw money passed between strangers, he knew what would happen next. What was it? ________________________________________________________________ 2. The man in the red sweater was pleased when Perrault grinned. What did the man in the red sweater think would happen next? ________________________________________________________________ 3. When Buck saw that Perrault and François were “calm and even-handed,” what kind of treatment did he expect? ________________________________________________________________ 4. After Spitz tried to steal Buck’s food, what sort of behavior did Buck expect from Spitz? ________________________________________________________________ 5. Why did Buck pay little attention to Dave? What did he think Dave would do? ________________________________________________________________
B.
Each event described below is a clue to events you will read about in later chapters. Make a prediction based on each event in Chapter 3. 1.
Perrault thinks the messages of the Canadian government will not travel slower because of Buck. CLUE:
PREDICTION: __________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________ 2.
Buck knew that a change was at hand when he noticed the ship’s propeller was quiet. CLUE:
PREDICTION: __________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
20
Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
THE CALL
OF THE
WILD •
Chapter
8
4
WORDS AND MEANINGS NAME
A.
DATE
Use the clues to solve the crossword puzzle. ACROSS
1. Sol-leks _____ Buck’s shoulder to the bone. 3. Buck saw that, at every moment, life and limb were in _____ .
1
S
H
2
H 3
P
5
S
5. The men and dogs were _____ who knew only the law of club and fang.
4
I
V 6
7
C
7. Buck had been jerked from the heart of _____ .
Z
F
N
G
8. It was as if Buck’s _____ were howling down through the centuries.
8
A
C
T
DOWN
B.
1. _____ in the cold, Buck looked for a place to sleep.
4. Within Buck, long dead _____ came alive again.
2. A _____ ripped Curley’s face open from eye to jaw.
6. The savages knew no rule but the law of club and _____ .
Write a word from the puzzle next to the definition it matches. 1. those who came before you in the family line _________________________ 2. struck in a ripping, tearing way
_________________________
3. long, pointed tooth of an animal
_________________________
4. trembling and shaking with cold
_________________________
5. advanced stage of human development
_________________________
6. a possible danger
_________________________
7. wild, untamed beings
_________________________
8. natural abilities or talents
_________________________
Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
21
THE CALL
OF THE
WILD •
Chapter
9
4
INFERENCE NAME
DATE
Explain each answer in your own words. 1. How did Buck feel about Spitz? What did Spitz do to make Buck feel that way? ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ 2. Buck was alarmed for a moment when he first woke up in his snow nest. Explain why. ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ 3. Did the dogs prefer breaking their own trail or running on a trail that had already been packed? Explain why. ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ 4. What would happen to Buck if he couldn’t learn to “adapt to changing conditions”? ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ 5. Why did Buck learn to eat his food ration as quickly as he could? ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ 6. What was one “long dead instinct” that seemed to come alive in Buck? ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ 22
Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
THE CALL
OF THE
WILD •
Chapter
10
4
COMPREHENSION CHECK NAME
A.
DATE
Circle a letter to correctly complete each sentence. 1. Buck’s first day in the Northland was spent in a place called a. Miller’s estate.
b. Dyea Beach.
c. Seattle.
2. The dogs and men Buck met there were a. savages.
b. civilized.
c. French-Canadian.
3. Buck learned that the “wolf manner of fighting” was to a. attack from the rear.
b. punch with paws.
c. strike and leap away.
4. To make sure the dogs obeyed him, François used a a. stern voice.
b. hatchet.
c. whip.
5. What did Buck watch another dog steal? a. bacon.
b. salmon.
c. bread.
6. On “a good day’s run” a dog sled could cover a. 400 miles.
B.
b. 14 miles.
c. 40 miles.
Explain each answer in your own words. 1. On his first night in camp, Buck couldn’t find the other dogs. Where were they? ________________________________________________________________ 2. Thousands of men had built boats at Lake Bennett. What had to happen before they could leave? ________________________________________________________________ 3. How were Dave and Sol-leks different on the trail than they were in camp? ________________________________________________________________ 4. What happened when Buck approached Sol-leks on his blind side? ________________________________________________________________
Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
23
THE CALL
OF THE
WILD •
Chapter
11
5
WORDS AND MEANINGS NAME
A.
DATE
Use the clues to solve the crossword puzzle. ACROSS
1. _____ was a thing for gentler climates than the Northland. 4. François made four little _____ for Buck’s feet. 7. The men built a fire to _____ out the ice-coated dogs.
1
2
M
C 3
A
R
V 4
M
5
C N
N
L 6
V
7
8. When its back was broken, the rabbit shrieked in _____ .
T
W I
8
A
O
DOWN
2. François brought Buck his _____ of fish.
5. At night, each dog slept in a _____ in the snow.
3. Spitz sensed that Buck was a dangerous _____ .
6. In _____ Buck tried to sink his teeth into the white dog’s neck.
B.
Write the word from the puzzle that matches each definition below. 1. when warmer temperatures make ice melt ___________________________ 2. a single portion or serving ___________________________ 3. extreme distress and pain ___________________________ 4. competitor for the same prize ___________________________
24
5. unexpected kindness to an enemy ___________________________ 6. soft leather slippers ___________________________ 7. a snug place or shelter ___________________________ 8. without success; worthless ___________________________
Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
THE CALL
OF THE
WILD •
Chapter
12
5
CHARACTER STUDY NAME
A.
DATE
Complete each sentence with a character’s name from the box. Dolly
Perrault
Spitz
Buck
Sol-leks
Dave
1. _________________________ felt his rule was threatened. 2. _________________________ was too busy getting used to his new life to feel at ease. 3. Side by side, Dave and _________________________ bravely fought the starving huskies. 4. Buck and _________________________ almost froze when the sled broke through the ice. 5. To make up for lost time, _________________________ pushed the tired dogs early and late. 6. _________________________ suddenly went mad and sprang straight for Buck.
B.
Circle two words that describe each character. 1. Spitz
sneaky
fearful
vicious
starving
2. Buck
cautious
imaginative
weak
desperate
3. François
cruel
dangerous
watchful
hard-working
4. Sol-leks
young
one-eyed
friendly
battle-scarred
5. Perrault
fair
gigantic
wounded
experienced
6. Billie
lazy
terrified
crying
bitter
Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
25
THE CALL
OF THE
WILD •
Chapter
13
6
WORDS AND MEANINGS NAME
A.
DATE
Write a word from the box under the definition it matches. examined
grumbled
zero
moody
whine
retreated
judgment
traces
unruly
revolt
1. to rebel or rise up against
6. point 0 in degree measurement
____________________________
____________________________
2. not obedient; hard to control
7. complained in a low, angry voice
____________________________
____________________________
3. straps of sled harness
8. inspected; looked over carefully
____________________________
____________________________
4. having quick changes in feelings
9. turned away; left the scene
____________________________ 5. thoughtful opinion or decision
____________________________ 10. long, high, sad sound
____________________________
B.
____________________________
Use the clues to solve the crossword puzzle. ACROSS
1
2. François fastened Buck’s _____ at the head of the team.
Z
2
T
5. The drivers _____ that they needed more rest.
4
U
6. For some reason Dave became weak and _____ .
5
G
3
V
M T
DOWN
1. The temperature fell to 30 degrees below _____ . 3. Thinking leadership was his right, Buck was in open _____ . 26
6
M
Y
4. During Spitz’s last days, the dog team had become ______ .
Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
THE CALL
OF THE
WILD •
Chapter
14
6
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS NAME
DATE
Complete each sentence with a word from the box. Then number the events to show the order in which they happened. passed
gunshot
loafing
club
team
record
strength
fury
position
gasping
1. _____
The team arrived in Skagway in ____________________ time.
2. _____
Buck sprang at Sol-leks in a ____________________ .
3. _____
After 1,800 miles of travel, the dogs were losing ____________________ .
4. _____
Teek and Koona were added to the dog ____________________ .
5. _____
The dogs heard a ____________________ ring out back in camp.
6. _____
Buck took his ____________________ at the head of the team.
7. _____
François came toward Buck with a ____________________ in his hand.
8. _____
Buck punished Pike for ____________________ .
9. _____
François and Perrault ____________________ out of Buck’s life.
10. _____
Dave lay ____________________ in the snow.
Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
27
THE CALL
OF THE
WILD •
Chapter
15
6
POINT OF VIEW NAME
DATE
Just as in real life, no two characters have exactly the same point of view about what happens. Think about the following events from each character’s viewpoint. Then describe the different reactions of the characters. 1. After Spitz’s death, the position of lead dog had to be filled. FRANÇOIS’ VIEWPOINT: ______________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ BUCK’S VIEWPOINT: _________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ 2. Dave is removed from the team and left free to run along behind. THE SCOTCHMAN’S
VIEWPOINT: ________________________________________
________________________________________________________________ DAVE’ S VIEWPOINT: _________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ 3. Buck retreats a few steps when François comes toward him with a club. FRANÇOIS’ VIEWPOINT: ______________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ BUCK’S VIEWPOINT: _________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ 4. François puts Buck at the head of the team. DAVE AND SOL-LEKS’S VIEWPOINT : _____________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ BUCK’S VIEWPOINT: _________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ 28
Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
THE CALL
OF THE
WILD •
Chapter
16
7
WORDS AND MEANINGS NAME
A.
DATE
Use the clues to solve the crossword puzzle. ACROSS
1
1. The outside dogs were _____ and frightened.
D 3
M
4
H
4. The dogs could not _____ such an overloaded sled. 7. Thornton found Buck in a state of near _____ .
2
T
5
W 6
7
R
8
S
S
K
V
N
R
8. In a rage, Hal tried to _____ Buck with a club. 9. Hal called the dogs “lazy _____ .”
P
9
B
E
DOWN
2. Buck sensed _____ ahead and refused to move.
6. The sled’s back end dropped down, as if into a _____ .
3. Buck’s new _____ were Charles, Hal, and Mercedes.
8. There was a steep _____ leading down to the main street.
5. Dub’s _____ shoulderblade went from bad to worse.
B.
Complete each sentence with a word from the puzzle. 1. Someone who dies of hunger dies from ____________________ . 2. A tornado is one example of a natural ____________________ . 3. A moving van can ____________________ your furniture across the country. 4. It is fun to ski down a snowy ____________________ . 5. She turned too quickly and ____________________ her back. 6. Well-trained animals obey their ____________________ . 7. A ____________________ is a groove in the ground made by a wheel. 8. If you ____________________ someone, you have lost your temper. 9. A crude, unmannerly person is sometimes called a ____________________ .
Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
29
THE CALL
FO THE
WILD •
Chapter
17
7
DRAWING CONCLUSIONS NAME
DATE
1. Buck watched Hal and Charles pack dirty dishes, clumsily roll up their tent, and overload the sled. What conclusions did he draw? ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ 2. Why were Hal and Charles able to buy the dog team “for a song”? ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ 3. Hal and Charles felt proud to have a team of 14 dogs. Why did this turn out to be a bad idea? ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ 4. The dogs were unable to move the sled. Why did Hal think that was so? ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ 5. John Thornton watched Hal whipping the exhausted dogs. How did he feel about that? What did he do about it? ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ 6. Both Thornton and Buck watched Hal’s sled “disappear from sight.” Where had the sled gone? How did they know? ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________
30
Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
THE CALL
OF THE
WILD •
Chapter
18
7
CAUSE AND EFFECT NAME
DATE
Write a letter in the blank to match each cause on the left with its effect on the right. 1. ____ The dogs get one-half of their food ration.
a. They feel timid and frightened.
2. ____ To make them pull harder, Hal whips the dog team.
b. Hal’s sled sinks beneath the melting ice.
3. ____ The coming of spring brings blazing sunshine. 4. ____ Hal refuses Thornton’s advice. 5. ____ Buck senses that disaster is just ahead. 6. ____ The outside dogs are too inexperienced to go out on the trail.
c. The sled topples over, spilling its load. d. He refuses to get up. e. The dogs lose weight and suffer injuries. f. The dogs become angry at their ill treatment.
7. ____ The townspeople in Skagway suggest “half the load and twice the dogs.”
g. The outside dogs die off, one by one.
8. ____ The dog team dashes down the steep slope into town.
h. Snow and ice begin to melt.
9. ____ After too little rest, it takes the dogs 30 days to reach Skagway.
i. Hal is tripped and pulled off his feet.
10. ____ Hal and Charles overload the sled.
j. Mercedes throws out many belongings.
Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
31
THE CALL
OF THE
WILD •
Chapter
19
8
WORDS AND MEANINGS NAME
A.
DATE
Use a vocabulary word from the box to complete each sentence. tolerate devotion
provoked
raft
partners
jealousy
unhitched
1. Jon and Brandon are ____________________ in their landscape business. 2. The boy ____________________ a fight by teasing his sister. 3. Huckleberry Finn sailed a ____________________ on the river. 4. Our teacher will not ____________________ rude behavior. 5. True ____________________ to another is shown by deeds, not words. 6. Sometimes the girl feels ____________________ when her brother gets attention. 7. After plowing the field, the farmer ____________________ the horses.
B.
Use the clues to solve the crossword puzzle. 1
ACROSS
T
3. Thornton’s dogs showed no _____ toward Buck.
2
U
4. Thornton’s _____ headed up the river to deliver saw-logs.
7. Matthewson slammed down a bag of _____ _____ (two words) on the bar.
J
S
H 4
P
5. Hans and Pete finally came back on the _____ . 6. Buck’s _____ to Thornton was easy to see.
3
R 5
C
R
V 6
D
7
G
V
I
D
D
S
DOWN
1. Buck loved Thornton but only _____ Hans and Pete. 2. Matthewson _____ his team and put Buck in their place. 4. The people decided that Burton had _____ Buck into biting him. 32
Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
THE CALL
OF THE
WILD •
Chapter
20
8
INFERENCE NAME
DATE
1. What slowly happened to Buck as he “watched the running water and listened to the songs of birds and the hum of nature”? ________________________________________________________________ 2. What kind deed did Skeet do “just as tenderly as a mother cat washes her kittens”? ________________________________________________________________ 3. What did John Thornton do that made Buck feel “wild with happiness”? ________________________________________________________________ 4. Why did Buck “follow at the man’s heels all day long”? What was he afraid might happen? ________________________________________________________________ 5. When Buck “heard a mysterious call sounding from the forest,” what did he want to do? ________________________________________________________________ 6. What made Buck decide to “tolerate” Pete and Hans? ________________________________________________________________ 7. In what way was Buck injured when he rescued Thornton from the river rapids? ________________________________________________________________ 8. How could Matthewson be certain that the load on his sled weighed 1,000 pounds? ________________________________________________________________ Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
33
THE CALL
OF THE
WILD •
Chapter
21
8
IDIOMS NAME
DATE
An idiom is a figurative expression. It has a different meaning from the usual meanings of the words used. The idiom “to catch one’s eye,” for example, means to get someone’s attention.
Read the boldfaced idioms from Chapter 8. Circle a letter to show its meaning. 1. “I’d hate to be the man who lays hands on Thornton when Buck’s around.” a. pats or hugs
b. grabs or hits
c. tries to heal
2. Burton had been picking a quarrel with another man at the bar. a. starting a fight
b. selecting a topic
c. hitting with a pick
3. Thornton’s bluff, if bluff it was, had been called. a. insults had been exchanged
b. proof had been demanded
c. charges had been made
4. From that day on, Buck’s name spread through every mining camp in Alaska. a. flowed like water
b. was printed on posters
c. was widely mentioned
5. Matthewson sensed that there was more easy money to be made. a. coins to be counterfeited
b. good pay for simple work
c. more bets to be won
6. The crowd from the Eldorado flowed out into the street. a. came out all at once
34
b. was caught in a flood
c. came one at a time, like drops of water
Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
THE CALL
OF THE
WILD •
Chapter
22
8
PERSONALIZING THE STORY NAME
DATE
Read the boldfaced lines from the story. Then write about a similar event in your own life. 1. Blackie was a huge, good-natured dog with eyes that laughed. Have you ever known a dog with laughing eyes? Name the dog and describe its facial expression in detail. ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ 2. With the continued warm weather, Buck’s limp finally left him. Have you or someone you know ever had a limp? How were you hurt? How long did it take to get well? ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ 3. Thornton would shake the big dog and call him names Buck took for love names. Who calls you love names? What love names are you called? ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ 4. Flung out of the boat, Thornton headed for a stretch of wild water in which no swimmer could survive. Have you ever been afraid of drowning? What happened? Have you ever been rescued from another kind of danger? ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ 5. “Can you lend me $1,000?” Thornton whispered to Jim O’Brien. Have you ever had to borrow money? Why did you need it? Who loaned you the money? ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
35
THE CALL
OF THE
WILD •
Chapter
23
9
WORDS AND MEANINGS NAME
A.
B.
DATE
Read the definitions. Unscramble the matching vocabulary words. 1. DOGNIZ
____________________ : sleeping lightly; napping
2. STEGNUG
____________________ : small chunks of gold
3. WOLSH
____________________ : long wailing cries
4. RETHROB
____________________ : male’s relation to other children of his parents
5. SERTSSEL
____________________ : disturbed; not peaceful or quiet
6. STEPOID
____________________ : minerals present in soil or water
7. DREAMO
____________________ : wandered; traveled to no specific destination
8. NIPECROUP
____________________ : animal with sharp, prickly quills
Use the clues to solve the crossword puzzle. ACROSS
1. Buck heard a _____ (hyphenated word) chant coming from the camp. 4. Having little to do, Buck spent time _____ lazily.
3
B
1
2
–
4
N
Z G
5
5. The arrows in Hans’s back made him look like a _____ .
P
6
R 7
7. Buck heard the _____ of the wolves in the forest. 8. Buck grew _____ when he stayed in camp too long.
S
H
W
M 8
R
T
DOWN
36
2. _____ brought back from the lost gold mine were unlike any others.
4. Thornton found a rich _____ of gold in a river valley.
3. Buck thought of the wolf as his wild _____ .
6. Finding Thornton dead, Buck _____ around the camp.
Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
THE CALL
OF THE
WILD •
Chapter
24
9
INFERENCE NAME
DATE
Answer the questions in your own words. Write in complete sentences. 1. Why did Thornton and his partners sled 70 miles up the Yukon? _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ 2. Why did the partners “search no farther” when they reached the river valley? _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ 3. Why did Buck grow restless in camp? _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ 4. Why didn’t Buck attack the timber wolf he met in the creek bed? _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ 5. Why did Buck always return to camp after running with the wolves? _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ 6. Why was Buck filled with rage when he reached the center of the camp? _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ 7. Why did the Yeehats begin shooting one another with their arrows? _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ 8. Why did Buck “feel an emptiness which food could not fill”? _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
37
THE CALL
OF THE
25
WILD
BOOK SEQUENCE NAME
DATE
Complete each sentence with a word from the box. Then number the events to show which happened first, second, and so on. sniffed
mush
library
allow
howled
recognized
bartender
wept
stranger
feet
lifeless
knuckles
_____ 1. François threw his arms around Buck and ____________________ over him. _____ 2. Buck lay at Judge Miller’s feet by the fire in the ___________________ . _____ 3. Thornton hit Hal’s ____________________ with the axe-handle. _____ 4. Buck ____________________ at the white stuff he saw falling though the air. _____ 5. Buck decided that he would never ____________________ another rope to be put around his neck. _____ 6. Money passed between Manuel and a ____________________ . _____ 7. At last, Buck sat down with the pack and ____________________ . _____ 8. Perrault ____________________ that Buck was one in a thousand. _____ 9. Buck learned to stop at “ho” and go ahead at “___________________ .” _____ 10. Every night, François rubbed Buck’s sore ____________________ for half an hour. _____ 11. Curly lay in the snow, limp and ____________________ . _____ 12. The ugly face of the ____________________ peeked in at Buck.
38
Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
THE CALL
OF THE
26
WILD
FINAL EXAM, PART 1 NAME
DATE
Circle a letter to correctly answer each question or complete each statement. 1. When the story begins in 1897, how old is Buck? a. two years old
c. about six months old
b. four years old
d. six years old
2. Why did Buck accept the rope from Manuel? a. He was often leashed this way.
c. He trusted people he knew.
b. He thought it was a game.
d. He liked to be roped.
3. Why did the stranger say he was taking Buck to San Francisco? a. to see a dog doctor
c. to see Judge Miller
b. to be in a dog show
d. to live in the city
4. From San Francisco, Buck was next taken by train to a. Skagway.
c. College Park station.
b. the Klondike.
d. Seattle.
5. Who called Buck a “red-eyed devil”? a. the Judge’s sons
c. the man in the red sweater
b. François
d. the man in the baggage car
6. From the man in the red sweater Perrault bought a. Buck and Curly.
c. Dave and Spitz.
b. Buck and Spitz.
d. two fox terriers.
7. Physically, Perrault’s partner François is described as a. gigantic.
c. short and scrawny.
b. evil-looking.
d. black-haired.
8. What dog on the Narwhal is described as “big and snow white”? a. Curly
c. Sol-leks
b. Dave
d. Spitz
Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
39
THE CALL
OF THE
26
WILD
FINAL EXAM, PART 2 NAME
DATE
Answer each question in your own words. Write in complete sentences. 1. What was Buck’s introduction to the rule of “primitive law”? Explain. ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ 2. For what two reasons did Buck respect Perrault and François? ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ 3. Did “the law of club and fang” guarantee fair play? Give examples. ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ 4. What does the author tell you about Sol-leks’s eye and face? What does the name Sol-leks mean? ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ 5. Why didn’t the sled dogs perform well for Hal? Give at least two reasons. ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ 6. Describe two events in which Buck proved his devotion to John Thornton. ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________
40
Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
27
SADDLEBACK CLASSICS
BEYOND THE TEXT: __________________________________________________ (TITLE OF NOVEL)
NAME
DATE
Choose one “extra credit” project from each column. Complete the short-term project on the back of this sheet. To complete the second project, follow your teacher’s instructions. SHORT-TERM PROJECTS
LONG-TERM PROJECTS
1. Write brief captions for any four illustrations in the book.
1. Use a reference book to find a song that was popular at the time this story takes place. Read or sing it to the class.
2. Draw a picture of your favorite character. Be sure the clothing and hairstyles are appropriate to the times. 3. Write a diary entry for one of the main characters. Describe, from that character’s point of view, an important event from the novel. 4. Write a short paragraph explaining why you think the author chose to write about the particular time and place of the novel’s setting. 5. Draw a simple map, showing various locations mentioned in the novel. 6. Choose any page from the novel. Rewrite all the dialogue. 7. Playing the role of a newspaper reporter, write a brief article describing one of the events that occurs in the novel.
2. Write a description of the daily life of ordinary people at the time this story was written. Use library resources to find information. 3. Make a diorama depicting one of the important scenes in the story. 4. Ask a librarian to help you find a recipe for a dish that was popular at the time depicted in the story. Make it for the class. 5. Make a chart showing “then and now” comparisons between the story’s location and people at the time the novel is set and as it is today. 6. Use a cassette recorder to make an audiotape of any two chapters of the novel.
Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
41
28
SADDLEBACK CLASSICS
PLOT STUDY: _________________________________________________________ (TITLE OF NOVEL)
NAME
DATE
Five elements make up a plot: characters, setting, conflict, climax, and conclusion. Review the Glossary definition of each element. Then answer the questions about the novel you just read. 1. What is the setting (time and place) of the novel? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 2. What conflict or conflicts do the main characters face? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 3. Explain the climax of these conflicts (how they are resolved). __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 4. Is the outcome of the plot surprising? Why or why not? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 5. Does the novel focus mostly on character, plot, or setting? Explain your answer. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 6. What might have been a different way for the conflicts to be resolved? Think of some events that would have changed the outcome of the plot. Write your new ending here. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 42
Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
29
SADDLEBACK CLASSICS
THEME ANALYSIS: ___________________________________________________ (TITLE OF NOVEL)
NAME
DATE
Review the Glossary definition of theme. Then study the literary themes listed in the box. bravery guilt madness
loyalty love science
revenge war injustice
revolution repentance greed
nature courage regret
hope friendship youth
Authors often want to deliver a message about their themes. This message, usually a deeply held belief, is expressed in the story. Think about the novel you just read. What theme or themes can you recognize? What was the main idea? What point was the author trying to make about that theme? What message was delivered? Choose two or three themes from the box, or write your own. Then write a sentence explaining the author’s belief about that theme. (This kind of sentence is called a thematic statement.) EXAMPLE:
Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare Theme: hatred Thematic statement: Hatred between families can have tragic consequences for innocent individuals.
Theme 1: _____________________________ Thematic statement: ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ Theme 2: _____________________________ Thematic statement: ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ Theme 3: _____________________________ Thematic statement: ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
43
30
SADDLEBACK CLASSICS
CHARACTER STUDY: _________________________________________________ (TITLE OF NOVEL)
NAME
DATE
Review the Glossary definition of character. Then name two important characters from the novel you just read. Write a brief description of each. 1. Character: _______________________________ Description: _______________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 2. Character: _______________________________ Description: _______________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 3. Which character did you find most interesting? ____________________________ Explain why. _______________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 4. Describe the main conflict this character faces. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 5. How is this conflict finally resolved? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 6. Does the plot outcome make the character happy? __________________________ Explain how. _______________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 7. Write three lines of dialogue or description from the novel that helped you understand this character. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 8. On the back of this sheet, write a sentence telling how you and the character are alike. Then write another sentence telling how the two of you are different. 44
Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
31
SADDLEBACK CLASSICS
VOCABULARY STUDY: _______________________________________________ (TITLE OF NOVEL)
NAME
DATE
Look back through the novel you just read. Find ten words that were new to you. First, list the words on the lines below. Then check a dictionary if you’re not sure what each word means. Finally, use each word in a sentence of your own. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________
1. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 2. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 3. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 4. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 5. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 6. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 7. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 8. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 9. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 10. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
45
32
SADDLEBACK CLASSICS
GLOSSARY STUDY: ___________________________________________________ (TITLE OF NOVEL)
NAME
DATE
1. Review the Glossary definition of conflict. Then describe one example of a conflict in this novel. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 2. Review the Glossary definition of imagery. Then give two examples of the author’s artful use of figurative language. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 3. Select your favorite short passage from the novel. Write it on the lines. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 4. Describe the setting of the novel. When and where does the story take place? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 5. Review the Glossary definition of motive. Explain the motive, or driving force, behind the main character’s actions. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 6. Review the Glossary definition of quotation. Select a memorable quotation from the novel and write it on the lines. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 7. Think about a major event in the story. What was the main character’s point of view about that event? Explain how the author revealed that character’s point of view. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 46
Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
33
SADDLEBACK CLASSICS
BOOK REVIEW, PART 1 NAME
DATE
Imagine you are a book reviewer for a newspaper. Your job is to describe the novel you just read for your readers. Before you write your review—which will contain both fact and opinion—you must take notes. Use this form to record the information you will use in your article. BOOK TITLE: ____________________________________________________________ AUTHOR: _______________________________________________________________
1. What was the author’s purpose in writing this book? (Examples: to amuse, terrify, inform, protest, inspire, etc.) Name more than one purpose, if appropriate. __________________________________________________________________ 2. What type of novel is this? (Examples: adventure, fantasy, comedy, tragedy, mystery, action, drama, etc.) Name more than one type, if appropriate. __________________________________________________________________ 3. Describe the main character in two or three sentences. Use meaningful details. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 4. Describe two or three supporting characters. Explain each character’s relationship to the main character. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 5. Write one or two sentences from the novel as examples of powerful description. (Hint: Look for vivid sights, sounds, smells, or feelings.) __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
47
33
SADDLEBACK CLASSICS
BOOK REVIEW, PART 2: ________________________________________________ (TITLE OF NOVEL)
NAME
DATE
6. Write one or two lines from the book as examples of memorable dialogue. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 7. Summarize the plot of the book in one brief paragraph. (Hint: Name a key event at the beginning, middle, and end.) __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 8. Find your favorite illustration in the book. As you describe it, explain how this drawing works as an aid to the reader’s imagination. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 9. State your opinion of the book’s title. Does the title give a good clue as to what the story is about? Why or why not? Suggest a different title that would have worked as well. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 10. State two reasons why you would or would not recommend this novel to your readers. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 48
Saddleback Educational Publishing © 1999 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
STUDY GUIDE THE
CALL OF THE
WILD JACK LONDON
Saddleback E-Book
SADDLEBACK EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHING, INC.
