Literary Terms and Vocabulary for The Call of the Wild By Jack London.
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Transcript of Literary Terms and Vocabulary for The Call of the Wild By Jack London.
Literary Terms and Vocabulary for
The Call of the Wild
By Jack London
Conflict
Throughout his turbulent life, Jack London sought real-life adventure, which often culminated in conflict, violence, suffering, or life-or-death
struggles for survival.
ConflictMost of his books and tales are built on plots that
involve physical force, endurance, and struggle—situations that were second-nature to a man to had pirated California oyster beds, hunted seals in the North Pacific, prospected for gold in the Klondike, and worked as a war correspondent.
In fact, London’s works provide some of the most clear-cut examples in American literature of plots that involve characters’ conflicts with other characters, and characters against themselves.
1st Basic Kind of External Conflict
• Character Against Nature– Prospectors digging for gold in the Yukon– Perrault and François at the Thirty Mile River– The dog team enduring the 2,500 mile trek
2nd Basic Kind of External Conflict
• Character Against Other Characters– Buck resisting his kidnappers and the dog-
breaker– Buck battling Spitz to the death– Buck defending Thornton against Burton– Buck taking revenge against the Yeehats
3rd Basic Kind of Conflict: Internal
• Character Against Self– Buck’s decision to steal food and lead a less
“civilized” way of life– Buck’s struggle to heed the opposing calls of
the wild and love for a master
Remember…
Conflict is the struggle between two opposing
forces.
Theme
• Question yourself:– What does it mean to be
a human being?– What does it mean to be
civilized?– What does it mean to be
brave?– What do you learn about
yourself when you face the mirror of nature?
ThemeThe Call of the Wild explores the effects of the natural environment and contact with human beings on the primitive and fundamentally noble spirit of the animal embodied in the dog Buck. What follows are some of the themes that run through London's novel:
Themes
Wild creatures can never truly be tamed
ThemesSelf-preservation is the first law of nature
ThemesSurvivors are those who adapt to changing circumstances
Themes Civilization is not always “civilized”
Themes
Experience is the greatest teacher
ThemesThe urge to survive is ultimately more powerful than the moral law of human civilization
Themes
Love can be a civilizing force
Vocabulary for CTW
Belligerent:
Warlike
Vocabulary for CTW
Ignominiously:With disgrace or shame
Vocabulary for CTW
Ecstasy:Supreme
joy
Vocabulary for CTWDominant:
Influential, controlling
Vocabulary for CTW
Imperiously:
In an arrogant or domineering way
Vocabulary for CTWInexorable: Inevitable;
unavoidable
Vocabulary for CTW
Fastidiousness:
Refined taste; daintiness
Vocabulary for CTW
Insidious:
Sneaky and dangerous; treacherous
Vocabulary for CTW
Primordial:Belonging to the earliest
age
Vocabulary for CTW
Introspective: Thoughtful about oneself
Vocabulary for CTWRampant:
Uncontrolled, wild
Vocabulary for CTWMalingerer: One who
pretends illness to
avoid work
Vocabulary for CTW
Obdurate:
Hard-hearted; stubborn
Vocabulary for CTW
Pandemonium:
A wild uproar, disorder
Just Kidding…
Vocabulary for CTWParadox:
A seeming contradiction
Vocabulary for CTW
Precipitate: Too quick; rash
Couldn’t resist the pun. Sorry.
Vocabulary for CTWProstrate:
Lying flat; completely exhausted
Vocabulary for CTWRetrogression:
A return to a more primitive state
Ms. Labor’s retrogression.
Vocabulary for CTW
Solidarity: Unity
Vocabulary for CTW
Travail:
Difficulty
Vocabulary for CTW
Vicarious:
Experienced through another person
(or clay- man, as the case may be.)
Vocabulary for CTW
Swarthy
Having a dark complexion (usually meant to be disparaging)
Vocabulary for CTW
Primeval
Belonging to the first ages or the primitive.
Vocabulary for CTW
Unwonted
Not the usual or the habit
Vocabulary for CTW
Despatches
Important packages or orders that should be delivered quickly.
Vocabulary for CTW
Aver To affirm; to state positively
Vocabulary for CTW
Callowness
Immaturity or inexperience
Vocabulary for CTWCarnivorous
meat-eating
Vocabulary for CTWDiscomfited
Frustrated; confused; defeated
Vocabulary for CTW
Gratifying
satisfying
Vocabulary for CTW
Inarticulate
Unable to express yourself with words
Vocabulary for CTW
Innocuously
Harmlessly
Vocabulary for CTW
Irresolutely
Indecisively
Vocabulary for CTW
Manifestly
Obviously; Plainly
Vocabulary for CTW
Monosyllabic
Having one syllable
Vocabulary for CTW
Pell-Mell
In a jumbled, confused way
Vocabulary for CTW
Peremptorily
In a commanding manner
Vocabulary for CTW
Pertinacity
Persistence; perseverance
Vocabulary for CTW
Prowess
Superior ability; bravery; valor
Vocabulary for CTW
Salient
Standing out from the rest: obvious
Vocabulary for CTW
SuperfluousUnnecessary; extra
Vocabulary for CTW
Transient
Temporary; passing quickly
Vocabulary for CTW
Usurp
To take over or seize UNjustly
Vocabulary for CTW
Wax
To increase; to grow
The End.