Chapter 3: The Dominant Primordial Beast
Discussion Questions
1.) Describe Spitz's character using examples from the chapter to support your answer.
Spitz is a bully since he steals Buck nest and he laughs when Curly died. Spitz likes to be alone and he is teh lead dog in the sleigh. Spitz dies when Buck kills him.
2.) How do Francois and Perrault display their true natures in this chapter? Give specific examples to support your answer?
Perrault is a mean person because he would always whip the dog if they do something bad. Francois is a fair person since he cares for Buck when he gave him his moccasins. Both Perrault and Francois is very protective when the pack of wolves came and attack them becasue they hit the other dogs with their clubs.
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 undermine's Spitz when he starts to growl, when he fights with him, and when he doesnt let Spitz take his food or nest. The effects form Buck's actions is that tehy lost their lead dog and they lost Spitz. Buck is more agrresive then he was before, Buck's animal insticts are coming back.
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)
London means that Buck is teh new leader, Buck is having his wolf or animal instincts, and he is a beast when is kills a beast.
5.) What traits have helped Buck thrive in his new world? Of them, why do you think is most important? Why?
The trait that Buck has is his imangination and that will help him since he is creative and how he can learn fast. Buck is quick, aggresive, an dBuck also stands up for himself. Buck is athletic because he can learn how to run fast or how to survive.
Vocabulary
Malingerer -
person who malingers
" ,and he crunched down throught the bone. Pike the malingerer, leaped upon the crippled animal." (pg. 47)
Marauders -
raider
" ,to find the marudars gone and two men in bad tempers." (pg. 48)
Covert -
not openly displayed
"With the covert mutiny of Buck, a general insubordination sprand up and incresed" (pg. 57)
Insidious -
proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects
"The insidious revolt led by Buck had destroyedteh solidary oft eh team." (pg. 59)
Travail -
painful or difficult work
" ,the articulate trevaill of existence." (pg. 58
Placatingly -
placatingly manner
" , and whined not half so placatingly as in former days." (pg. 60)
Inexorable -
impossible to stop or prevent
"Buck was inexorable." (pg. 66)
Activities (Choose one)
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.
The symtoms of rabies are discomfort, fever,headache, cerebral dysfunction, anxiety, confusion, agitation, but in the proces of the disease the person may experience delirium, abnormal behavior, hallucinations, and insomnia. One of the animals in the pack that might have had teh disease is maybe Spitz. I have given the chance that Spitz probably has the disease becasue Spitz might ahve a reason for beign such a bully for him to act like the way he is before he died by Buck. Spitz is always acting as if he is uncomfortable which is also one of the symptoms to rabies.
1.) Describe Spitz's character using examples from the chapter to support your answer.
Spitz is a bully since he steals Buck nest and he laughs when Curly died. Spitz likes to be alone and he is teh lead dog in the sleigh. Spitz dies when Buck kills him.
2.) How do Francois and Perrault display their true natures in this chapter? Give specific examples to support your answer?
Perrault is a mean person because he would always whip the dog if they do something bad. Francois is a fair person since he cares for Buck when he gave him his moccasins. Both Perrault and Francois is very protective when the pack of wolves came and attack them becasue they hit the other dogs with their clubs.
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 undermine's Spitz when he starts to growl, when he fights with him, and when he doesnt let Spitz take his food or nest. The effects form Buck's actions is that tehy lost their lead dog and they lost Spitz. Buck is more agrresive then he was before, Buck's animal insticts are coming back.
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)
London means that Buck is teh new leader, Buck is having his wolf or animal instincts, and he is a beast when is kills a beast.
5.) What traits have helped Buck thrive in his new world? Of them, why do you think is most important? Why?
The trait that Buck has is his imangination and that will help him since he is creative and how he can learn fast. Buck is quick, aggresive, an dBuck also stands up for himself. Buck is athletic because he can learn how to run fast or how to survive.
Vocabulary
Malingerer -
person who malingers
" ,and he crunched down throught the bone. Pike the malingerer, leaped upon the crippled animal." (pg. 47)
Marauders -
raider
" ,to find the marudars gone and two men in bad tempers." (pg. 48)
Covert -
not openly displayed
"With the covert mutiny of Buck, a general insubordination sprand up and incresed" (pg. 57)
Insidious -
proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects
"The insidious revolt led by Buck had destroyedteh solidary oft eh team." (pg. 59)
Travail -
painful or difficult work
" ,the articulate trevaill of existence." (pg. 58
Placatingly -
placatingly manner
" , and whined not half so placatingly as in former days." (pg. 60)
Inexorable -
impossible to stop or prevent
"Buck was inexorable." (pg. 66)
Activities (Choose one)
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.
The symtoms of rabies are discomfort, fever,headache, cerebral dysfunction, anxiety, confusion, agitation, but in the proces of the disease the person may experience delirium, abnormal behavior, hallucinations, and insomnia. One of the animals in the pack that might have had teh disease is maybe Spitz. I have given the chance that Spitz probably has the disease becasue Spitz might ahve a reason for beign such a bully for him to act like the way he is before he died by Buck. Spitz is always acting as if he is uncomfortable which is also one of the symptoms to rabies.