The Call of the Wild
Chapter 6 — Teaching Companion
Jack London · Trailblazers 4th–6th
Coaching, not a script — and not an answer key: every question here has more than one defensible answer.
This chapter's big question
When Thornton calls Buck's love both splendid and terrible, does the terrible part lie in Buck's love itself or in what Thornton, on a whim and for a wager, asks of it?
The tension Buck's love is adoration and madness at once. It draws him back from the call in the forest, sends him at Burton's throat, carries him into rapids no swimmer could live in, and moves a thousand pounds of flour. The same love answers a thoughtless whim at the edge of a three hundred foot drop, where Thornton has to grapple him back, and Thornton, who calls it splendid and terrible in one breath, draws on it again when he whispers "As you love me" before the wager.
Today's focus
Notice what Buck's love for Thornton makes him do in each scene, and what Thornton asks of it, and what he says and does when he does.
Two core ideas
- Buck's love is all-out and is for one man: it draws him back from the forest, sends him at Burton's throat, and sends him into the rapids.
- The chapter shows what Buck does in each test and lets Thornton's own words and actions, from "Jump, Buck!" to "As you love me", carry the weight.
The shape at a glance
Buck recovers by the river with Thornton, Skeet and Nig, and loves Thornton as he never loved anyone at Judge Miller's. The call in the forest pulls at him, and the love draws him back. At the cliff Thornton commands "Jump, Buck!" and grapples him back; Buck attacks Black Burton at Circle City, saves Thornton in the rapids, and starts a sled loaded with a thousand pounds of flour for a wager in Dawson.
A way in
Start with Skeet and Nig nudging for a pat while Buck adores from a distance. Ask what kind of love that is, then jump to the whisper before the wager and ask what has changed.
Lesson plan
Retell The student tells the chapter back in order: the rest by the river, Skeet and Nig, the call, the cliff, Burton, the rapids, and the sled.
Imitate the author After copying the passage, the student writes three kinds of friendship they know, each with its own adjective, and then a final sentence for the one that is different.
Debate Take sides on Buck and Burton: justified, or too far? Each side must use one line from the chapter.
Purpose Close by asking in which tests Thornton asks something of Buck and in which Buck acts on his own, and what each shows.
Easier Keep to three moments: the cliff, Burton, and the sled. Talk through discussion questions 3 and 6 only.
On level Talk through all six discussion questions, then have the student write one critical-thinking answer with two pieces of evidence.
Harder Ask the student to add a third piece of evidence to a critical-thinking answer and say which of the three is strongest.
Discussion
- Skeet nudges Thornton's hand until she is petted, and Nig rests his head on Thornton's knee, but Buck "was content to adore at a distance." Why might Buck love this way?Character
What it asks It asks why Buck's love is quiet and watchful when the other dogs' love asks for a touch.
One reading
His love is so great it holds him back. It is awe, not shyness.
Buck was content to adore at a distance.
While he went wild with happiness when Thornton touched him or spoke to him, he did not seek these tokens.
Another reading
His love is watchful because he fears losing Thornton.
His transient masters since he had come into the Northland had bred in him a fear that no master could be permanent.
From the moment he left the tent to when he entered it again, Buck would follow at his heels.
Listen for
- Compares Buck with Skeet and Nig.
- Notices the looks that pass between Buck and Thornton.
If stuck
- What do Skeet and Nig do to get petted?
- Where does Buck lie, and what does he do there?
- What does the chapter say Buck's earlier masters taught him to fear?
A strong answer Skeet nudges and nudges till petted and Nig rests his great head on Thornton's knee, but Buck lies for hours looking up into Thornton's face, content to adore at a distance. One reading takes this as awe: he goes wild with happiness when touched but does not seek it. Another takes it as watchfulness, since for a long time after his rescue he did not like Thornton to get out of his sight, and the chapter says his past masters bred in him a fear that no master could be permanent. A strong answer says what the distance does and does not hide.
- Each time the call sounds deep in the forest, Buck goes toward it, and each time his love for Thornton draws him back. What does that tell us about how strong each pull is?Theme
What it asks It asks the student to weigh two pulls on Buck, the call and the love, and to decide what the coming and going shows.
One reading
The love is stronger. It brings him back every time.
the love for John Thornton drew him back to the fire again
Thornton alone held him.
Another reading
The call is gaining. He keeps going, and mankind slips farther from him.
each day mankind and the claims of mankind slipped farther from him
he felt compelled to turn his back upon the fire and the beaten earth around it
Listen for
- Notices he goes into the forest each time, not only that he returns.
- Uses words that describe each pull.
If stuck
- What does Buck do when the call sounds?
- What happens when he reaches the soft earth and the green shade?
- What does the chapter say happens to mankind's claims from day to day?
A strong answer The chapter shows both pulls as strong. The call is mysteriously thrilling and luring, and Buck felt compelled to turn his back on the fire and plunge into the forest, while each day mankind and its claims slipped farther from him. Yet each time he reached the soft earth and green shade, the love for Thornton drew him back. A strong answer says which pull looks stronger from these lines and why the chapter gives both.
- Burton strikes Thornton without warning, and Buck tears his throat open; a miners' meeting decides Buck had "sufficient provocation." How would you judge Buck's attack?Moral reasoning
What it asks It asks whether a loyal attack can be justified and still go too far, using the order of what Buck does.
One reading
It was justified. Burton struck first, and the miners cleared Buck.
Burton struck out, without warning, straight from the shoulder.
A “miners’ meeting,” called on the spot, decided that the dog had sufficient provocation, and Buck was discharged.
Another reading
It went too far. Buck kept on after the first blow, and had to be forced back.
Buck loosed his teeth from the flesh of the arm and drove in again for the throat.
he prowled up and down, growling furiously, attempting to rush in, and being forced back by an array of hostile clubs
Listen for
- Says what Burton did and what Buck did, in order.
- Says what being justified is measured against.
If stuck
- Why does Thornton step between Burton and the tenderfoot, and what does Burton do?
- What does Buck do after the first attack on the arm?
- What do the miners decide?
A strong answer Burton struck Thornton without warning, straight from the shoulder, after Thornton stepped good-naturedly between him and a tenderfoot, and a miners' meeting decided the dog had sufficient provocation and let Buck go. That supports calling the attack justified. But Buck loosed his teeth from the arm and drove in again for the throat, and afterward prowled, growling furiously and trying to rush in until clubs forced him back. A strong answer says what justified covers here and whether it covers the second attack.
- In the rapids Buck swims to shore when Thornton shouts "Go, Buck!" but later runs back up the bank at the faint sound of Thornton's voice. What is Buck listening for in each case?Inference
What it asks It asks what Buck is responding to in the rapids: Thornton's words, or Thornton himself.
One reading
He is listening for a command. He does as Thornton says, even when it costs him the rescue.
When he heard Thornton’s command repeated, he partly reared out of the water, throwing his head high, as though for a last look, then turned obediently toward the bank.
Nothing was too great for Buck to do, when Thornton commanded.
Another reading
He is listening for Thornton's need. The voice alone sends him back.
His master’s voice acted on Buck like an electric shock.
He sprang to his feet and ran up the bank ahead of the men to the point of his previous departure.
Listen for
- Separates the words of the command from the sound of the voice.
- Notices Buck corrects his own mistake the second time.
If stuck
- What does Buck do when Thornton shouts "Go, Buck!" the second time?
- What do Hans and Pete hear, and what do they make of it?
- What does Buck do differently on his second try?
A strong answer When Thornton shouts Go, Buck, from the rock, Buck is swept on, struggling, but when he hears the command repeated he rears up for a last look and turns obediently toward the bank. Later, the faint sound of Thornton's voice, whose words Hans and Pete cannot make out, acts on him like an electric shock, and he runs up the bank ahead of the men and goes straight into the stream, having miscalculated once and not meaning to again. In the first he answers a command; in the second he answers a voice in need. A strong answer says what Buck listens for in each.
- Before the wager Thornton does not shake Buck playfully but whispers, "As you love me, Buck." Why might he speak to Buck this way?Character
What it asks It asks what Thornton is doing when he drops his usual rough play for a whisper, and what he wants from Buck.
One reading
He is asking for a favor he cannot command, and he knows it.
Thornton had been hurried into the wager, heavy with doubt
He did not playfully shake him, as was his wont, or murmur soft love curses; but he whispered in his ear.
Another reading
He trusts the bond and knows love, not an order, is what will work.
He had great faith in Buck’s strength
It was the answer, in terms, not of speech, but of love.
Listen for
- Notices what Thornton usually does and what he does now.
- Uses Buck's answer as part of the evidence.
If stuck
- What does Thornton usually do when he takes Buck's head in his hands?
- How does Thornton feel about the wager?
- How does Buck answer the whisper?
A strong answer The change is plain: Thornton drops the shaking and the soft love curses, kneels cheek to cheek, and whispers. One reading is that he is heavy with doubt and is asking Buck for something he cannot command. Another is that he has great faith in Buck and trusts the bond, and Buck answers by pressing Thornton's hand in his teeth and releasing it slowly, the answer, in terms, not of speech, but of love. The chapter does not choose. A strong answer says what Thornton wants in the whisper and what in the scene shows it.
- Thornton weeps and curses Buck "softly and lovingly," and the onlookers draw back "to a respectful distance." Why might London end the chapter there?Author's choice
What it asks It asks what the last scene does after the test is won, and why the crowd is left outside it.
One reading
It closes on triumph. The feat is done and the crowd roars.
a cheer began to grow and grow, which burst into a roar as he passed the firewood and halted at command
Hats and mittens were flying in the air.
Another reading
It closes on something private that the crowd can only watch.
As though animated by a common impulse, the onlookers drew back to a respectful distance
His eyes were wet. The tears were streaming frankly down his cheeks.
Listen for
- Compares the noise of the crowd with the quiet at the end.
- Uses Thornton's words and what he does with Buck.
If stuck
- What does the crowd do when Buck passes the firewood?
- What does Thornton do as soon as he reaches Buck?
- What do the onlookers do in the last sentence, and why might they?
A strong answer The chapter ends with the test won and the crowd roaring, hats and mittens in the air, and then turns to Thornton on his knees with Buck, cursing him long and fervently, and softly and lovingly, tears streaming down his cheeks. The onlookers draw back to a respectful distance. One reading is that London closes on triumph; another is that he closes on something private that the crowd can only watch. A strong answer says what the last lines leave the reader feeling, and stays with the words on the page.
Critical thinking
- After Thornton commands "Jump, Buck!" over the cliff, Pete says "It's uncanny." Using two pieces of evidence, explain what Pete means.
What it asks It asks what Pete sees in the moment at the cliff, and what he goes on to say about Buck.
One reading
What is uncanny is how completely Buck obeys, even over a drop.
“Jump, Buck!” he commanded, sweeping his arm out and over the chasm.
Nothing was too great for Buck to do, when Thornton commanded.
Another reading
What is uncanny is how fiercely Buck guards Thornton, so that Pete wants to keep clear of him.
I’m not hankering to be the man that lays hands on you while he’s around
It was at Circle City, ere the year was out, that Pete’s apprehensions were realized.
Listen for
- Uses what happens at the cliff and what Pete says next.
- Says what Pete is uneasy about.
If stuck
- What does Thornton do and say at the edge?
- What does Pete say a moment later?
- What happens at Circle City, and how does it connect to Pete's words?
A strong answer Pete's It's uncanny comes once they have caught their speech after the command over the chasm, and the chapter has just said that nothing was too great for Buck to do when Thornton commanded. Pete then says he is not hankering to be the man who lays hands on Thornton while Buck is around, and the chapter says his apprehensions were realized at Circle City. So Pete sees two things in one dog: a readiness to answer a command over a three hundred foot drop, and a readiness to let no one near Thornton. A strong answer uses the command and Pete's second remark, and says which of the two Pete finds more unsettling.
- Thornton is "heavy with doubt" at the sled, yet he lays down the partners' last two hundred dollars. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what moves him.
What it asks It asks why a man who doubts still bets everything, and whether he is cornered or sure.
One reading
He is cornered by his own words and cannot back down in front of the crowd.
His tongue had tricked him.
Thornton’s bluff, if bluff it was, had been called.
Another reading
He has faith in Buck, and a spirit that will not refuse a fight.
He had great faith in Buck’s strength and had often thought him capable of starting such a load
his fighting spirit was aroused
Listen for
- Two separate pieces of evidence, not one told twice.
- Says what the doubt and the decision have to do with each other.
If stuck
- What does Thornton say in the saloon, and what happens next?
- What does Thornton think Buck is capable of?
- What does the chapter say about his spirit when the odds go against Buck?
A strong answer Two pulls stand side by side. Thornton is cornered: his tongue has tricked him and his bluff, if bluff it was, has been called, so he cannot back down in front of a dozen men. But he also has great faith in Buck's strength, and his fighting spirit, the fighting spirit that soars above odds, is aroused, and the partners lay their last two hundred dollars unhesitatingly. A strong answer picks one as the main pull, gives two different pieces of evidence, and says what the other adds.
- Buck "could not steal from this man," but from any other he "did not hesitate an instant." Using two pieces of evidence, explain what love has and has not changed in him.
What it asks It asks how much Buck's love has changed him, using what he will do for Thornton and what he still does elsewhere.
One reading
The change is deep. His loyalty to Thornton is stronger than his old habit.
Faithfulness and devotion, things born of fire and roof, were his
Because of his very great love, he could not steal from this man
Another reading
The change is narrow. He is still a thing of the wild, bound to one man.
he retained his wildness and wiliness
the cunning with which he stole enabled him to escape detection
Listen for
- Two different pieces of evidence, one for each side.
- Says what love holds him to, and what it does not.
If stuck
- What will Buck not do to Thornton?
- What does he do to any other man in any other camp?
- What does the chapter say remained alive and active in him?
A strong answer Love has changed a great deal: faithfulness and devotion are his, and because of his very great love he could not steal from Thornton. But the chapter says he retained his wildness and wiliness, and from any other man, in any other camp, he did not hesitate an instant, with the cunning to escape detection. So love holds him to one man, not to men in general, and the strain of the primitive remained alive and active. A strong answer names what has changed and what has not, and gives two different pieces of evidence.