COW

The year Buck is introduced in The Call of the Wild

1897

Buck's age when we first meet him

Four years old.

Buck's life at Judge Miller's home

He lives a wonderful, carefree life and is loved by the whole family.

What breed is Buck?

Mongrel - half St. Bernard and half shepherd dog.

Buck's weight

140 pounds.

Buck's personality traits upon meeting him

Prideful, trusting, and happy; lived the life of a sated aristocrat.

Who steals Buck and why?

Manuel steals Buck to sell him.

Manuel's occupation at Judge Miller's

Gardener helper.

Manuel's weakness that leads to problems

He gambles.

Why does Buck trust Manuel?

Buck trusts humans at Judge Miller’s house.

What happens when 'money clinks between' Manuel and the man?

They exchanged money for Buck.

What is Buck's first experience on the train?

He is vilely treated and becomes very angry.

The class of train where Buck rides

Baggage car.

Buck's first stop on the train journey

Seattle.

How long does Buck stay in Seattle?

Two days and two nights.

After Seattle, what mode of transport does Buck experience next?

A couple of wagons, a truck, a ferry steamer, and another train.

In the second train, Buck rides in the __________ car.

Express car.

What happens to Buck on the express train?

He is beaten with a club.

How does Buck change while on the train?

He is beaten but not broken.

Who is Buck's first owner after the train ride?

Perrault.

What does Perrault do to Buck?

He beats him into submission.

What does the man in the red sweater do after teaching Buck a lesson?

Pats him on the head, gives him water, then feeds him.

What lesson does Buck learn from the man in the red sweater?

To behave for the humans.

How much does Perrault pay for Buck?

$300.

Whose money does Perrault use to buy Buck?

The Canadian Government.

Why is Buck considered a good purchase at this price?

He is one in 10,000; rare.

Perrault's job

Canadian government mail worker.

Who else does Perrault buy?

Curly.

Where are the dogs when with the man in the red sweater?

In cages.

What nationality are Francois and Perrault?

Canadians and half-breeds.

Characteristics of Francois and Perrault

Fair, calm, just, and wise.

Buck's travel vessel with Francois and Perrault

Narwhal.

What does Buck encounter for the first time at his destination?

Snow.

What is the name of the place Buck is taken to by Francois and Perrault?

Dyea Beach.

What happens to Curly at Dyea Beach?

She is attacked and dies.

What lesson does Buck learn from Curly's event?

Don't fall down and you won't get attacked.

Buck's feelings towards Spitz after Curly's event

Buck hates Spitz.

Buck's feelings about his new job as a sled dog

He doesn’t dislike it, but it’s hard work.

What is the 'law of club and fang'?

Obey humans to avoid being beaten or killed; it signifies survival of the fittest.

The next two dogs Perrault buys

Billee and Joe.

Billee and Joe's personalities

Billee is good-natured, Joe is the exact opposite.

Who else does Perrault buy by evening?

Sol-lek.

Significant lesson learned by Buck regarding Sol-lek

Not to approach him from his blind side.

Where does Buck first try to sleep?

The tent.

How does Buck learn where to sleep?

By stepping on Billee, who is buried under the snow.

Where does Buck learn to sleep?

In a hole in the snow.

Buck's feelings about work with Francois and Perrault

He doesn’t hate it.

Buck's position in the lineup of dogs

In the middle, in front of Dave and behind Spitz and Sol-lek.

Francois and Perrault's work during the expedition

One packed the snow with webbed shoes and checked for thin ice.

What happens if Buck eats his food daintily?

Others eat it before he can.

Buck's lesson from watching Pike with regard to food

He can steal others' food.

Significance of Buck's first food theft

Marking his fit to survive in a hostile environment.

Law of the Southland

Love and respect for others.

Law of the Northland

Law of club and fang/survival of the fittest.

As Buck changes, he becomes more like whom?

His wolf ancestors and Spitz.

Why are Buck and Spitz referred to as 'devils'?

Due to their immense strength, fierce fighting spirit, and natural instinct to dominate.

How has Buck's cunning changed him?

He has poise and control and does not pick fights.

How does Spitz react to Buck's cunning?

He bullies him and constantly tries to fight him.

Why do Buck and Spitz fight at the beginning of the chapter?

They fight each other.

Description of the huskies

Thin and starved.

How does Buck's team react to the huskies' attack?

They fight back.

Condition of the dog team after the huskies' attack

They all have injuries from the fighting.

What's wrong with Buck's feet?

They are not accustomed to the work he is doing.

How does Francois help Buck's feet?

He cuts the top of Buck's moccasins and makes shoes for his feet.

What is wrong with Dolly?

She goes mad, probably from rabies.

Result of Dolly's madness

She tries to attack Buck, and Perrault kills her.

Outcome of Buck's adaptation to life in the Northland regarding Spitz

Buck ultimately defeats Spitz by breaking his leg during a fight.

What does Dub do when he finds the rabbit?

He leads the dog team to chase it.

What is demonstrated by the dog team chasing the rabbit?

Teamwork, natural instincts of dogs.

Who is in the lead during the chase?

Buck.

What primal instinct arises in Buck during the chase?

His primal instinct is coming alive.

What does Spitz do that is considered 'cheap'?

He finds a quicker way to get to the rabbit.

What prompts Buck to decide to fight Spitz 'to the death'?

Realizing Spitz will kill him if he doesn't kill Spitz first.

What does Buck use besides instinct when fighting?

Intelligence, strategy, and imagination.

How does Buck win the fight against Spitz?

By biting his leg and breaking it.

What happens to Spitz after Buck's victory?

Spitz dies.

What virtue doesn't exist in the Northland?

Mercy.