This novel follows the story of Buck, a domesticated dog who is stolen from his comfortable life in California and forced to become a sled dog in the harsh Yukon Territory during the Klondike Gold Rush. ​

Reading and Writing Workshop: Literary focus on Call of the Wild
Introduction / Setup
Jack London’s The Call of the Wild tells the story of Buck, a domesticated dog forced into the brutal world of the Klondike Gold Rush. The novel explores survival, instinct, and transformation, written in the style of literary naturalism. Students will analyze how London uses symbols, motifs, anthropomorphism, irony, and theme to convey Buck’s journey from civilization to the wilderness.
General Instructions:

• Divide the novel into four parts:
  1. Ch. 1–2 (Into the Primitive and The Law of Club and Fang)
  2. Ch. 3–4 (The Dominant Primordial Beast and Who Has Won to Mastership)
  3. Ch. 5–6 (The Toil of Trace and Trail and For the Love of a Man)
  4. Ch. 7 (The Sounding of the Call)
• Each group summarizes their section, identifies literary terms in action, and shares examples.
• Students track symbols, motifs, and characterization in their Literary Thinking Guide.
• After each section, complete a short writing activity tied to a literary device.

Workshop ObjectiveStudents will strengthen their literary analysis skills by identifying and interpreting naturalism, symbolism, anthropomorphism, motif, irony, and theme in The Call of the Wild. They will write both analytical responses and creative imitations inspired by London’s style.

Session-by-Session Plan
Session 1: Naturalism, Setting, and Conflict

• Objective: Analyze how London uses naturalism to depict Buck’s transition from comfort to survival.
• Key Terms: Naturalism, setting, conflict (internal/external), foreshadowing.
• Reading Focus: Ch. 1–2 (Into the Primitive, The Law of Club and Fang).
• Writing Prompt: Write a short narrative describing an everyday challenge in a naturalistic style — emphasizing environment, struggle, and instinct over free choice.

Session 2: Symbolism and Motif (Instinct vs. Civilization)

• Objective: Explore how London uses recurring images and symbols to show Buck’s shift toward his primal self.
• Key Terms: Symbolism, motif, imagery, juxtaposition.
• Reading Focus: Ch. 3–4 (The Dominant Primordial Beast, Who Has Won to Mastership).
• Writing Prompt: Write a two-paragraph analysis of Buck’s fight with Spitz as a symbolic turning point. Then, invent your own symbolic “contest” to represent a personal struggle (e.g., independence vs. control).

Session 3: Characterization, Anthropomorphism, and Irony

• Objective: Analyze how London attributes human qualities to Buck while also critiquing human cruelty.
• Key Terms: Characterization, anthropomorphism, irony, theme.
• Reading Focus: Ch. 5–6 (The Toil of Trace and Trail, For the Love of a Man).
• Writing Prompt: Write a monologue from Buck’s perspective about his bond with John Thornton. Highlight at least two literary terms (e.g., irony, anthropomorphism).

Session 4: Theme, Resolution, and Transformation

• Objective: Connect Buck’s final transformation to the novel’s central themes of survival, instinct, and identity.
• Key Terms: Theme, resolution, allegory, motif, imagery.
• Reading Focus: Ch. 7 (The Sounding of the Call).
• Writing Prompt: Write a thematic essay (2–3 paragraphs) analyzing how Buck’s transformation represents the triumph of instinct over civilization. Use at least three literary terms (e.g., theme, allegory, motif).

Key Literary AnchorsStudents should track the following literary elements as they read:

1. Narration & Style — third-person, naturalistic detail, tone of inevitability.
2. Setting — shift from the South to the harsh Yukon wilderness.
3. Symbols — the club, fang, fire, the call of the wild, Buck himself.
4. Motifs — survival, violence, loyalty, instinct vs. civilization.
5. Naturalism — the influence of environment, heredity, and chance on characters.
6. Irony — human cruelty vs. animal nobility; civilization vs. savagery.
7. Themes — survival of the fittest, the power of instinct, transformation and identity.

Reading and Writing Workshop:  Reading and Writing about Call of the Wild
General Instructions:
Begin by reading the novel either in groups or as a class. If group reading the novel, divide it into sections and assign each group a section.  As groups, they will read their section, write a summary of each chapter, and then each group reports on their chapters. As students read, they should complete the Historical Thinking Guide. After reading and reporting on the entire novel, the workshop might consist of a single session or more. The goal is to engage participants in an exploration of life in an American religious colony through primary sources, and writing exercises that foster a deeper understanding of concepts such as migration, cultural exchange, conflict, and resilience.
Objective:

• Explore how historical events shaped The Call of the Wild.
• Use real historical texts to inspire creative writing.
• Encourage participants to craft their own historical fiction or personal narratives.​

​Session 1: Introduction to the Klondike Gold Rush
Primary Source:

• “The Klondike Gold Rush” (1897, New York Times)
  • URL: https://www.loc.gov/resource/rbpe.13000200/?st=text
• Photographs from the Gold Rush (Library of Congress)
  • URL: https://www.loc.gov/photos/?q=klondike+gold+rush

Session 2: The Role of Sled Dogs in the Yukon
Primary Source:

• “Alaska and the Klondike Gold Fields” (1898, A.C. Harris)
  • URL: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/51356
• Historic Sled Dog Photographs (University of Washington Collection)
  • URL: https://content.lib.washington.edu/alaskawcanadaweb/

Session 3: Indigenous and Métis Contributions
Primary Source:

• “Indians of the Yukon and Their Traditions” (1897, George Dawson)
  • URL: https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.30522

Session 4: Surviving the Harsh Yukon Trail
Primary Source:

• “Narrative of the Klondike Stampede” (1899, Arthur Treadgold)
  • URL: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/50564

Session 5: Dawson City – A Boomtown
Primary Source:

• “Report of the Commissioner of the Yukon” (1899)
  • URL: https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/aboriginal-heritage/first-nations/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=63755
• Photographs of Dawson City (Library of Congress Collection)
  • URL: https://www.loc.gov/pictures/search/?q=dawson+city

Session 6: The End of the Gold Rush & The Call of the Wild
​Primary Source:

• “Decline of the Klondike Rush” (1899, The San Francisco Call)
  • URL: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/

These sources provide historical depth and primary documents for participants to engage with history while writing creatively. 
​

 key historical events referenced in the novel:

1. Klondike Gold Rush (1896–1899) – The story revolves around the demand for sled dogs due to the influx of prospectors rushing to the Yukon in search of gold.
2. The Role of the Canadian Government in the Gold Rush – The novel references government couriers like Perrault, who carried official messages.
3. Dawson City Boom (1897–1899) – London describes the bustling gold-mining town of Dawson, a real settlement that flourished due to the Klondike Rush.
4. Sled Dog Culture in the North – The novel highlights the use of dog sled teams for transportation, integral to life in the Yukon.
5. Harsh Arctic Environment – The book provides a vivid account of the extreme cold, frozen rivers, and the difficult trails that prospectors and their dog teams endured.
6. Brutality of the Gold Rush Economy – The kidnapping and selling of dogs, like Buck’s experience, was common during the Gold Rush era.
7. The Role of Indigenous and Métis People in the Gold Rush – François, the half-breed dog driver, represents the Métis and Indigenous guides who played a key role in assisting gold prospectors.
8. The Use of the Telegraph and Mail Systems in the Yukon – The novel references couriers carrying dispatches, showing the importance of communication in remote regions.
9. The Overland Trails and Dangerous Ice Bridges – The treacherous routes, including the Chilkoot Pass, were well-documented hazards during the Gold Rush.
10. The Collapse of the Klondike Gold Rush (1899) – The novel subtly foreshadows the Gold Rush's decline, as most prospectors eventually left the region when gold was discovered in other places.