"Age of Imperialism"
The Call of the Wild
by Jack London
The
Call of the Wild
is a best-selling novel, which was published in 1903.
The main character, Buck, is a cross between a huge St. Bernard and a
Scotch shepherd dog. Sold as a sled
dog for the Northland, Buck gradually responds to the call of the wild. He reverts to his primordial wild nature.
Jack London was born January 12, 1876, in San Francisco, California. His lifelong wanderlust provided him with vivid characters and scenery for his writing. He sought gold in 1897 in the Klondike gold rush and spent many years cruising on his own ketch. London died in 1916 leaving his writings of survival against the adverse elements and the elemental tug of the wild.
Research Projects:
Research your topic during computer class. Find the information you need. Write it down! You can not print.
Then, in the classroom, you will prepare your presentation. Create a poster to show the class and plan what you are going to say during your presentation.
a) Research the Yukon. Where is it? What is it like? What exists of the Yukon now? Can you visit the Yukon? If yes, what can you do there? Show pictures, give descriptions, etc.
b) Research sled dogs. What type of training do they undergo? What breeds are good sled dogs? Are St. Bernards and shepherd dogs good sled dogs?
c) Research Klondike gold fields. Where and what are they? Give as much information, descriptions, and pictures as possible!
d) Research Jack London. Give basic information on his life, such as place and date of birth, schooling, other works, influences, etc.
Web Scavenger Hunt
1. What shape is the Yukon? (hint - go to "Tour Yukon" and look for a link at the bottom of the page)
2. What is the title of the Yukon's official newspaper?
3. Who is the Commissioner of the Yukon?
4. How many total people lived in the Yukon in 1999?
5. What percentage of Canada's total land area does the Yukon take?
6. Describe the Yukon's official flag.
7. In what year did Jack London die?
8. What is another book Jack London wrote?
9. In what year did Jack London write The Call of the Wild?
10. How much should a really good sled dog weigh?
11. What kinds of dogs do husky breeders look for?
12. Look at the Klondike! website. Browse through the entire website and list three facts you learned from it.
Links:
Jack London and The Call of the Wild