Wildness in Jack London's The Call of The Wild

by Gary Wiener (Editor)

Overview

Jack London's The Call of the Wild became an immediate literary sensation upon publication, selling out its first print run and gaining critical acclaim nationwide. The popular adventure story follows Buck, a sled dog, whose transformation from a domestic pet to the Alpha male of a pack demonstrates defining American themes such as survival, determination, cunning, and loyalty. This informative volume explores the life and work of Jack London, with a focus on the nature-based themes of pastoralism and wildness within The Call of the Wild. It also includes a selection of modern viewpoints on wilderness and nature, allowing readers to connect the themes of the text to the issues of today's world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780737769937
Publisher:	Greenhaven Publishing LLC
Publication date:	05/10/2014
Series:	Social Issues in Literature Series
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	15 - 17 Years

Table of Contents

Introduction 9

Chronology 18

Chapter 1 Background on Jack London

1 The Life of Jack London Daniel Dyer 23

2 London's Love of the Wild Had a Dark Side Charles Paul Freund 34

3 Jack London Was Not a Racist Dan Davidson and the Klondike Sun Staff 42

4 London's Yukon Trip Changed His Life James L. Haley 46

Chapter 2 Wildness in The Call of the Wild

1 Jack London's Enduring Appeal Eric Miles Williamson 54

2 On Primitivism in The Call of the Wild Richard Fusco 63

3 Jack London's The Call of the Wild Raymond Benoit 69

4 Buck Takes a Mythical Journey into the Unknown Earle Labor Jeanne Campbell Reesman

5 Buck Escapes the Capitalist System by Returning to the Wild Gina M. Rossetti 85

6 The Call of the Wild Is a Study in Devolution Jacqueline Tavernier-Courbin 94

7 Jack London: The Problem of Form Donald Pizer 102

8 The Call of the Wild Pits Society Against Wildness Charles N. Watson Jr. 109

9 London's Animal Depictions Are Deceptive John Perry 122

10 London's Essay "Husky: The Wolf-Dog of the North" Offers Insights into His Dog Novels S.K. Robisch 130

11 London's Protagonists' Quests for Individualism Are Paradoxical Paul Deane 140

Chapter 3 Contemporary Perspectives on Wildness

1 Out of the Wilderness Jerry Adler 150

2 Modern Attitudes Toward Wolves in the Wild Vary Greatly Economist 154

3 A Woman Needs a Wild Side Suzanne Paola 166

4 Wildness Inspires Freedom and Integrity bell hooks 172

For Further Discussion 177

For Further Reading 179

Bibliography 181

Index 187