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Buck being taken
This is the beginning of Buck's metamorphosis. Buck is taken from Judge Miller's home, to be sold off to become a sled dog. This is an example of an allusion. It alludes to the time period of the Alaskan Gold Rush, when dogs would be sold for money for the people trying to get to Alaska. -
The Man with the Red Sweater
He was the man who kept Buck and the other dogs in-line. When they were doing something wrong, he would whip them. He showed Buck how to behave. He is one of the motifs in the book. He is the discipliner. He contributes to Buck's metamorphosis because he shows anger, danger, and blood. This symbolizes a motif, for the color red often shows anger, danger, death, and blood. -
Buck's beginning of Metamorphosing
Buck was truly starting to metamorphosis. He was becoming a "red-eyed devil" with his "hair bristling, mouth foaming, a mad glitter in his blood-shot eyes." He is becoming more angry, different, and he is losing his decorum. -
The Law of Club and Fang
The Law of Club and Fang is a very important part of the story. This is the law that Buck makes up in his mind, and he must follow it. It tells Buck that his fang cannot beat the human's club. This contributes to Buck's metamorphosis because it makes Buck more obidient. This is a juxtaposition, for it is showing the human's power vs. the animals' power. -
California to Alaska
In Alaska, the weather is often cold. In California, the weather is often warm. In California, Buck was kind and had his sense of decorum. But when he got to Alaska, Buck became cold-hearted and completely lost his sense of decorum. This shows Buck's metamorphosis because it is showing him becoming different as he traverses through different places. Juxtaposition is shown, for it is showing the difference between the climate in Alaska and the climate in California and Buck changing. -
Buck killing Spitz
This is one of the most important parts of the book. Buck and the other dogs had been chasing the rabbit, and Buck had the urge to kill. Buck attacked Spitz, killing him. This shows a motif, for it shows the idea of an antagonist and a protagonist. Buck was the protagonist, who attacked the antagonist, Spitz. This is one of the biggest parts of Buck's metamorphosis, because he is finally became a different dog and killed another dog. -
Buck's visions
Buck would often have visions of himself. He would have visions of who he is now, and he had visions of him running with the wild and his ancestors. This shows part of his metamorphosis, because he is losing more and more of his decorum by having the visions of him running with the wild. It is an example of a motif. The motif is changes and before and afters. -
Hal, Mercedes, and Charles
Buck and the other dogs had been sold to Hal, Mercedes, and Charles. This contributes to the metamorphosis because they underfeed the dogs, which leads Buck to become weak and different. Hal, Mercedes, and Charles symbolize an allusion, for they allude to the people who were unprepared back in the time of the Gold Rush. -
Buck being saved by John Thornton
John Thornton was a hero in Buck's eyes. He had saved Buck's life, and he had saved Buck from Hal, Mercedes, and Charles. But, he also contributed to Buck's metamorphosis. Buck started to feel love for John Thornton, but it was pulling Buck closer to the wild. He often had more visions of going off with his "wild brother" and to his ancestors, but Buck stayed with John Thornton. John Thornton is an example of an allusion. He alludes to a hero. Buck felt love, happiness, and care with John. -
The Call
Buck heard something coming from the forest, and it was the call of the wild. This is important, for it is the call for Buck to come into the wild. It was thrilling and persuading him, but Buck stayed with John Thornton. It is a symbol of foreshadowing, for it foreshadows the ending, where Buck goes into the wild. It leads up to Buck's metamorphosis because it is making Buck lose his sense of decorum. -
John Thornton Killed
John Thornton had been killed by the Yeehats. This is one of the most important parts of Buck's metamorphosis. After he is killed, Buck becomes sad and upset because he loved John Thornton. He had experienced love for the first time with him. This also leads up to Buck's metamorphosis because he kills the Yeehats, and he goes off with the pack, for he could not before because John Thornton's love was pulling him back. This symbolizes an allusion to a death or a mourned death.
