Chapter+Three

  **Chapter 3 **  **__Discussion Questions __**  **__Vocabulary __**
 * __The Dominant Primordial Beast __**
 *  · As their journey north proceeded, Buck became stronger and wiser. Because of this wisdom, he ignored Spitz’a bullying, knowing that he wasn’t ready to fight Spitz. This wisdom failed him when Spitz stole his warm nest one especially frigid night. Buck and Spitz were poised to fight to the death when the camp was over-run by ravenous wild dogs from a nearby Indian village. The nine team dogs were all injured in the attack and barely escaped with their lives after fighting their way into the forest to hide.
 *  · With four miles left to Dawson City, the team faced the hardest part of the trip in terrible condition. During this period, Buck learned new respect for Perrault and François. Even though they pushed the dogs to make time, they often put the dogs’ welfare before their own. Several days into their nightmare journey, François saved Buck by killing Dolly, one of the team that had caught hydrophobia and chased Buck for miles trying to attack him. François again saved Buck from Spitz’s attack after Buck collapsed in exhaustion following his escape from Dolly.
 *  · The climax of the chapter comes when Buck and Spitz finally fight. Relying on fierceness and cunning that came from all that he had learned in the north, as well as his reawakened instincts, Buck killed Spitz as a ring of savage huskies looked on.
 *  · Describe Spitz’s character using examples from the chapter to support your answer.
 *  · How do François and Perrault display their true natures in this chapter? Give specific examples to support your answer.
 *  · How does Buck begin to undermine Spitz’s authority in this chapter? What were the effects of Buck’s actions? What does this say about Buck’s transformation from a “southland dog?”
 *  · In the following quotation what does London mean by “the dominant primordial beast”? ….A pause seemed to fall. Every animal was motionless as though turned to stone. Only Spitz quivered and bristled as he staggered back and forth, snarling with horrible menace, as though to frighten off impending death. Then Buck sprang in and out; but while he was in, shoulder had at last squarely met shoulder. The dark circle became a dot on the moon-flooded snow as Spitz disappeared from view. Buck stood and looked on, the successful champion, the dominant primordial beast who had made his kill and found it good.
 *  · What traits have helped Buck thrive in his new world? Of them, which do you think is the most important? Why?
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> · **__<span style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: aqua none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Malingerer __**: time waster; shirker
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> · **__<span style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: aqua none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Marauders __**: raiders, intruders
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> · **__<span style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: aqua none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Covert __**: hidden
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> · **__<span style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: aqua none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Insidious __**: sinister, dangerous
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> · **__<span style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: aqua none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Travail __**: work
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> · **__<span style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: aqua none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Placatingly __**: so as to calm down
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> · **__<span style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: aqua none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Inexorable __**: unstoppable; relentless