“The Call of the Wild” is a classic novel by Jack London that tells the story of a domesticated dog named Buck who is sold into the brutal world of the Alaskan gold rush. The novel features powerful literary devices such as personification, imagery, and symbolism to explore themes of survival, instinct, and the wild nature of humanity.
Survival: The theme of survival is central to the novel, as Buck is forced to adapt to the harsh conditions of the Alaskan wilderness and learn how to fend for himself in order to stay alive.
Instinct vs. Civilization: The novel explores the conflict between Buck’s natural instincts and his domestication, as he is forced to choose between his loyalty to his human masters and his desire to embrace his wild nature.
The Wild Nature of Humanity: The novel suggests that humans are not fundamentally different from animals, and that the same instincts that drive Buck to survive and assert his dominance also drive humans to pursue their own interests and desires.
Freedom vs. Slavery: The novel explores the theme of freedom and slavery, as Buck is sold into servitude and must fight to regain his freedom and assert his independence.
The Power of Nature: The novel highlights the power and beauty of nature, as well as its ability to both nurture and destroy life.
The Cycle of Life and Death: The novel explores the cyclical nature of life and death, as Buck and other animals struggle to survive in a world where death is always looming.
The Corruption of Power: The novel highlights the corrupting influence of power, as some characters abuse their power over others and become cruel and tyrannical.
The Importance of Loyalty: The novel emphasizes the importance of loyalty and devotion, as Buck forms close bonds with various human and animal companions throughout his journey.
The Quest for Identity: The novel explores the theme of identity, as Buck struggles to find his place in the world and reconcile his wild instincts with his domestication.
The Value of Experience: The novel suggests that experience is the key to understanding oneself and the world, as Buck learns valuable lessons from his struggles and experiences in the wilderness.
Use of Literary Devices ✍🏽
Personification: The novel uses personification to give human characteristics to animals, allowing them to express complex emotions and ideas.
Imagery: The novel uses vivid and evocative imagery to describe the Alaskan wilderness and its various dangers and beauties.
Symbolism: The novel employs various symbols, such as the call of the wild or the sled dog team, to represent deeper ideas and themes.
Point of View: The novel is told from Buck’s perspective, allowing the reader to experience the events of the story through his eyes and understand his journey on a deeper level.
Flashbacks: The novel uses flashbacks to provide context and backstory for Buck’s journey and to develop his character.
Irony: The novel employs irony, such as the contrast between Buck’s domestication and his wild nature, to create a sense of depth and complexity in the story.
Allusion: The novel uses allusions to historical events, such as the Klondike gold rush, to provide context and richness to the setting.
Repetition: The novel uses repetition of key phrases, such as “the call of the wild,” to emphasize important themes and ideas throughout the story.
Metaphor: The novel uses metaphors, such as Buck’s transformation from a domesticated dog to a wild wolf, to represent deeper ideas and themes.
Examples of Literary Devices 📋
Personification
Example
Explanation
“The blood-longing became stronger than ever before.”
This personification of Buck’s desire to kill and hunt emphasizes his growing wildness and instinctual drive.
“He had been suddenly jerked from the heart of civilization and flung into the heart of things primordial.”
The personification of the wilderness as “things primordial” emphasizes its ancient and untamed nature.
“For the moment he forgot Sandburg, and was lost in the feeling of mastery which the movement of the sled and the sharp-cutting swish of the runners under foot imparted to him.”
The personification of the sled and runners as tools that can impart feelings of mastery and control emphasizes Buck’s growing sense of power and independence.
Imagery
Example
Explanation
“The dominant primordial beast was strong in Buck, and under the fierce conditions of trail life it grew and grew.”
The vivid imagery of the “dominant primordial beast” emphasizes Buck’s growing wildness and his struggle to survive in the harsh conditions of the wilderness.
“The great world had a lesson of its own for him.”
The imagery of the “great world” as a teacher emphasizes the importance of experience and learning in Buck’s journey.
“In the forest he would be able to fend for himself.”
The imagery of the forest as a place of self-sufficiency and survival emphasizes Buck’s need to adapt and learn in order to survive.
Symbolism
Example
Explanation
“The call of the wild was on his lips.”
The use of the “call of the wild” as a symbol represents Buck’s growing desire to embrace his wild nature and be free.
“The dogs that were ill and couldn’t keep up were shot.”
The use of the sled dogs as a symbol of power and dominance emphasizes the brutal nature of the human characters and their disregard for weaker beings.
“All the struggle was gone out of his face.”
The use of Buck’s facial expressions as a symbol of his emotional state emphasizes his growing acceptance of his wild nature and his newfound sense of freedom.
Foreshadowing
Example
Explanation
“Buck knew no greater joy than that rough embrace and the sound of murmured oaths, and at each jerk back and forth it seemed that his heart would be shaken out of his body so great was its ecstasy.”
This foreshadows Buck’s eventual return to the wild and his embrace of his true nature.
“Buck had learned to knock the hulls off peas with a single snap of his teeth.”
This foreshadows Buck’s growing strength and independence as he learns to fend for himself in the wilderness.
“The last fact in connection with the catastrophe had been unearthed, and it was clear that the mistake was due to the captain’s misunderstanding the use of the chart, and consequently sailing his vessel into a shoal.”
This foreshadows the ultimate tragedy of the novel, the sinking of the ship and the deaths of the human characters.
Point of View
Example
Explanation
“He was a killer, a thing that preyed, living on the things that lived, unaided, alone, by virtue of his own strength and prowess, surviving triumphantly in a hostile environment where only the strong survived.”
This use of Buck’s point of view emphasizes his growing wildness and his sense of independence and strength.
“Buck was ravenous.”
This use of Buck’s point of view emphasizes his animalistic nature and his need to survive.
“He learned to bite the ice out with his teeth when it collected between his toes.”
This use of Buck’s point of view emphasizes his growing independence and his ability to adapt to the harsh conditions of the wilderness.
Flashbacks
Example
Explanation
“He remembered the home-going joy of meeting these on the old stamping grounds.”
This flashback emphasizes Buck’s previous life as a domesticated dog and his nostalgia for his former home.
“He remembered the man in the red sweater, the death of Curly, the great fight with Spitz, and the final mastery of the black dog.”
This flashback emphasizes Buck’s journey to assert his dominance and establish his place in the pack.
“For the first time in his life he had felt himself facing death.”
This flashback emphasizes Buck’s growth and development as a character and his increasing understanding of the harsh realities of life in the wilderness.
Irony
Example
Explanation
“It was the call, the many-noted call, sounding across the still water and through the thickening woods.”
This use of verbal irony highlights the contrast between the peaceful setting of the call and the violent and chaotic world of the wilderness.
“Man rarely places a proper valuation upon his womankind, at least not until deprived of them.”
This use of situational irony emphasizes the importance of the women in the male characters’ lives and their eventual realization of their worth.
“The fact is that there was unreasonable irritation over the success of what, after all, had been carefully planned.”
This use of situational irony emphasizes the absurdity of the human characters’ actions and their misplaced priorities.
Allusion
Example
Explanation
“Buck saw a slipshod and prodigiously strong dog, yet he knew it was but a puppy.”
This alludes to the famous saying, “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet,” emphasizing Buck’s potential for strength and growth.
“They were as destitute of clothing as a fashion plate, but they had been in many respects brought up like gentlemen, and it was evident that they had known better days.”
This alludes to the classic rags-to-riches story, emphasizing the human characters’ fall from grace and their eventual decline.
“There was a singular prominence about his bearded chin which marked him out from all other men.”
This alludes to the Biblical story of Samson and his strength, emphasizing the character’s exceptional physical abilities.
Metaphor
Example
Explanation
“Buck felt vaguely that there was no depending upon these two-legged creatures.”
This metaphor emphasizes Buck’s growing distrust of humans and his recognition of their fallibility.
“The blood was pounding fiercely in his brain, and his hands were twitching nervously.”
This metaphor emphasizes Buck’s intense emotional and physical response to his wild instincts.
“The first winter came, and Buck, unaccustomed to the Northland, and its ways, knew fear for the first time in his life.”
This metaphor emphasizes Buck’s growing awareness of the harsh and unforgiving nature of the wilderness.
FAQs 💭
What is imagery and how is it used in the novel?
Imagery refers to the use of descriptive language to create a vivid mental picture in the reader’s mind. In “The Call of the Wild,” Jack London uses vivid imagery to emphasize the beauty and harshness of the wilderness setting and to evoke powerful emotions in the reader.
What is foreshadowing and how is it used in the novel?
Foreshadowing refers to the use of hints or clues in the text to suggest events that will occur later in the story. In “The Call of the Wild,” Jack London uses foreshadowing to create a sense of suspense and anticipation, as well as to emphasize the inevitability of Buck’s return to the wild.
What is symbolism and how is it used in the novel?
Symbolism refers to the use of objects, characters, or events to represent abstract ideas or concepts. In “The Call of the Wild,” Jack London uses symbols such as the call of the wild and the buried gold to represent Buck’s primal instincts and the characters’ greed and destructive pursuit of wealth, respectively.
What is alliteration and how is it used in the novel?
Alliteration refers to the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words. In “The Call of the Wild,” Jack London uses alliteration to create rhythm and emphasis in the text, as well as to emphasize certain words or phrases.
What is personification and how is it used in the novel?
Personification refers to the attribution of human characteristics to non-human objects or animals. In “The Call of the Wild,” Jack London uses personification to emphasize the power and emotion of the natural world, as well as to highlight Buck’s animalistic transformation and connection to the wilderness.
What is hyperbole and how is it used in the novel?
Hyperbole refers to the use of exaggerated language or statements to emphasize a point. In “The Call of the Wild,” Jack London uses hyperbole to emphasize Buck’s emotional responses to the events of the novel, as well as to create a sense of urgency and importance around certain events.
