Call of the Wild
by Jack London
About_
This study guide accompanies Jack London’s The Call of the Wild, the story of Buck, a domesticated dog torn from
his comfortable home and thrust into the brutal, primitive world of the Klondike Gold Rush. Across seven chapters,
students will trace Buck’s transformation from a pampered companion into a creature guided by ancient instinct,
while examining London’s recurring themes of survival, loyalty, and the blurred line between civilization and
wildness. Each chapter includes factual comprehension questions with an answer key, along with open-ended
critical thinking questions to deepen analysis. This study guide contains 91 questions across 7 chapter sections (70
Factual + 21 Critical), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1 Character Focus Activity.
What’s Included_
This study guide features 7 sets of 10 Factual Questions with an answer key (70 total), 7 sets of 3 Critical Analysis
Questions (21 total), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1 Character Focus Activity (8 traits + evidence prompt +
critical thinking question).
Target Grades_
Grades 7-9
Teacher Note_
This guide is designed to save you preparation time while giving students a structured path through a rich, layered
text. The factual questions build steady comprehension and vocabulary, while the critical questions push students
to grapple with London’s ideas about instinct, loyalty, and what it truly means to be “civilized.” We hope it makes
your classroom discussions of Buck’s journey as rewarding to teach as they are to read.