Call of the Wild Glossary Chapter 1 primitive – adjective – simple, early stages of development longings- noun- desire to do something nomadic- adjective- wandering behavior chafing- verb or adjective- rubbing together with friction, abrasive customs- noun- cultural practice brumal – adjective- related to winter ferine- adjective – wild tidewater- noun- water that is affected by the ocean tides groping- verb- grabbing for an object toil- verb or noun – work sun-kissed- adjective- being in the sunlight or warm climate glimpses- noun – sights veranda- noun- porch usually with a roof or awning interlacing- verb or adjective – woven together 1 boughs- noun- ever green tree ranches poplar- noun- hardwood willow tree spacious- adjective- having plenty of room array- noun- a collection Artesian- adjective- type of well or spring where water rises from the earth’s pressure Demesne- noun- your estate or your own land Obscurely adverb- unclear Recesses- noun- remote places sometimes hollowed out places Yelped- verb- animal sound Realm- noun- area of interest Twilight- noun- the time just before sunrise or sunset Rambles- verb- to talk a lot without saying much of importance Paddocks noun- a field or an area where animals are kept securely Imperiously – adverb- arrogantly, haughty, domineering Dignity- noun- pride 2 Sated- verb- to fill up with food or to gratify Aristocrat- noun- member of a high social class, nobility Trifle- noun- small amount Egotistical- adjective- arrogant Insular- adjective- closed to others Pampered- adjective- well taken care of Kindred- adjective- similar Tonic- noun- something to lift your spirits Undesirable- adjective- not wanted Besetting- adjective- harassing Damnation- noun – punishment Progeny- noun- an offspring or a result Solitary- adjective- alone Chinked-verb or adjective- to fill in the cracks or holes in something Gruffly- adverb- to speak roughly Stout- adjective- short and muscular 3 Affirmative- adjective- positive Unwonted- adjective – unusual Menacingly- adverb- threatening Intimated- adjective- closing, personal, or cozy Grappled- verb- to struggle or to grab Deft- adjective- quick, skilled, or clever Mercilessly- adverb, severe, relentless, showing no compassion Fury- noun- anger Futilely- adverb- having no practical use Vilely- adverb- evil, disgusting, wicked Ebbed- verb or adjective- to diminish or lessen Conveyance- noun- something that moves Unbridled- adjective- free and open Eloquently- adverb- spoken beautifully Saloon- noun- a bar 4 Squarehead- noun- a person who lacks intelligence Lacerated- verb or adjective- cut Hydrophoby- noun- dread of water or rabies Intolerable- adjective- painful, unpleasant Tormentors- noun- something or somebody who torture Weary- adjective – tired Wrath- noun- anger Pent- adjective- stored up Oppressed- adjective- dominated Vague- adjective- unclear Impending- adjective- unclear Calamity- noun- disaster Bulging- adjective- sticking out, swollen Sickly- adverb- ill Tallow- noun- animal fat Trembled- verb or adjective- shaking 5 savage noun or adjective- wild or primitive and uncivilized people ragged- adjective- rough, worn unkempt- adjective- not clean, ragged assailed- verb attacked sullenly- adverb- sadly, seriously assortment- noun- variety retaliated- verb- to seek revenge quivering- verb- shaking frothing- verb- foaming taunted- verb- harassed detestable- adjective- horrible outrage- noun- anger waxed- verb- to get larger severe- adjective- intense fanned- verb- to make a situation more intense inflammation- noun- swelling 6 parched- adjective- lacking water resolved- adjective- determined torment- verb- to torture accumulated- adjective or verb- collected bloodshot- adjective- inflamed and red metamorphosed – adjective or verb- changed raging- adjective- anger fiend- noun- wicked evil person gingerly- adverb- carefully divined- adjective- lovely or God-like divined- verb- to discover something hurled- verb- thrown savagely- adverb- violently grimly- adverb- unpleasant, depressing hatchet- noun- small ax pry- verb- force open or ask about someone’s personal business 7 instantaneous- adjective – immediately surging- verb- rushing, increase suddenly furiously- adverb- with rage or great energy sufficient adjective- enough bristling- adjective- angry glitter- noun or verb- to shine with emotion launched – verb- to begin surcharged- verb or noun- extra fee, extra burden pent- verb- shut in agonizing- adjective- great pain snarl- verb or noun animal growl dazed- adjective- confused staggered- adjective or verb- to be shocked or zigzag pattern limply-adverb- to move with difficulty, without energy or strength flecked- adjective- with spots slaver- verb- to dribble saliva 8 deliberately- adverb- on purpose exquisite- adjective- beautiful agony- noun- pain ferocity- noun- intense, savage hurled- verb- thrown wrenching- verb- pull and twist shrewd- adjective- intelligent and clever utterly- adverb- completely senseless- adjective- with no purpose soliloquized- verb- to speak (as an actor giving a speech alone) consignment- noun- something to deliver or handling something over to someone to care for genial- adjective- pleasant, happy ruction- noun- a quarrel or fight involuntarily- adverb- automatic endured- verb- to withstand or suffer 9 bolted- verb- to move quickly revelation- noun- a sudden thought reign- noun or verb- to rule or control uncowed- verb – to frighten using threats latent- adjective- hidden cunning- adjective- sly docilely- adverb- calmly dominion- noun- authority, control or the land that is controlled brutal- adjective- violent conciliated- adjective or verb- to bring fighting side together, peaceful wheedlingly- adverb- coaxing, persuading weazened- adjective- dried up, tired, thin receded- verb or adjective- moved back affection- noun- love impartial- adjective- fair , not biased treacherous- adjective – dangerous 10 meditated- adjective- carefully thought about or planned culprit- noun- the guilty one gloomy-adjective- dull, sad, dreary, depressed morose- adjective- depressed incurious- adjective- not interested in pervaded- verb- spread throughout uproarious- adjective- tumultuous 11 Call of the Wild Glossary: Chapter 2 Civilization- noun- modern life in cities and towns Primordial- adjective- existing first, basic Peril- noun- danger Imperative- adjective- necessary Wolfish- adjective- wolf like Vicarious- adjective- endured for somebody else, experienced by imagining Husky- noun- arctic breed of dogs Metallic- adjective - shiny, metal like Swift- adjective- quick Combatants- noun- fighters Intent- noun- plan or purpose Antagonist- noun- opponent; the person causing conflict Assailants- noun- attacker Trampled- adjective or verb- run over, stomped on Swart- adjective- dark complexion 12 Cursing- verb- swearing Bitter- adjective- angry, resentful Hatred- noun- intense hostility Draught- noun or adjective- This is the British spelling of draft. Obedience- noun- following directions Virtue- noun- honesty Cunningly-adverb- slyly Tuition- noun- payment for school Despatches- noun or verb- This is the British spelling of dispatches (to send). Introspective- adjective- thoughtful, thinking carefully Perpetual- adjective- happening over and over Malignant- adjective- evil, may spread and cause death Comradely- adverb- like a friend Appeasingly- adverb- to make peace by giving in Appeasement- noun – to make peace by giving in 13 Avail- verb- to use or to help Flank- noun- the side Writhing- verb- wiggling with pain diabolically- adjective- evil, hateful gleaming- adjective- glowing and shining incarnation- noun- a representation of something belligerent- adjective- angry discomfiture- noun- embarrassment, awkwardness inoffensive- adjective- not harmful wailing- verb- sobbing, crying confines- noun- boundaries gaunt- adjective- tired, weak, pale and thin prowess- noun- strength and superior skill peculiarity- noun- strange and out of the ordinary unwittingly- adverb- not intentional indiscretion- noun- a mistake involving bad judgment 14 apparent- adjective- obvious vital- adjective- very important illuminated- adjective – lighted midst- noun- in the middle or center bombarded- verb- hit utensils- noun- tools used for eating consternation- noun- shock, disbelief ignominiously- adverb, shameful, despicable especial- adjective- particular, exceptional venom- noun- poison disconsolate- adjective- extremely sad forlorn- adjective- sad aimlessly- adverb- without direction ascended- verb- to move upward placatingly- adverb- to help make someone less angry trice- noun- three times 15 arduous-adjective- difficult token- noun- something that represents something or a keepsake harking- verb - listening forbears- noun- long dead relative unduly- adjective- excessively spasmodically- adverb- occurring at uneven intervals ferocious- adjective- fierce courier- noun- a messenger gladdened- verb- to make happy despise verb- to hate passiveness- noun- peaceful irritable- adjective easily annoyed retarded- adjective- slowed down toil- noun or verb – to work traces- noun- evidence apt- adjective- likely 16 trouncing- verb- to beat somebody timberline- noun- an area of limited tree growth glaciers- noun large areas of moving ice forbiddingly- adverb craters- noun- large holes in the earth extinct- adjective- dead, a species having no living members gee pole- noun A pole attached to the side of the sled, which the driver (musher) can push against to help the sled go around sharp turns indispensable- adjective necessary ravenous – adjective- very hungry ration- noun- a fixed amount perpetual- adjective- lasting forever fastidiousness- noun – demanding personality dainty- adjective- delicate remedy- noun- a cure malingerer – noun- someone who feigns illness blunderer- noun- one who makes mistakes 17 adaptability- noun- able to change in response to circumstances capacity- noun – what you can take, maximum volume, ability handicap- noun- a challenge moral- noun- personal conscience- sense of right and wrong decivilization- noun- an area that hasn’t been settled clamor- noun- loud noise retrogression- noun- to return to worse conditions callous- adjective – showing no concern for others loathsome- adjective- horrible indigestible- adjective- unable to be eaten nutriment- noun- food acuteness- noun- serious, severe conspicuous- adjective- obvious peril- noun- danger domesticated- adjective- tamed primeval- adjective- ancient and original 18 cadences- noun- rhythm Call of the Wild Glossary Chapter 3 dominant- adjective- in control primordial- adjective, existing first deliberateness- noun- on purpose rashness- noun- acting without thought precipitate- verb- to start bleak- adjective- lacking hope perpendicular- adjective- in a right angle loath- verb to hate timid- adjective- shy sheer- adjective, noun, or verb- complete or thin/transparent, a change in course, or to cut or swerve pandemonium- noun- chaos grub box-noun - the box that hold the food during the trip 19 capsized- verb- turned over in an accident famished - adjective - extremely hungry unheeded- verb- not listening to advice din- noun- unpleasant noise foreleg- noun- front leg slavered- verb- drooled adversary- noun- enemy jugular - adjective- main vein in the neck goaded- verb- prod plight- noun- unfortunate condition warily- adverb- tired, exhausted mournful - adjective- sad and grieving contemplation- noun- deep thought dubiously- adverb- doubtfully eddies- noun- swirling pools of water 20 daunted- adjective- frightened suddenly resolutely- adverb – feeling strongly about a decision tendons- noun- the band that connections muscle to bone conspicuous- adjective- obvious foe- noun- enemy rejoinder- noun- an angry reply pluck verb or noun- take away quickly or bravery preeminently- adverb- outstanding sullen-adjective- sad shirked- verb- run from responsibility wrath- noun- anger abjectly- adverb- miserable, despicable mutiny- noun- rebellion against authority prostrate- verb- to make weak 21 culprits- noun- the guilty one insubordination- noun – rebellion against authority jangling- verb- jiggling sound (bells or the sound of metal) apprehension- noun- dread, fear strife- noun- stress ordained- verb- to command nocturnal- adjective- related to night eerie- adjective- spooky aurora borealis- noun- the Northern Lights- a natural light display in the sky particularly in the high latitude (Arctic and Antarctic) regions, caused by the collision of energetic charged particles with atoms in the high altitude atmosphere defiance- noun- not following the rules insidious- adjective- gradual and harmful solidarity- noun- working together placatingly- adverb- to act in a way that will diffuse someone’s anger 22 menacingly- adverb- threateningly bedlam- noun- chaos barbarous- adjective- extremely cruel and uncivilized futile- adjective- no practical use avail- noun or verb- use something or help wraith- noun- ghost ecstasy- noun- extreme happiness paradox- noun- something absurd or contradictory rampant- adjective- growing wildly exultingly- adverb- triumphantly flitting- verb- moving about quickly writhed- verb- twisted or squirming keenly- adverb- sharply lolling- verb- relaxing inexorable- adjective- unstoppable 23 Call of the Wild chapter 4 obdurate- adjective- stubborn ere- preposition or conjunction- before virtue- noun – good quality mercy- noun - compassion monotonous- adjective- boring resiliency- noun- able to survive flounder- verb or noun- to struggle or a fish lugubriously- adverb- gloomy remnants- noun – what is left over exertion- noun- strenuous effort comrades- noun- companion convulsive- adjective- jerky 24 Call of the Wild chapter 5 wretched- adjective- awful dwindled- verb- to decrease, to lessen or diminish deceit- noun- dishonesty feigned- verb- to fake earnest- adjective- honest fatigue- noun- exhaustion recuperation-noun- healing and recovery taut- adjective- tight kin- noun- relatives congested- adjective- crowded, close together proportions- noun- part of a whole salient - adjective- noticeable, striking, relevant callowness- noun- inexperience unutterable- adjective- unable to be said or pronounced 25 chaffering- verb – haggling slipshod- adjective- careless slovenly- adverb- unkempt, sloppy remonstrance- noun- argument brutes- noun- bullies imploringly- adverb- in a begging manner repugnance- noun- disgust clannish- adjective- group like suppress- verb- to hold in or hold back unwieldy- adjective- not easy to handle gaiety- noun- joyfulness inexorable- adjective- unstoppable superfluous- adjective- more than necessary averred- verb to state confidently formidable- adjective- difficult to deal with, frightening 26 mongrels- noun- mixed breed dogs bewildered- adjective- confused forlorn- adjective- sad apparent- adjective- obvious computation- noun- adding commence- verb- to start voracious- adjective- very hungry orthodox- adjective- traditional quaver- verb- to say with a trembling voice incompetence- noun- lacking skills grittily- adverb- with courage chivalrous- adjective- using manners impeachment- noun- to accuse an official of an offense prerogative- noun- privileges unendurable- noun- impossible to bear, painful to deal with recital- noun- performance 27 galvanized – adjective or verb- to get the action started, coated with metal innutritious- adjective- lack of nutrients perambulating – verb- walking about feebly adverb- weakly innocuously adverb- harmless wistfully adverb- thinking with deep sad thoughts monosyllabic- adjective- simple terse- adjective- short and tense sneering- adjective or verb- expression of anger rouse verb- to wake irresolutely adverb- not able to decide inarticulate - adjective- unable to speech clearly convulsed – adjective or verb- jerky movements evinced – adjective or verb- show clearly chaotic - adjective- disorderly 28 hysteria- noun- strong, sometimes paranoid emotions Call of the Wild chapter 6 Vocabulary Word ministrations Part of Speech Definition noun treatment demonstrative adjective boundless adjective Showing a lot of expression and emotion Lots of ; limitless manifested adjective Obvious, clear noun Healing, resting pompous adjective arrogant adoration noun love murmur verb whisper eloquent adjective Delicate, well manned vibrant adjective Bright, energetic adverb respectfully akin adjective similar feign verb To fake caress verb To stroke Adjective or noun Nomadic, moving a lot, homeless noun bravery peremptorily adverb Expecting to be obeyed grub-staked noun Provisions and gear chasm noun Deep crack or division adjective remarkable hankering verb To have a great desire apprehensions noun worries convalescence reverently transient valor uncanny 29 Vocabulary Word malicious Part of Speech Definition adjective Evil, deliberately harmful ledge noun Rock wall plethoric noun Large amount quibble verb bicker Verb or noun To bet or a bet jubilant adjective happy clamor Verb or noun Shout or a loud noise ebb verb To recede or diminish contagion noun Spread of disease Noun or verb Strength of character or clench virility noun Masculinity, manliness conjuration noun Magic spell incoherent adjective Hard to understand Verb or noun Blurting or foolish talk fervently adverb enthusiasm frankly adverb honestly adjective tactless wager grit babble indiscreet Call of the Wild Chapter 7 fabled adjective Legendary, fiction 30 quest noun journey ancient adjective From the historical past ramshackle adjective Run down and broken verb Being lazy adverb loudly loafing riotously descended verb ascended verb Headed up vastness noun Great size or amount melancholy adjective sad obliterated destroyed graven Adjective or verb adjective dictate verb To control concealment noun Hiding something pertinacity noun determined belie verb To show to be false lope verb To run in long strides somber adjective serious twilight noun gorge noun The time right before sun up and sun down Narrow valley bleak adjective Without much hope watershed noun Land that is drained by a river mournful adjective sad imperiously adverb arrogant vainly adverb arrogant noun fierce ferocity headed down to the ground carved 31 wolverines noun Vicious mammal chaff noun Worthless thing prey noun Hunted animal prowess noun Superior skill and courage adverb Pride with a victory apparent adjective obvious massive adjective huge cunning adjective Sly, clever carnivorous adjective Meat eating vigor noun Energy and strength virility noun Masculinity, manliness magnetism noun attraction adjective Detailed, magnificent Noun or verb A rise in the land or to throw noun A balance Adjective or verb adjective Understood or believed infinitesimal adjective Small, close to zero simultaneous adjective At the same time rampant adjective Growing wildly affirmed verb To declare to be true ptarmigan noun Arctic bird wantonness noun Hatefulness, wickedness lurking verb Sneaking around abundance noun Having a lot of something triumphantly exquisite pitch equilibrium perceived sequential In order 32 rigorous adjective strong noun A place where rock is mined palmated adjective Split in to parts, webbed vicious adjective violent bitter adjective sharp in taste, angry, very cold flank noun sides primordial adjective Existing first, basic paroxysms noun A sudden burst of emotion craftily adverb Cleverly dogged adjective determined tireless adjective With endless energy persistent adjective Continuing, unrelenting panther noun Large, sleek black wild cat ambuscade noun A trap (or ambush) set for something peculiarity noun Odd or strange thing menace noun A threat shambled verb To walk clumsily, shuffle desperation noun Hopelessness, recklessness drooped adjective To bend limply dejected adjective Very unhappy, disappointed verb To lounge in a relaxed way, droop palpitant adjective pulsing subtler adjective Not obvious, understated certitude noun Feelings of certainty conscious adjective Alert, awake, aware noun disaster quarry lolling calamity 33 rippling verb With waves swiftly adverb quickly stealthily adverb secretly adjective Full of variety, numerous excrescence noun Outgrowth, an addition obscureness noun Hard to understand, unknown overpowering Adjective or verb noun Irresistible, overwhelming advent noun the arrival, 4 weeks before Christmas fiend noun Evil one Human form cessation Verb or adjective noun carcasses noun Skeleton/tissue left on a dead animal succession noun Series in time, following, next in line pell-mell noun Messy disorderly rush agility noun flexibility discomfited verb To make someone confused gaunt adjective Tired, sickly, pale, thin battle-scarred adjective Tired, bruised, weary preliminary adjective First draft multitudinous rage incarnate Great anger stopping 34 35 Background Information Call of the Wild “Old longings nomadic leap, Chafing at custom’s chain; Again from its brumal sleep Wakens the ferine strain.” Call of the Wild opens with the first quatrain of John Myers O'Hara's poem, Atavism.The stanza outlines one of the main themes of the novel, that the main character, Buck, raised in the "sun-kissed" Santa Clara Valley, has reverted to innate instincts of wolf-like savagery due to his captors' brutality and their having thrust him into the harsh Alaska environment where The Law of Club and the Fang reigns supreme. John Griffith "Jack" London (born John Griffith Chaney, January 12, 1876 – November 22, 1916) was an American author, journalist, and social activist. He was a pioneer in the genre of magazine fiction. He was one of the first fiction writers to obtain worldwide celebrity and a large fortune from his fiction writing. Besides Call of the Wild, Jack London wrote such favorites as White Fang, To Build a Fire, and Sea Wolf. Biographical Information Jack London’s Mother was Flora Wellman. According to Flora Wellman's account, as recorded in the San Francisco Chronicle of June 4, 1875, Jack London’s biological father, William Chaney demanded that she have an 36 abortion. When she refused, he disclaimed responsibility for the child. In desperation, she shot herself. She was not seriously wounded, but she was temporarily deranged. After she gave birth, Flora turned the baby over to ex-slave Virginia Prentiss, who remained a major maternal figure throughout Jack London's life. Late in 1876, Flora Wellman married John London, a partially disabled Civil War veteran, and brought her baby John, later known as Jack, to live with the newly married couple. The family moved around the San Francisco Bay Area before settling in Oakland, where London completed grade school. In 1897, when he was 21 and a student at the University of California, Berkeley, London searched for and read the newspaper accounts of his mother's suicide attempt and the name of his biological father. He wrote to William Chaney, then living in Chicago. Chaney responded that he could not be London's father because he was impotent. He stated that London's mother had relations with other men and that she had slandered him when she said he insisted on an abortion. He concluded the letter with a statement that he was more to be pitied than London. Jack London was devastated by his father's rejecting letter. In the months following, he quit school at Berkeley and went to the Klondike. London's time in the Klondike was detrimental to his health. Like so many other men who were malnourished in the goldfields, London developed scurvy. His gums became swollen, leading to the loss of his four front teeth. A constant gnawing pain affected his hip and leg muscles, and his face was stricken with marks that always reminded him of the struggles he faced in the Klondike. On August 17, 1897 gold was discovered in Bonanza Creek, a tributary of the Klondike River. By 1898 about 30,000 prospectors had rushed to the area to try their luck at panning for gold. 37 The gold mining towns of Skagway and Dyea quickly began to grow. These were tent cities where miners loaded up their supplies for the over 600 miles of trails to the goldfields. Skagway was at the head of the White Pass Trail. It was founded by William Moore who had been a steamboat captain. The White Pass Trail lead out of Skagwag. It was steep for the miners with their equipment. More than 3000 pack animals died on this trail. Dyea was three miles away for the head of the Taiya Inlet. The Chilkoot Trail lead miners out of Dyea to the gold field. Most miners spent three months packing their equipment up the trail. Each prospector was required to bring a year's supply of food with them. Once prospectors hauled their equipment to the lakes, they built or bought boats to float it downriver to Dawson City. This was approximately 560 miles away. By 1898 Dawson City had 18,000 people. By 1900 $22 million dollars worth of gold had been found in the Klondike. In 1900 the gold was getting harder to find in the Yukon, so many of the prospectors moved to Alaska to look for gold there. Gold production completely stopped in 1966. By this time over $250 million in gold had been found. Jack London died on November 22, 1916, at the age of 40 from uremia (kidney failure) aggravated by an accidental morphine overdose. He was in the late stages of alcoholism at the end of his life. resources: wikipedia.com and thinkquest.com 38 39
© Copyright 2024 Paperzz