To What Extent Has Buck Learned In The Wild

Buck Learns How To Survive In The Call Of The Wild, Jack London, the author, focuses on the extreme changes that need to be made to survive in the wild. Buck, a St. Bernard and Scotch half-breed dog, is used to show the changes made and is removed from his home and placed in the wild. After living in the wild for quite awhile, Buck learns how to survive by watching other dogs, learning from his own experiences, and by being forced to learn. Even though Buck connects with his instincts, his ability to survive in the wild is learned. Buck learns many survival skills by watching other dogs. One experience that proves Buck learns by watching other dogs, is when Buck watches Pike steal bacon when Perrault is not looking. “He watched and learned.
One experience is when Buck first starts to pull the sled. “Buck had been purposely placed between Dave and Sol-leks so that he might receive instruction… they were equally apt teachers, never allowing him to linger long in error, and enforcing their teaching with their sharp teeth” (pg. 19). When Buck pulls the sled for the first time, he is placed between Dave and Sol-leks so that they might help him learn. When Buck does something wrong, Dave or Sol-leks bite or nip him. Another one of Buck’s experiences is when he approaches Sol-leks on his blind side. “He was called Sol-leks… He had one peculiarity which Buck was unlucky enough to discover. He did not like to be approached on his blind side. Of this offence Buck was unwittingly guilty, and the first knowledge he had of his indiscretion was when Sol-leks whirled upon him and slashed his shoulder to the bone for three inches up and down” (pg.16). Unfortunately, Buck had to learn that Sol-leks did not like to be approached on his blind side by himself. And because Buck approached him on his blind side, Buck was punished even though he didn’t know. By learning from his own experiences, Buck’s ability to survive in the wild is