THE LAW OF LIFE By Jack London Silly

THE LAW OF LIFE By Jack London

Silly Quiz #11 According to this story, what do you believe is the law of life?

Objectives • Determine two or more themes or central ideas of a text and analyze their development over the course of the text • Analyze the impact of author’s choice • Analyze impact of specific word choices

About the Author • Jack London was a very adventurous youth. By the time he turned 21, he had more action stories than Vin Diesel • London was disowned by his biological father and lived with his stepfather. However, his stepfather could not provide for him, so London worked for most of his youth. • London traveled and sailed almost all over the United States. However, his adventures stopped when he was arrested and jailed for 30 days. He was so moved by the stories of the people he met on his adventures that he began to write.

Opening Discussion How do people face death? How does our culture face death? How is that different from London’s view?

Text Analysis: Theme • Theme is the central message communicated by a literary work. • It may be stated directly, but it usually emerges through literary elements as a comment on the human condition. • The answers to these questions can help you identify a story’s theme or themes: • • • What is the resolution of the primary conflict? What traits do the main characters display? What about the physical or cultural setting is important? What point of view is used to describe the experiences of the main character? What meaning does the title convey?

Reading Skill: Analyze Author’s Perspective • An author’s perspective is the unique combination of background, experiences, beliefs, and values that influences the way a writer looks at a topic and the choices he or she makes in writing about it. • This story reflects London’s experiences in Alaska.

Theme (exercise) Please go on your laptops and research the following topic: “Naturalism”

Theme • What is significant about the setting described in the first paragraph, and what does it create? • Reread lines 57 -85. in one or two sentences, summarize theme expressed here about the relationship between nature and the individual. What kind of comment on the human condition does this naturalist theme express? Explain your response. • In lines 124 -131, the third person limited point of view reveals Koskoosh’s memory of the old moose and his own reaction at the time. What is ironic about this recollection? • Reread lines 177 -185. What does the old bull moose represent? Consider thematic message suggested by this symbol?

Author’s Perspective • Reread lines 162 -166. what view about human relationships is revealed in the struggle described here? Consider how this view might be rooted in London’s life experiences.

Review Questions • Who is Koskoosh? • What are the conditions like where he is? • What activity is he listening to? (lines 4 -5) • Why doesn't’t he participate in the activity? • Who comes to talk to Koskoosh? Why? (line 34) • What does Koskoosh think will happen to him? (lines 53 -56) • Why does London personify nature as a woman rather than a man? (lines 57 -74) • In the final paragraph, what does Koskoosh do to stop the wolves? Why do you think he stops doing it?

Comprehension • How does Koskoosh die? • How did he expect to die? • Describe the conditions of life for the tribe. • Explain how each of the following factors might contribute to the tribe’s attitude about death: • The tribe’s connection “to the earth” (lines 57 -67) • What the tribe sees as the “task of life” (lines 73 -85) • The arctic environment (lines 101 -123)

Vocabulary a) Replenish a) To fill up again b) Harry b) To torment, often by attack c) Attest c) To affirm to be true d) Slovenly d) Untidy or unclean in appearance e) Inexorable e) Relentless