Bedside Lamp English Learning Reader III: The Call of the Wild (English-Chinese Contrastive)

Author: Li Zhengshuan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-06-01
Features: The Call of the Wild is Jack London's most celebrated novel. The story primarily narrates the journey of Buck, a strong and brave wolf dog, as he returns from human civilization to the primitive life of a wolf pack. Buck was a 140-pound, exceptionally robust dog. He originally lived a luxurious life in the home of a judge but was later stolen by the judge's gardener and sold to a post office, then sent to the harsh, cold regions of Alaska to pull sleds for mail delivery. Buck was first sold to two French Canadians. These dogs, who had been bought, not only suffered cruel treatment from humans but also constantly fought and killed each other among themselves for dominance within the dog pack. Due to his extraordinary strength, intelligence, and bravery, Buck eventually defeated Spitz to become the leader of the dog pack. He had several owners before being taken in by John Thornton. It was when Buck was beaten to the brink of death by the cruel master Hal that Thornton saved him and tended to his injuries with great care. Under Thornton's meticulous nursing, Buck recovered quickly, and a sincere bond formed between them. Buck was extremely loyal to Thornton, risking his life twice to save Thornton's life and desperately pulling a sled loaded with a thousand pounds of salt for Thornton, earning him a significant amount of money in a bet with others. Unfortunately, during the gold rush, Thornton was killed by Native Americans. In a fit of rage, Buck killed several Native Americans in revenge for his master. With his benefactor dead, he felt he had nothing left to cling to in this human society. Moreover, for some time, a mysterious call had echoed in the wilderness, drawing him. In the end, he answered the call, entered the forest, and lived among the wolves, embracing a primitive animal life. Yet, he never forgot his old friendship and still visited his master's grave regularly.