Book: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/215/215-h/215-h.htm
Audiobook:
https://archive.org/details/call_ofthe_wild_1010_librivox/callofwild3_01_london.mp3
Useful terminology for enhancing your active vocabulary and reading comprehension:
Ho = stop
Mush = move on
Gee = swing to the right
Haw – swing to the left
Dominant primordial beast:
the most powerful or influential animal or creature that existed in the earliest or original stage of development. Example: He felt like a dominant primordial beast as he hunted his prey
Lay down
sullenly:
put oneself in a horizontal position with a bad-tempered or gloomy attitude.
Example: He lay down sullenly on the couch, refusing to talk to anyone
Shrieking
locomotives:
trains that make loud, high-pitched, or piercing sounds. Example: He was
awakened by the shrieking locomotives passing by his window
Quivering
and frothing taunting him:
shaking or trembling and producing foam or bubbles while mocking or insulting
him. Example: The snake was quivering and frothing, taunting him with its
venomous fangs
Eyes
turned bloodshot:
eyes became red or inflamed because of irritation, fatigue, or disease.
Example: His eyes turned bloodshot after staying up all night
Mad
glitter in his bloodshot eyes:
a crazy or insane sparkle or shine in his red or inflamed eyes. Example: He had
a mad glitter in his bloodshot eyes, as if he had lost his mind
He was
metamorphosed into a raging fiend:
he was transformed or changed into a furious or evil person or creature.
Example: He was metamorphosed into a raging fiend by the curse
Sweater
sagged generously at the neck:
sweater hung loosely or droopingly at the neck, showing a lot of space or room.
Example: His sweater sagged generously at the neck, revealing his collarbone
Hair
bristling:
hair standing up or out in a stiff or prickly manner. Example: His hair
bristling, he looked like a porcupine
Pend
passion:
to hang or suspend passion or strong emotion. Example: He decided to pend
passion until he finished his work
Fierce
blow dazed to rush:
a violent or intense hit or strike that caused confusion or loss of
consciousness to hurry or move quickly. Example: The fierce blow dazed him to
rush to the hospital
He
staggered limply about:
he walked or moved unsteadily or weakly around. Example: He staggered limply
about after the accident
Flecked
with bloody slaver:
spotted or speckled with bloody saliva or foam. Example: His mouth was flecked
with bloody slaver, as he bit his tongue
He
crumpled up and went down:
he collapsed or fell down in a heap or mass. Example: He crumpled up and went
down after the punch
Knocked
utterly senseless:
hit or struck completely without sense or consciousness. Example: He was
knocked utterly senseless by the blow.
Slouch:
to stand, sit, or walk with a bent or drooping posture, showing laziness or
lack of confidence. Example: He slouched in his chair, bored and tired.
Groping
in the darkness:
feeling or searching blindly or uncertainly in the dark. Example: He was
groping in the darkness, trying to find the switch.
Undesirable
acquaintance:
someone who is known but not liked or wanted, usually because of their bad
character or behavior. Example: He was an undesirable acquaintance, always
causing trouble and asking for favors.
Besetting
sin:
a sin or fault that is persistent or habitual, and difficult to overcome.
Example: His besetting sin was greed, and he could never resist the temptation
of money.
Money
clicked between them:
money changed hands; the deal was struck.
Say
something gruffly:
to speak in a rough, brusque, or stern manner, often with a low or hoarse
voice. For example, “He said gruffly, ‘What do you want?’”
Intimate
displeasure:
to express dissatisfaction, disapproval, or annoyance in a subtle or indirect
way. For example, “She intimated her displeasure at the prospect of
working late.”
Vilely
treated:
to be treated in a very unpleasant and usually immoral and unacceptable way. For
example, “She committed suicide after being vilely tormented at
work.”
His
strength ebbed, eyes glazed:
a phrase that describes a state of physical weakness, exhaustion, or death,
often accompanied by a loss of liveliness or interest in the eyes. For example,
“His strength ebbed, eyes glazed, as he lay on the battlefield.”
Hoarse
shriek of a locomotive:
a loud and high-pitched sound made by a self-propelled vehicle used for hauling
railroad cars on tracks, often indicating a warning or a crossing. For example,
“The hoarse shriek of a locomotive whistling a crossing told him where he
was.”
The
unbridled anger of a kidnapped king:
a metaphor that describes a feeling of extreme and uncontrollable rage, often
caused by a sense of injustice or violation. For example, “He opened his
eyes, and into them came the unbridled anger of a kidnapped king.”
Tallow
candle:
a candle made from tallow, which is a hard, pale, saturated animal fat found
mostly around an animal’s kidneys. Tallow candles were used in ancient times
for lighting and religious rituals. For example, “The room was dimly lit
by a few tallow candles.”
Soliloquized
quality:
the quality of speaking one’s thoughts aloud when alone or regardless of any
hearers, especially in a play
A genial
voice:
a voice that is friendly and pleasant
To have
little ruction:
to have a minor disturbance or quarrel
Uncowed:
showing courage or boldness; not fearful or repressed
Face
with latent cunning of his native:
face with hidden or undeveloped skill or cleverness of his original or natural
place
Come
docilely:
come in a quiet way that is easy to influence, persuade, or control
For a
dog to be conciliated with a man:
for a dog to be gained or regained the goodwill or favour of a man
Dogs
fawned upon the man:
dogs showed slavish devotion or affection to the man, especially by rubbing
against him
Talk
wheedlingly:
talk in a way that tries to persuade someone by coaxing words or flattery
Uncouth
exclamations:
rude and unpleasant expressions of surprise or anger
Wizened
man:
a man who is shrivelled or dried up with age
Gloomy
morose fellow:
a person who is sullen, ill-tempered, and pessimistic
Ship
throbbed to the tireless pulse of the propeller:
the ship vibrated or pulsated with the constant movement of the device that
propels it forward
To be
pervaded with atmosphere of excitement:
to be filled or permeated with a feeling of eager enjoyment or interest
Jerked
from civilization and flung into primordial things:
suddenly removed from a society or culture and thrown into the earliest or
original state or condition of things
To be in
peril:
to be in serious or immediate danger
Imperative
need to be alert:
a very urgent or essential need to be fully aware and attentive
Vicarious
experience with wolfish creatures:
an experience that is felt or enjoyed through imagined participation in the
lives of wolf-like animals
Snarling
and yelping:
making angry or aggressive sounds and short, sharp cries of pain or alarm
Run out
his scarlet tongue:
extend his bright red tongue out of his mouth
Bloody
trampled snow:
snow that is stained with blood and crushed or flattened by footsteps
Swart
man:
a man who is dark-skinned or swarthy
He hated
him with bitter and deathless hatred:
he felt a strong and intense dislike for him that was harsh and lasting
To be
stern:
to be serious and strict in manner or attitude
A
draught animal:
an animal that is used to pull heavy loads
He had
perpetual hunger pangs:
he had constant or never-ending feelings of pain or hunger
He lost
his fastidiousness of his old life:
he lost his very attentive and concerned attitude about accuracy and detail of
his previous way of living
A dainty
eater:
someone who eats small amounts of food in a delicate or refined way, or who is
very selective about what they eat. Example: She was a dainty eater, always
nibbling on salads and fruits
Draped
loosely in draggled hides:
covered with wet, dirty, or torn animal skins that hang loosely. Example: They
were mere skeletons, draped loosely in draggled hides, with blazing eyes and
slavered fangs
Blazing
eyes and slavered fangs:
eyes that shine brightly with anger or excitement, and teeth that are covered
with saliva. Example: The hungry wolves approached the campfire, their blazing
eyes and slavered fangs reflecting the light
To be
wounded grievously:
to be injured very seriously or severely, often causing great pain or
suffering. Example: He was wounded grievously in the battle and had to be
carried away on a stretcher
Shake
head dubiously:
to move one’s head from side to side as a way of expressing doubt, uncertainty,
or disapproval. Example: He shook his head dubiously when she asked him if he
trusted her
Singed
by the flames:
burned slightly or superficially by fire or heat. Example: He was singed by the
flames when he tried to rescue the cat from the burning house
Swaggering
up and down before nose:
walking with a confident or arrogant manner, often in front of someone’s face,
as a way of showing off or provoking them. Example: He was swaggering up and
down before his nose, taunting him with insults and threats
Camp was
a howling bedlam:
the place where people were staying was very noisy and chaotic, with loud cries
or shouts. Example: The camp was a howling bedlam as the soldiers celebrated
their victory over the enemy
Aglow
and rampant:
shining with light or colour and spreading or growing quickly and
uncontrollably. Example: The city was aglow and rampant with festive
decorations and activities
Wrath,
writhe, snarl:
wrath means strong anger or fury, often with a desire for revenge. Writhe means
to twist or squirm in pain or discomfort. Snarl means to growl or show one’s
teeth in a threatening way, or to say something in an angry or harsh tone.
Example: He felt a surge of wrath as he saw his enemy writhe on the ground, and
he snarled at him with contempt
Howling
lugubriously:
making loud, mournful, or sad sounds. Example: The dog was howling lugubriously
after its owner left
Sleds
churned by:
sleds moved or stirred rapidly or violently by something. Example: The sleds
churned by the fierce wind and snow
Prolonged
strength drainage of months of toil:
a long-lasting loss of energy or vitality caused by hard work or labour for
many months. Example: He felt the prolonged strength drainage of months of toil
as he collapsed on his bed
Callowness:
the quality of being inexperienced, immature, or naive. Example: His callowness
was evident in his lack of judgment and tact
Incoherent
babel:
a confused or unintelligible mixture of sounds or voices. Example: He could not
understand anything in the incoherent babel of the crowded market
A clever
malingerer and thief:
someone who is smart or cunning, and who pretends to be sick or injured to
avoid work or duty, and who steals things from others. Example: He was a clever
malingerer and thief, always finding ways to escape his responsibilities and
take what he wanted
An
awkward blunderer:
someone who is clumsy or unskilled, and who makes mistakes or errors. Example:
He was an awkward blunderer, always tripping over his own feet and breaking
things
Ruthless
struggle for exercise:
a fierce or merciless fight or competition for physical activity or training.
Example: He endured the ruthless struggle for exercise in the army boot camp
To save
his hide:
to protect oneself from danger, harm, or punishment. Example: He lied to the
police to save his hide
The clamour
of his stomach:
the loud or noisy sound of one’s stomach, usually indicating hunger or
indigestion. Example: He ignored the clamour of his stomach and continued
working
Grew
callous to ordinary pain:
became insensitive or indifferent to normal or common pain or suffering.
Example: He grew callous to ordinary pain after years of abuse and neglect
Loathsome
and indigestible:
disgusting and repulsive, and difficult or impossible to digest. Example: He
found the food loathsome and indigestible, and he spat it out
It
heralded peace or peril:
it announced or signalled the arrival or possibility of peace or danger.
Example: The sound of the trumpet heralded peace or peril, depending on the
message it conveyed
Most
conspicuous trait:
the most noticeable or obvious characteristic or feature. Example: His most
conspicuous trait was his bright red hair
Leeward
sheltered and snug:
protected from the wind and comfortable or cozy. Example: He found a leeward
sheltered and snug spot to rest for the night