The Call of the Wild · Chapter
Epigraph explained
The epigraph sets the tone for the novel, introducing themes of primal instinct and the struggle against civilized constraints through a poetic evocation of wild longing.
What happens
The epigraph sets the tone for the novel, introducing themes of primal instinct and the struggle against civilized constraints through a poetic evocation of wild longing.
Themes in this chapter
The Call of the Wild
The poem directly introduces the 'old longings nomadic' and 'ferine strain' that drive the narrative of Buck's return to primal instincts.
Primitive vs. Civilized
The imagery of 'chafing at custom's chain' contrasts the constraints of civilization with the awakening of wild, primitive urges.
Key passages
“Old longings nomadic leap, Chafing at custom's chain; Again from its brumal sleep Wakens the ferine strain.”
Ancient, wandering desires break free from the bonds of society, and the wild, beastly nature stirs once more from its winter slumber.
This epigraph encapsulates the central conflict and transformation that Buck will undergo throughout the story.