1. Research Topic

This thesis will conduct a detailed analysis of the wolf spirit manifested in The Call of the Wild through dissecting the research background of social civilization, the conflict and fusion between wolf spirit on behalf of the natural and social civilization. Meanwhile, the thesis will show the significance of the wolf spirit to Jack London himself, America and the human civilization.

2. Research Methods

Major research methods will include document research, textual analysis and close reading.

1). Document Research. A document research is the process of reading, analyzing, evaluating, and summarizing scholarly materials about a specific work. The author of the thesis has looked up some background information, including Jack London#8217;s The Call of the Wild, London#8217;s biographies, and previous studies on The Call of the Wild. In the meantime, the academic database and online materials are used as the references of the study.

2). Textual Analysis. Text analysis is a way to for researchers to gather information according to the presented contents by analyzing the details. For instance, the thesis will come to the conclusion that one of Buck#8217;s qualities is wise by analyzing how Buck adapts himself to the hostile environment, and what Buck#8217;s inner actions are when facing it.

3). Close Reading. Close reading emphasizes the single and the particular over the general, affected by close attention to individual words or the key part of a special work. This thesis will focus on the wolf spirit manifested in Buck. Thus, the emphasis will be put on the description of what Buck does and thinks, rather than other sled dogs or human beings.