Story Skeleton—The Call of the Wild

Story structure relates to the psychological appeal of narrative, that which engages readers and builds in them a sense of anticipation—a desire to know what happens next. This blog series is meant to demonstrate the universality of story structure with plot breakdowns of award-winning and classic novels.

By David Griffin Brown 

Buck the Beefcake

I picked up The Call of the Wild expecting to revisit a childhood adventure tale. After all, it's about a dog, and someone bought it for me when I was about ten. But diving back in, I was surprised. This is no gentle story for kids.

From the first chapter, Buck gets beaten to within an inch of his life. The brutality is stark and unflinching. The writing isn't simplified either. Jack London's prose is complex, rich, and poetic. It's a far cry from the toned-down language typical in today's YA and MG books.

Not that young readers can't handle literary prose. Anne of Green Gables doesn't shy away from complexity, and children still adore it. But modern standards often favor simpler language and straightforward sentences. The Call of the Wild doesn't.

Interestingly, the novel was first published in the Saturday Evening Post, a pulp market magazine. It’s fair to assume London didn't intend it for children. His audience was adult readers craving adventure and depth.

Another reason this book seems an odd choice for children today is the blatant racism, which I'll discuss later. But what caught me most off guard was how the book at times reads like softcore erotica. London's descriptions of Buck's rippling muscles and raw power made me laugh out loud. More than once, I felt like I was reading a furry parody of an alpha-male romance. The emphasis on Buck's physicality is at times intense, to the point of being cartoonish. It's as if London sought to elevate this dog into a symbol of raw, untamed masculinity.

Narrative Goal

The Call of the Wild traces Buck's transformation from pampered pet to wild creature. Structurally, it's a coming-of-age story where the protagonist is in the process of becoming. This journey unfolds in four episodes.

In the first episode, Buck learns to survive in a brutal new world. In the second, he engages in a rivalry with the lead dog. In the third, his leadership is tested under the rule of new masters. And in the final episode, Buck answers the call of the wild. 

Let’s take a look at how each episode is structured.

Plot Points

Initial Stasis and Catalyst
Before the action of the story begins, Buck, a St. Bernard-Scotch Collie mix, lives an easy life on Judge Miller’s estate in California. He’s treated like royalty, with no exposure to hardship or danger. This stasis serves to establish Buck’s identity as a domesticated dog with no concept of survival in the wild. His world is shattered, however, when Manuel, one of the gardener’s helpers, kidnaps him to pay off his gambling debts. Buck is eventually sold to Red Sweater Man, who teaches him the Law of Club—a brutal introduction to submission by force. The catalyst sets Buck on the path of transformation from domesticated pet to a creature shaped by the wilderness—one who can survive without humanity’s luxuries.

Episode One: Learning the Ropes

Inciting Incident
The first key turning point comes when Curly, a friendly Newfoundland, is attacked and killed by a pack of huskies soon after Buck arrives in the Yukon. Here is Buck’s first hard lesson in the Law of Fang: in this new world, one false step can mean death. His initial goal crystallizes: he must overcome his soft, sheltered self and learn the ropes of survival.

Rising Action
The narrative now focuses on Buck’s struggle to adapt. He observes Spitz, the lead dog, who shows no remorse for Curly’s death, foreshadowing their coming rivalry. Buck is soon harnessed and begins learning the brutal and exhausting work of pulling the sled. He watches the experienced sled dogs, especially Dave and Sol-leks, who teach him to respect the dynamics of the team and the harsh realities of the wild.

Midpoint
On his first night in the wilderness, Buck seeks warmth by trying to enter the humans’ tent but is kicked out. Unsure where the other dogs have gone, Buck panics until he discovers that they’ve burrowed into the snow. This realization—that he must adapt or perish—marks a turning point in his ability to survive. He imitates the other dogs, and in doing so, takes another step toward transformation.

Rising Action Continues
As Buck grows more attuned to his new environment, he learns to steal food, copying the sneaky dog Pike. His instincts sharpen, and his muscles harden from the constant work, a sign that he’s beginning to master his role in the pack.

Climax
Instead of a dramatic confrontation, this episode closes with a quiet realization: Buck has internalized the lessons of the sled-dog world. He has adapted to the Law of Club and Fang and settled into his new role within the team. His strength and cunning have increased, but the next challenge—the growing rivalry with Spitz—looms.

Episode Two: The Rivalry

Inciting Incident
With Buck now established as a capable sled dog, a new conflict emerges. Spitz, sensing Buck’s rising strength, sees him as a threat. This rivalry becomes the new narrative goal: Buck must challenge Spitz’s abusive authority and ultimately prove himself worthy of leadership.

Rising Action
Tension builds as Buck and Spitz engage in several conflicts. During a wild husky attack, while the rest of the pack unites against the threat, Spitz tries to ambush Buck. It’s also around this time that Buck feels the first stirrings of ancient instincts, in a foreshadowing of the final episode when the call of the wild finally grips him.

Midpoint
A crucial turning point occurs when Dolly, one of the sled dogs, goes mad with rabies and chases Buck. Exhausted from the chase, Buck is immediately attacked by Spitz, which solidifies Buck’s resolve to overthrow his rival. After this incident, Buck actively challenges Spitz’s authority, even preventing him from disciplining the other dogs.

All is Lost
As the team reaches Dawson, they get a brief respite. The rivalry between Buck and Spitz seems to settle, but this is merely the calm before the storm. The pack is united in their howling at night, but the tension remains beneath the surface. The final push comes during a rabbit chase. Buck and Spitz race to catch a rabbit, but the faster Spitz beats Buck to the prize. This could be seen as a moment of defeat for Buck, but it instead triggers his decision to confront Spitz head-on.

Climax
The climax of this episode is a fierce fight between Buck and Spitz. Though Spitz is more experienced, Buck uses his intelligence to outmaneuver him, eventually breaking Spitz’s leg. Buck leaves his injured rival for the other dogs to finish off, cementing his victory.

Resolution
Buck’s triumph over Spitz marks his ascent to leadership. His goal has shifted from survival to dominance, and he now takes on the responsibility of leading the pack. His instincts, sharpened through this struggle, prepare him for the next stage of his evolution.

Episode Three: The Challenges of Leadership

Inciting Incident
After defeating Spitz, Buck expects to take the lead position in the team. François initially tries to give the role to Sol-leks, buts Buck retaliates, refusing any subordinate position. His goal is now clear: to prove his worth as the pack leader, both to François and his team.

Rising Action
Buck rises to the challenge, showing himself to be a more effective leader than Spitz. Even lazy dogs like Pike work harder under Buck’s command, and the team makes record time. However, soon after, François and Perrault are reassigned, and a “Scotch Half-Breed” takes over the team. The workload increases, but Buck continues to lead his disciplined team onward.

Midpoint
The team arrives at Skaguay and is sold to three incompetent owners: Hal, Charles, and Mercedes. This marks a shift as Buck’s leadership skills will now be tested by the poor decision-making of the humans in charge.

Rising Action Continues
The sled is overloaded, and the new owners mishandle the dogs, leading to starvation and exhaustion. Buck’s leadership can only do so much under these circumstances, and he loses faith in human authority.

All is Lost
Buck’s strength is nearly depleted. One by one, the dogs begin to die. With the pack dwindling, and Hal, Charles, and Mercedes fighting over trivial matters, Buck is pushed to the brink.

Climax
The turning point comes when they arrive at John Thornton’s camp. Thornton warns the incompetent trio that the ice ahead is too thin, but they won’t listen. Buck senses the danger and refuses to pull the sled, despite being beaten by Hal. Buck’s act of defiance marks the climax of his leadership—he would rather sacrifice himself than lead his team to certain death.

Resolution
John Thornton intervenes and cuts Buck free from the team. Hal, Charles, and Mercedes continue without him, and of course they meet their end when they fall through the ice.

Episode Four: The Call of the Wild

Stasis
Buck enjoys a peaceful life with John Thornton, who treats him with kindness and respect. For the first time, Buck is overcome with love and loyalty for a human. Even back on Judge Miller’s farm, Buck never felt such devotion. However, now that survival is no longer a constant concern, Buck’s deeper instincts rise to the surface.

Inciting Incident
The true call of the wild emerges as Buck hears mysterious sounds in the forest which stir something ancient within him. He feels increasingly compelled to explore the wilderness. His final narrative goal is to heed the call of the wild; the remaining obstacle is his devotion to Thornton. This dilemma presents an impossible choice. Buck’s desire to leave humanity behind and seek out a life in the forest is powerful, but so too is his loyalty to this man.

Rising Action
Buck proves his loyalty to Thornton through a series of dramatic events, such as saving him from drowning and winning a bet (that Thornton should never had made) by pulling a sled loaded with a thousand pounds. As his devotion to Thornton increases, so too does the lure of the wilderness.

Midpoint
On one of Buck’s forays into the forest, he meets a timber wolf. They struggle to communicate, and yet there is an undeniable kinship between them as they bound through the woods together. This encounter with the wolf marks the midpoint of this episode. Buck feels torn between his love for Thornton and his growing desire to join the wild. The tension between these two worlds is more pronounced than ever.

Rising Action Continues
Buck spends more and more time away from Thornton, hunting and living as a wild creature. He fully embraces his ancestral beefcake instincts by implausibly tracking and killing a bull moose. However, despite this growing independence, his bond with Thornton still holds him back from fully submitting to the wild.

All is Lost
Buck returns to camp one day to find that John Thornton and his companions have been killed by a group of Yeehat Native Americans. With the death of the only human he truly loved, Buck loses the last connection to his domesticated life.

Climax
In a scene of unfortunate racism, Buck flies into a rage and attacks the Yeehats, who apparently aren’t skilled enough with bow and arrow to take down a single dog. He massacres them in retaliation for Thornton’s death. This moment of violence represents Buck’s final break from the human world.

Resolution
With nothing left to tie him to human life, Buck answers the call of the wild completely. He joins the timber wolf pack and becomes a legend among the Yeehats, known as the "Ghost Dog." Buck finds a mate and leads the pack, his offspring carrying both wolf and dog traits—a symbol of Buck’s full transformation into a creature of the wild.

Racism and Machismo

Another reason this book isn't exactly kid-friendly is its blatant racism. The dehumanizing references to squaws and half-breeds are one thing, but the real issue lies in the portrayal of the Yeehats.

The Yeehats, an invented tribe, are depicted as incompetent savages. They randomly kill Buck's beloved master, John Thornton, prompting Buck to seek revenge. Despite being a lone dog, he manages to attack and kill several of them. The Yeehats, armed and in a group, can't take down a single animal. They are such shitty hunters that they actually shoot each other in the battle. It's an absurd scenario that feeds into harmful stereotypes. The Yeehats are shown as barbaric and inferior, unable to match the prowess of the "white man's dog." Buck becomes a legend among them, a creature so formidable that the tribe fears him for years to come.

This portrayal reflects the colonial mindset of the time. London's depiction strips the Yeehats of complexity and humanity. They are mere obstacles for Buck to overcome, not real people with their own stories.

And then there's the machismo. The book drips with it. Buck isn't just a strong dog; he's the embodiment of rugged manliness, with constant references to his hard, rippling muscles. The emphasis on his physical strength, dominance, and aggression paints a clear picture of London’s conception of toxic masculinity.

The scenes of dogs tearing each other apart for weakness seem exaggerated. In reality, canine behavior is more nuanced. While dogs establish hierarchies, the savage brutality in The Call of the Wild is over the top. It's as if London wanted to amplify the idea that to survive, one must be relentlessly aggressive.

Wildness equates to masculinity here. The more Buck taps into his primal instincts, the more he embodies the ideal male. Domestication, on the other hand, is portrayed as weak and feminine.

Enter Mercedes, the most incompetent of the terrible trio. She's depicted as pathetic and annoying, a burden to the group. She's emotional, lazy, and out of touch with the harsh realities they face. Mercedes represents the peak of domestication and disconnection from the wild. Her character serves as a foil to Buck's ruggedness, highlighting the supposed shortcomings of femininity.

The idea that strength comes only from aggression and dominance is a narrow view. It dismisses other forms of resilience and undermines the value of cooperation and empathy. So while The Call of the Wild might seem like a fun animal adventure on the surface, Buck the burly beast engages some themes and perspectives worthy of critique. That’s not to say children shouldn’t read it, but it’s worth supplementing the story with some discussion about these problematic portrayals.

Why is The Call of the Wild a Classic?

When The Call of the Wild was first published in 1903, it became an instant hit. Readers were drawn to Buck's gripping journey and London's vivid portrayal of the Yukon during the Gold Rush. But what has given this novel its staying power in American literature?

One key factor is the immersive quality of London's writing. His descriptions are rich and cinematic, pulling readers into Buck's world. You can feel the biting cold, hear the crunch of snow under paws, and sense the looming dangers of the wild.

"He sat by John Thornton's fire, a broad-breasted dog, white-fanged and long-furred; but behind him were the shades of all manner of dogs and half-wolves, howling down the ages."

The imagery here is powerful. It transports readers into the scene, bringing Buck's internal and external worlds to life.

Another reason the novel endures is its emotional draw. Buck starts as a loyal household dog, a creature many can relate to, and whom many of us have loved. His ordeal is brutal, but with each stage of his transformation we witness his ability to adapt. We root for him because his struggle reflects a universal quest for survival, identity, and belonging.

In Conclusion

The episodic structure of The Call of the Wild is a feature common in coming-of-age stories. This approach works when the protagonist has significant room for growth. Typically, a young protagonist has a lot to learn, and each episode marks a step in their development. In Buck's case, he's already a grown dog when the story begins, but he's as sheltered as a child. He has no idea what the real world is like.

In coming-of-age narratives, the protagonist learns by moving through life and overcoming small challenges. A large part of the reader's emotional draw comes from witnessing these multiple character arcs. Each victory, no matter how small, feels powerful—because it is transformative.

That's why this structure is harder to pull off in non-coming-of-age fiction, where the three-act structure dominates. In a typical three-act story, the character undergoes one main transformation while pursuing a challenging goal. Without a clear through-line, the plot can feel meandering. As developmental editors, this is often a note we find ourselves scribbling in the margins of our clients’ manuscripts. Readers have less reason to cheer for the protagonist when goals are scattered and lack causal connection.

An exception (sort of) is the so-called five-act structure, which is essentially a three-act structure with the second act divided into three goals. This is common in epic adventure stories with multi-stage quests. Even then, there's still a central narrative goal leading from the inciting incident to the climax.

In The Call of the Wild, the episodic structure serves the narrative (and thus the reader’s experience) by allowing Buck to transform gradually. Each episode builds on the last, showing us not just a dog surviving one challenge after another, but a creature in the process of becoming.

David Griffin Brown is an award-winning short fiction writer and co-author of Immersion and Emotion: The Two Pillars of Storytelling. He holds a BA in anthropology from UVic and an MFA in creative writing from UBC, and his writing has been published in literary magazines such as the Malahat Review and Grain. In 2022, he was the recipient of a New Artist grant from the Canada Council for the Arts. David founded Darling Axe Editing in 2018, and as part of his Book Broker interview series, he has compiled querying advice from over 100 literary agents. He lives in Victoria, Canada, on the traditional territory of the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations.