Jack London's adventure story “White Fang” is one of the most famous works of this iconic American author. It will be interesting to read it for both children and adults. A review of the book "White Fang" tells about the fascinating story of the friendship of man and animal.
History of creation
The story first saw the light in 1906 in the American "Traveling Magazine". It was printed in several issues, from May to October. The author dedicated this work to his impressions of the gold rush that swept America at the end of the 19th century.
One of the main features of the work is that most of it is written on behalf of the animal itself. The world around and all the events taking place in it, appear through the eyes of a wolf - the main character of the story. Great attention in the work is paid to the attitude of people to animals, the confrontation of good and evil. Such important and necessary topics are discussed in the White Fang story. Reviews of the book grade 7 of the average school is already actively discussing in the classroom. Modern students have something to learn from the heroes of London.
Tales of London
White Fang is one of Jack London's early tales. Before her, he created such famous works as The Sea Wolf, The Daughter of the Snow, The Call of the Ancestors, and Journey on the Dazzling. This story is one of the key works in London devoted to the gold rush in the United States, when thousands of adventurers from all over the world went to Alaska to find their happiness, although few did.
In 1897, London itself succumbed to this fever and also participated in the search for gold mines. At first he was lucky with his comrades, they left far behind many competitors and were able to settle on a site in the Yukon Valley . However, gold was not there. Obtaining a new site was also not possible. In addition, the writer was still ill with scurvy, which negatively affected his health.
He returned from the mines only in 1898, having suffered a fierce northern winter. London did not find gold, but found traits for the heroes of its works and dozens of unique stories.
Story plot
The story begins with a description of the parents of White Fang, the main character of the story. He was born from a mixed marriage - a wolf and half-wolf-half-dog. Even at birth, he was incredibly lucky - he was the only one who survived from a brood. Due to the harsh northern climate, hunger and cold, all the other brothers and sisters of our hero died. Therefore, often a pity permeated any review of the book "White Fang". Grade 5 and even younger children love this work for its sincerity, despite the difficult dramatic descriptions.
Soon, the elderly father of the White Fang dies, and the baby remains alone with his mother. Everything changes dramatically after meeting with previously unknown creatures - people. He begins to serve with one of them - Gray Beaver. He gives him the name White Fang.
Life in people
Review of the book "White Fang" often begin immediately with a description of the life of the half-wolf, half-dog in humans. The main character is not easy to get used to the existence of an Indian tribe. He accepts people as gods. Despite this, it is not easy for him to accept all their requirements and follow orders.
White Fang finds no solace either among humans or among animals. At the same time, it is developing rapidly, but in many ways one-sidedly. Creating a review of the book "White Fang", many students separately stop at the moment when the protagonist escapes from their owners during the next transition. However, he immediately feels loneliness and fear, searches for the Indians and returns to them.
Soon White Fang becomes a sled dog. He is distinguished by his diligence and endurance, and he is made the main in the team. This leads to tension in the dog collective. Brothers hate him because of their obvious leadership qualities. White Fang, with even greater zeal, leads the team with them behind him.
White gold diggers
The main law for him is unlimited devotion to man. This is noted by most authors who write a review about the book "White Fang". The summary of the story set forth in the article allows us to evaluate the further development of events. Once the protagonist from the Indians buys a white gold digger Handsome Smith. He mistreats the dog, constantly beating, making it clear who its new owner is.
White Fang hates his new god, often considering him crazy, but implicitly obeys him. Smith uses it in dog fights. At first, White Fang performs quite successfully, but the battle with the English Bulldog becomes fatal for him. Only another white man saves him from certain death - engineer Scott, who also works in the mines in search of his own happiness. He buys a dog from Smith. But the dog is already capable of showing only anger and rage, which is noted by authors who write a review about the book "White Fang". Grade 4 passes this work in literature lessons, and there the relationships of man and animal are analyzed in detail.
Scott turns out to be a kind and patient host. He awakens in the dog feelings that, it would seem, have long died in her - kindness and devotion. With Scott, White Fang sets off for California. Here begins a completely different life - pacified, the calmness of which is broken only by the neighbor, the Collie shepherd, which at first annoys the dog, and in the end becomes his best friend. A review of the book "White Fang" makes it clear that the dog is imbued with love for the children of his new white master.
In the final, the dog paid off in full for all the kindness that his new owners gave him. Father Scott, judge, he saves from death. He is trying to kill the criminal convicted by him, who was bitten by White Fang, but was mortally wounded. He is sick for a long time, he is treated and, finally, heals. The dog hardly goes out into the white light, but every day he feels better and even gets his own puppies with the neighbor shepherd. So this is an ideal assignment for students to write a review on White Fang. The composition is often written by high school students and even graduation students.
On the big screen
The work of Jack London has been repeatedly filmed by directors around the world. Watching one of these films is ideal for younger children who do not yet know how to read on their own. However, after watching the film, they can leave a review about the book "White Fang". Grade 3 and even older students often resort to this method.
One of the first incarnations on the screen appeared in the Soviet Union, where Jack London was very fond of, in 1946. For the author of the picture, Alexander Zguridi, this was the debut work as a director. The main roles in that film were played by Oleg Zhakov, Lev Sverdlin and Elena Izmailova.
In 1973, another picture of the joint production of France and Italy came out, which was called "The Return of the White Fang".
In 1991, the story was filmed in the United States. Rendle Kleiser has released the movie "White Fang" with such famous actors as Ethan Hawke and Klaus Maria Brandauer.
One of the last adaptations saw the light in 1994. A film entitled "White Fang 2: The Legend of the White Wolf". True, this is already a free interpretation of the text of Jack London, little associated with the original story.
Features of the work
Among the main artistic features of the story, literary critics note that landscapes and the vast expanses of the lands of the North, on which wolf packs and endless roads meet, are the key environment of the characters.
It should be noted the harsh laws of Jack London. According to the logic of the author, the tragedy of a person occurs at a time when he backs away from his laws, moral principles. The writer pays great attention to the psychological state of the heroes, the motives of their actions. The White Fang becomes an example of behavior, for which love and devotion are more important than their own life.
White Fang Reviews
Speaking about the work "White Fang", readers note that this is one of the best books about animals. With its help, it is possible to plunge into the beautiful world of the North and gold mining. It is read in one breath and can teach not only schoolchildren, but also adults.