Jack London How old was he when he died?

Family Born in San Francisco Father William Chaney: astrologer Mother Flora Wellman: “cold” Step-father John London: poor farmer Helped by step-sister and servant “Aunt Jenny” Went to work at 10 years old Quit school at 15 to work full-time in factory (salmon cannery) Used books to escape life

Life of Adventure Several odd jobs—many of them at sea Oyster pirate Fish patrol Seaman on sealing schooner Returned to high school at 19—passed entrance exam to U of Berkley One semester Lacked finances

Klondike Gold Rush Joined the gold rush to help support his mom after John London died Staked a claim, found “fool’s gold,” abandoned claim. Real gold later discovered on the claim. Returned home because of illness (scurvy) Ideas for writing gained here

Political Ideas Arrested for vagrancy in 1894-one month in jail; arrested a second time Ran for school board once, mayor of Oakland twice Fought for poor—Socialist Shared wealth—never quit working; worried about money

Finally earned money writing Published over 50 volumes, including 20 novels, three plays; letter writer; speaker Call of the Wild/The Sea Wolf “Great Earthquake and Fire” (San Francisco) written for Collier’s magazine paid 25 cents/word-2500 word article

Adult/Family Life

Married Bessie May Madden-April 7, 1900 Later divorced (1905)—different interests

Children Joan—born January 15,1901 Bess—born October 20,1902 Third child died at birth

Married (2 nd time) Charmain Kitterage-November 19, 1905 Adventures at sea together Built large ranch in California

Jack London’s Admonition Write what you see!

Jack London’s Style Helps reader become involved because he experienced what he wrote about Used vivid language Adverbs Adjectives Unusual word order Repetition Stories are based on experiences-reality based Life and death situations; internal and external conflicts

Primary Source Eyewitness Accounts—autobiography Diaries, letters, news accounts, photos, art

Secondary Source Written by someone with no direct experience with events of person’s life Using information from other sources

Feature Story Includes facts about an event or topic –a news story, primary or secondary source Includes personal observations about the same topic –a primary source Includes reflections and opinions of the author –similar to an essay

Conflicts Man v. Man –Conflict between the antagonist and protagonist; external conflict. Man v. Nature –Man struggles against natural forces, like weather or animals; external conflict. Man v. Self –Internal conflict, man struggles to overcome something within himself. Man v. Society –Man struggles against accepted social norms

Protagonist A protagonist is the central character or hero in a narrative or a drama, usually the one with whom the audience tends to identify. Anne Frank is the protagonist in The Diary of Anne Frank.

Antagonist In a story, the antagonist is a force working against the protagonist, or main character; an antagonist can be another character, society, a force of nature, or even a force within the main character. In “The King of Mazy May,” the claim jumpers are antagonists.