In the novel The Call of the Wild, what does Buck learn the first time he is beaten with a club by a man?

Introduction / Context:
The Call of the Wild is a famous adventure novel by Jack London that follows the transformation of a domestic dog named Buck into a powerful leader in the harsh Yukon environment. Many literature questions focus on key turning points in Buck life that shape his character. One of the most important early events is the first time Buck is beaten with a club by a man known as the man in the red sweater. This question asks you to recall what Buck learns from that experience and how it affects his inner spirit and attitude toward human authority.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The scene takes place soon after Buck is stolen from a comfortable home and sold into the sled dog trade.
• A man uses a heavy club to punish Buck when he resists and attacks.
• The question asks about what Buck learns and how he changes internally after this beating.
• We assume familiarity with the key events in the novel The Call of the Wild.

Concept / Approach:
In this scene, Jack London shows how harsh experiences teach Buck the law of club and fang. Buck starts as a proud and powerful dog who is not used to being mistreated by humans. When he attacks the man in the red sweater, he is beaten repeatedly until he can no longer stand, but he keeps getting up and charging until he finally understands that he cannot win against a man with a club. The important detail is that while Buck learns to respect and obey the power of the club, his inner spirit is not broken. He submits outwardly to avoid further pain, but he keeps his strong will and capacity for leadership inside.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Remember that Buck is proud and unbroken when he first confronts the man in the red sweater.2. Buck repeatedly attacks and is repeatedly beaten with the club, each time suffering more pain and injury.3. Eventually he realizes that no amount of courage or strength can overcome a man armed with a club.4. Buck stops attacking and accepts that the man is in control, which shows he has learned the law of the club.5. At the same time, the narrative makes clear that Buck keeps his inner dignity and does not become a coward or a broken animal.6. Therefore, he learns he must obey men with clubs but decides not to surrender his inner spirit.

Verification / Alternative check:
Reading the relevant chapter in the novel confirms this interpretation. The author describes Buck as beaten but not broken. He recognizes that the man with the club is a master to be obeyed, yet he still has the capacity for independent thought and for leadership later in the story. If Buck spirit had been completely crushed, he would not later become a strong leader of the sled team and then a legendary figure in the wild. The scenes that follow show Buck growing more adaptable and more powerful, not more fearful, which supports the view that his inner will survives the beating.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, that he swears revenge on Spitz, is incorrect because Spitz is another dog and Buck has not yet formed that rivalry at this early stage. Option B, about stealing another dog food, refers to a different kind of lesson about dog pack behaviour and does not match the club beating scene. Option D, which claims that his spirit is completely crushed, is wrong because the novel repeatedly emphasizes that Buck remains strong inside and grows even more wild and determined as the story continues. Only Option C accurately reflects both his outward obedience and his inner refusal to surrender.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes remember that Buck is badly hurt and assume that he becomes permanently submissive in every way, which misses the subtle point about his inner strength. Another pitfall is to confuse different episodes, such as fights with Spitz or food related conflicts, with the earlier club scene. To avoid these errors, it helps to link each key lesson Buck learns to a specific symbol: the club represents human power, the fang represents wild animal struggle, and later scenes show him mastering both worlds.

Final Answer:
The first time Buck is beaten with a club he learns that he must obey men with clubs but decides never to surrender inside, keeping his inner spirit and strength alive.