Read this excerpt from The Call of the Wild by Jack London.
Then where could they possibly be? With drooping tail and shivering body, very forlorn indeed, he aimlessly circled the tent. Suddenly the snow gave way beneath his fore legs and he sank down. Something wriggled under his feet. He sprang back, bristling and snarling, fearful of the unseen and unknown. But a friendly little yelp reassured him, and he went back to investigate. A whiff of warm air ascended to his nostrils, and there, curled up under the snow in a snug ball, lay Billee. . . .
Another lesson. So that was the way they did it, eh? Buck confidently selected a spot, and with much fuss and waste effort proceeded to dig a hole for himself. In a trice the heat from his body filled the confined space and he was asleep.
What theme does the excerpt convey?
Adaptability is key to success.
Friendship leads to fulfillment.
Sleep is essential for survival.
Teamwork encourages specialization.
Adaptability is key to success.
The theme conveyed in this excerpt is adaptability is key to success.
To determine the theme conveyed in the excerpt, we can analyze the events and actions described. In this particular excerpt from The Call of the Wild, Buck, the main character, finds himself in a dire situation as he circles a tent in a forlorn state. However, he eventually discovers a friendly presence beneath the snow, which turns out to be his friend Billee. After observing this interaction, Buck learns from Billee's example and proceeds to dig a hole for himself, where he finds warmth and falls asleep.
Considering these events, we can infer that the theme conveyed in this excerpt is friendship leads to fulfillment. The presence of Billee comforts Buck and provides reassurance, ultimately leading to his own fulfillment by finding warmth and sleep.
To support this conclusion, we can also observe the emphasis on the positive relationship between Buck and Billee, as well as the influence it has on Buck's behavior and state of mind.