在小说第一章开始部分,作者引用诗人John Myers O’Hara 的诗Atavism,此诗作用是领起全文,暗示故事的发展方向和主角巴克克的命运,十分重要.
Atavism:“Old longings nomadic leap,Chafing at custom’s chain; Again from its brumal sleep,Wakens the ferine strain.”
小说第六章For the Love of A Man 的其中一段描写,刻画了巴克对主人约翰·桑顿特殊的感情表达方式——不求时时亲近,只须守 护主人左右.而主人似乎也能感受到巴克的灵性,人与狗之间有了近乎神奇的默契.此段堪 称心理描写的神来之笔：
For the most part,however,Buck’s love was expressed in adoration.While he went wild with happiness when Thornton touched him or spoke to him,he did not seek these tokens....Buck was content to adore at a distance.He would lie by the hour,eager,alert,at Thornton’s feet,looking up into his face,dwelling upon it,studying it,...And often,such was the communion in which they lived,the strength of Buck’ s gaze would draw John Thornton’s head around,and he would return the gaze,without speech,his heart shining out of his eyes as Buck's heart shone out. 在小说第一章开始部分,作者引用诗人John Myers O’Hara 的诗Atavism,此诗作用是领起全文,暗示故事的发展方向和主角巴克克的命运,十分重要.
Atavism:“Old longings nomadic leap,Chafing at custom’s chain; Again from its brumal sleep,Wakens the ferine strain.”
小说第六章For the Love of A Man 的其中一段描写,刻画了巴克对主人约翰·桑顿特殊的感情表达方式——不求时时亲近,只须守 护主人左右.而主人似乎也能感受到巴克的灵性,人与狗之间有了近乎神奇的默契.此段堪 称心理描写的神来之笔：
For the most part,however,Buck’s love was expressed in adoration.While he went wild with happiness when Thornton touched him or spoke to him,he did not seek these tokens....Buck was content to adore at a distance.He would lie by the hour,eager,alert,at Thornton’s feet,looking up into his face,dwelling upon it,studying it,...And often,such was the communion in which they lived,the strength of Buck’ s gaze would draw John Thornton’s head around,and he would return the gaze,without speech,his heart shining out of his eyes as Buck's heart shone out.