Like Argus of the Ancient Times
The novel revolves around a young man who returns to his hometown after years away and becomes embroiled in the lives of those he left behind. He forms a close bond with an elderly woman who teaches him about the town's history and its people, while also confronting his own past mistakes and regrets.
By Jack London · First published 1901 · Genre: Adventure, Historical Fiction, Drama · 12,077 words
First lines
IT was the summer of 1897, and there was trouble in the Tarwater family. Grandfather Tarwater, after remaining properly subdued and crushed for a quiet decade, had broken out again. This time it was the Klondike fever. His first and one unvarying symptom of such attacks was song. One chant only he raised, though he remembered no more than the first stanza and but three lines of that. And the family knew his feet were itching and his brain was tingling with the old madness, when he lifted his hoarse-cracked voice, now falsetto-cracked, in:
Like Argus of the ancient times, We leave this modern Greece, Tum-tum, tum-tum, tum, tum, tum-tum, To shear the Golden Fleece.
What this Textopian page supports
Like Argus of the Ancient Times is listed on Textopian as a novel by Jack London, dated 1901 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Jack London
- Date: 1901 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Adventure, Historical Fiction, Drama, Survival, Western
- Length: 12,077 words
- Structure: 1 section, 195 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Like Argus of the Ancient Times by Jack London
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Like Argus of the Ancient Times?
- How does this novel by Jack London fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Adventure first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Keeper Of The Light by Henry Van Dyke
- Trust by Jack London
- The Unexpected by Jack London
- Adventure by Jack London
- The Lost Road by Richard Harding Davis
- At The Rainbows End by Jack London
Genres
- Adventure — The narrative follows a journey to the Klondike during the gold rush, filled with challenges and the pursuit of fortune.
- Historical Fiction — Set in the late 19th century, it captures the historical context of the Klondike Gold Rush and its impact on individuals.
- Drama — The story explores family dynamics, personal ambition, and the struggle against societal expectations.
- Survival — The protagonist faces harsh conditions and the threat of scurvy, highlighting themes of endurance and resilience.
Tags
Adventure · Fiction · Literary · Classic · Novel · American · 19th Century · Realism · Social Commentary · Philosophical · Psychological · Exploratory