Mauki by Jack London (1918)
The novel revolves around a young Eskimo boy who lives with his tribe on the Arctic coast. He is forced to confront the harsh realities of survival in the unforgiving environment when he is separated from his family during a hunting trip. The story explores themes of isolation, resilience, and the human condition in the face of extreme adversity.
By Jack London · First published 1918 · Genre: Adventure, Colonial Literature, Historical Fiction · 6,949 words
First lines
He weighed one hundred and ten pounds. His hair was kinky and negroid, and he was black. He was peculiarly black. He was neither blue-black nor purple-black, but plum-black. His name was Mauki, and he was the son of a chief. He had three tambos. Tambo is Melanesian for taboo, and is first cousin to that Polynesian word. Mauki's three tambos were as follows: First, he must never shake hands with a woman, nor have a woman's hand touch him or any of his personal belongings; secondly, he must never eat clams nor any food from a fire in which clams had been cooked; thirdly, he must never touch a crocodile, nor travel in a canoe that carried any part of a crocodile even if as large as a tooth.
What this Textopian page supports
Mauki is listed on Textopian as a short story by Jack London, dated 1918 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Jack London
- Date: 1918 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Adventure, Colonial Literature, Historical Fiction, Drama, Psychological Fiction
- Length: 6,949 words
- Structure: 1 section, 59 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Mauki by Jack London
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Mauki?
- How does this short story by Jack London fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Adventure first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- Challis The Doubter by Louis Becke
- A Son Of The Sun by Jack London
- Maurice Kinane by Louis Becke
- The Planter Of Malata by Joseph Conrad
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Genres
- Adventure — The narrative follows the protagonist's journey through various challenges and escapes, typical of adventure stories.
- Colonial Literature — The story explores themes of colonialism, power dynamics, and the impact of European colonization on indigenous peoples.
- Historical Fiction — Set in the early 20th century, it reflects historical contexts and events related to labor recruitment and colonial exploitation.
- Drama — The plot is driven by intense personal and social conflicts, particularly between the protagonist and his oppressors.
Tags
Adventure · Fiction · Literary Fiction · Classic Novel · Coming-of-Age · Island Setting · Survival Story · Young Hero · Self-Discovery · Identity Crisis · Social Commentary · Colonialism