Hated by his kind and by mankind, indomitable, perpetually warred upon and himself waging perpetual war, his development was rapid and one-sided. This was no soil for kindliness and affection to blossom in. Of such things he had not the faintest glimmering. The code he learned was to obey the strong and to oppress the weak. Grey Beaver was a god, and strong. Therefore White Fang obeyed him. But the dog younger or smaller than himself was weak, a thing to be destroyed.

Question

Which best describes the force that influences White Fang’s code of conduct?

an external force based on other characters
an external force based on the wilderness setting
an internal force based on White Fang’s feelings
an internal force based on White Fang’s instincts

Answer 1

The best description of the force that influences White Fang’s code of conduct is an external force based on other characters. The text illustrates how White Fang learns to obey the strong, like Grey Beaver, and to oppress the weak based on his interactions with other characters and the dynamics of strength and power among them. This shaping of his behavior is largely influenced by the characters around him rather than purely by his own instincts or feelings.