# The Folk — Before Adam character guide

> The Folk in Before Adam by Jack London.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** the Folk, Folk

**First appearance:** 0002-i

## Who they are

A generic term for the narrator's own tribe or people.

## Relationships

### [Red-Eye](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/before_adam_se/characters/red_eye)

_rivalry_

Red-Eye frequently clashes with The Folk, acting as a predator or oppressor against the group.

### [The Fire People](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/before_adam_se/characters/the_fire_people)

_rivalry_

The Fire People are a more advanced group that often dominates or threatens The Folk.

### [The Swift One](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/before_adam_se/characters/the_swift_one)

_friendship_

The Swift One is a member of The Folk and shares a bond of survival and mutual protection with the group.

### [Old Saber-Tooth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/before_adam_se/characters/old_saber_tooth)

_rivalry_

Old Saber-Tooth is a predatory threat to The Folk, representing the constant danger of wild animals.

### [Lop-Ear](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/before_adam_se/characters/lop_ear)

_friendship_

Lop-Ear is part of The Folk and maintains a cooperative, if sometimes subordinate, relationship with the group.

## In the story

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/before_adam_se/chapters/i)

Referenced as 'the gibbering councils of the horde' in the narrator's dream world.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/before_adam_se/chapters/iv)

The narrator's people, described as having a limited vocabulary of thirty to forty sounds and living in trees or caves.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/before_adam_se/chapters/v)

The horde living in the caves; they flee from the narrator out of fear and later cautiously re-emerge.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/before_adam_se/chapters/vi)

The horde that lives in fear of the northeast and uses cunning and group action to defend against predators.

### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/before_adam_se/chapters/ix)

The horde is terrorized by Red-Eye, unable to act collectively; they flee after Red-Eye kills a child.

### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/before_adam_se/chapters/xiii)

Referenced as the narrator's people; the horde's territory is revisited at the end of the chapter.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/before_adam_se/characters/the_folk
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/before_adam_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/before_adam_se/characters