One type of story element is plot . What is plot ?

A plot is the order or the sequence of the story. I don't mean "beginning, middle, end" no. What I basically mean is the Exposition is the beginning, Rising Action is when a problem is starting, Conflict is the problem, Falling Action is when the problem is solved, and Resolution is the end.

Explanation:

Plot is a literary term used to describe the events that make up a story or the main part of a story. These events relate to each other in a pattern or a sequence. The structure of a novel depends on the organization of events in the plot of the story.

i believe it is the first choice (1.)

because the major theme is(“both the wild and civilization have rules.”)

and also as u said,( based on what buck learns within the call of the wild, "both the wild and civilization have rules".this is true of humans within society as well.