Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Joining the Trapline Team: Inside the Mind of a Sled Dog”

In this activity, students will research a modern-day sled dog and their musher and compose a narrative in which they envision life from the perspective a sled dog.

Throughout the book, Paulsen refers to his dogs’ human-like qualities: He describes his dog Fonzi “making his bed”; he depicts Cookie gazing in awe at the beauty of a sunrise; he talks of Murphy’s heroism when rescuing another dog that was injured during a race.

In humanizing his dogs, Paulsen emphasizes his deep, intimate connection with them and the natural world around him. In this exercise, explore the themes of Humanizing the Animals and Cross-Species Relationships: The Good and Bad by putting yourself inside the mind of a sled dog.

• Recall through a list of details and examples the ways in which Paulsen humanizes his sled dogs in Winterdance.
• Research modern-day mushers and their sled dog teams. In its 51st year as of 2023, the Iditarod race is featured in many articles and video pieces. These resources often focus on mushers and their sled dogs. Find 2-3 resources that help you better understand the dogs’ needs and desires.
• Select one dog to be the viewpoint character in your piece of writing. Decide which dog you would like to provide with a voice. Select a picture from one of your resources and use it as your entry point into describing a larger scene.
• Emulating the style of Paulsen, write a 1-page narrative from the dog’s perspective, inspired by the information and imagery in your resources as well as Paulsen’s humanization of his dogs in Winterdance. Build the elements of your narrative: What is the dog doing? Thinking? Feeling? Imagine the sights, sounds, and smells that he or she might encounter while on the trail. Include at least one conflict.

Briefly present your project to the class or a small group. Share the picture you chose to work from, and read a brief excerpt from your essay.

Teaching Suggestion: There are numerous resources on Iditarod mushers and their dogs that students can use as inspiration; one site that might be useful is Sled Dog Info, including select resources from the “Meet the Musher” interview series. For more inspiration, students may benefit from the following prompts: How might the dog feel when he looks at his musher? What would the dog be thinking and/or feeling while running? What might the dog be thinking and/or feeling when rested at night, after a long day on the trail? How might the dog look at his fellow teammates?

Differentiation Suggestion: Advanced classes or students who would benefit from an opportunity in literary analysis might research the long, rich tradition of writing from an animal’s perspective. Students can then reflect upon how this activity made them feel as a writer: Did they find it difficult to get inside the mind of a dog? What were some of the roadblocks they faced, if any? For students interested in completing further exploration on fiction written from an animal POV, see Electric Literature’s “8 Grown-Up Novels with Animal Narrators.” 

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Paulsen notes the human-like characteristics in dogs and some wild animals throughout the text.

• How does recognizing these animal-human parallels affect Paulsen in Winterdance? (topic sentence)
• What 3 pivotal moments in which Paulsen acknowledges animals’ human-like qualities impact him most? Analyze and discuss these examples in support of your topic sentence.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, summarize how Humanizing the Animals shows the depth of Paulsen’s relationship with his dogs.

2. Paulsen’s relationship with nature and the environment is complex.

• What is the primary role that nature plays in Paulsen’s life? (topic sentence)
• How does the Alaskan wilderness support Paulsen throughout Winterdance? How does it challenge him? Choose examples to analyze and discuss that support your topic sentence.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, summarize the most effective messages conveyed by the narrative with regard to the role of nature in Paulsen’s life.

3. Paulsen’s wife Ruth is very supportive of Paulsen’s dog-sledding ventures.

• How does Ruth’s personality contrast with Paulsen’s? (topic sentence)
• In what ways do Ruth and Paulsen compare? What situations in the narrative best reveal their contrasting personalities? Select at least 3 examples to discuss.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, consider how Ruth’s personality helps Paulsen navigate the challenge of the Iditarod and pursue his goals.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by textual details, and a conclusion.

1. Paulsen realizes he will likely not win the Iditarod as a rookie or claim any prize. Since winning is unrealistic, what motivates him to persist in pursuing this difficult and often dangerous quest? Does he have more than one reason? In a 3- or 5-paragraph essay, analyze and discuss the primary reason or reasons for Paulsen’s participation in the Iditarod. In your discussion, provide details and examples to support your ideas and connect at least one of the narrative’s themes.

2. In describing the severe Alaskan climate, the challenging terrain, or the various troubles of the race, Paulsen uses repetition, imagery, and sometimes contradictory word choices. How does Paulsen’s use of repetition and other stylistic choices affect his writing? What impact does this style have on the reader? In a 3- or 5 paragraph essay, explore the effectiveness of Paulsen’s writing style in conveying messages on Nature as Challenger and Comforter.

3. By the end of the race, how has Paulsen changed? Recall his attitude and knowledge at the start of the book based on textual evidence, then compare these details to his attitude and knowledge after completing the Iditarod. In a 3- or 5-paragraph essay, explain the ways in which Paulsen’s attitude and beliefs change. Connect the theme of Cross-Species Relationships: The Good and Bad in your discussion. 

Multiple Choice and Long Answer Questions create ideal opportunities for whole-text review, exams, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. What initially inspires Paulsen to run the Iditarod?

A) His wife Ruth encourages him to do something harder than anything he has ever done before.

B) His relationship with his dogs becomes less practical and more intimate, which makes him want to participate in this legendary race.

C) His neighbor, a seasoned musher, challenges him to a friendly competition to see who will get the better time.

D) He reads The Call of the Wild and decides that he must participate in at least one dog sled race before he turns 75.

2. When Paulsen buys his first three dogs, which two demonstrate a serious “personality conflict” as they fight on the way to Paulsen’s home?

A) Devil and Ortho

B) Devil and Murphy

C) Murphy and Cookie

D) Devil and Cookie

3. Paulsen explains how, when he urinates in the woods, the dogs will “cover” it with their own urine. What does this moment reveal about Paulsen’s evolving relationship with the dogs?

A) It shows that the dogs are beginning to treat him as part of the group.

B) It shows that the dogs see him as a threat and must “erase” him by covering his scent.

C) It shows that the dogs want to protect him by disguising his scent to avoid danger.

D) It shows that the dogs are learning submissiveness toward him.

4. Which of the following dogsled parts, if it were to break, would detach the sled from the team of dogs?

A) The rig

B) The tug line

C) The runner

D) The gangline

5. What is the name of the specialized sock that dogsledding dogs wear in order to prevent small cuts and sores on their feet?

A) Moccasins

B) Tumblers

C) Booties

D) Slipsocks

6. Which of the following is the correct order of events?

A) Paulsen’s team is misled a residential area of Anchorage; Paulsen switches out Cookie for Nelson as the lead dog; a fall in Dalzell Gorge knocks Paulsen unconscious

B) Paulsen switches out Cookie for Nelson as the lead dog; a fall in Dalzell Gorge knocks Paulsen unconscious; Paulsen’s team is misled a residential area of Anchorage

C) Paulsen switches out Cookie for Nelson as the lead dog; Paulsen’s team is misled a residential area of Anchorage; a fall in Dalzell Gorge knocks Paulsen unconscious

D) A fall in Dalzell Gorge knocks Paulsen unconscious; Paulsen switches out Cookie for Nelson as the lead dog; Paulsen’s team is misled a residential area of Anchorage

7. What is the primary difference between Paulsen’s attitude at the beginning and ending of the book?

A) He finally his “happy place”; he previously hadn’t known his place in the world.

B) He finally feels a closer bond with his wife Ruth; his experience in the Iditarod endeared him even closer to her.

C) He finally appreciates his physical prowess; maybe he isn’t the strongest man in the world, but his body is incredibly useful.

D) He finally abandons his self-doubt; he relishes his new instinctual knowledge about the wilderness and his team of dogs.

8. What tone does Paulsen frequently deploy in describing dangerous mishaps along the Iditarod?

A) Cold and detached

B) Self-deprecating and humorous

C) Educational and sincere

D) Colloquial and whimsical

9. What is the best definition of a “rig”?

A) A flap that hangs over the back of the sled to minimize tracks left in the snow

B) A homemade wheeled contraption used to train sled dogs when there is no snow

C) One of the two bottom pieces of the sled that comes into contact with the snow

D) A metal rod that the musher and/or driver uses to steer the dogsled

10. In dogsledding terminology, how might a driver command his team to go right?

A) “Gee!”

B) “Haw!”

C) “Right ho!”

D) “Gush!”

11. In terms of the theme Nature as Challenger and Comforter, which of the following best describes how nature is a source of comfort and joy to Paulsen?

A) Paulsen finds nature to be the closest thing to godliness on earth.

B) Paulsen finds the vastness of nature helpful in proving how little his mistakes matter.

C) Paulsen finds the beauty and splendor of nature to be comforting.

D) Paulsen finds the ferocity and brutality of nature comforting in a cathartic way.

12. Paulsen uses a family metaphor to describe his relationship with his dogs, but, according to Paulsen, how does is his relationship toward the dogs different from parenthood?

A) Compared to children, the dogs will be far more expensive to care for as they grow older.

B) Compared to children, the dogs will never be ungrateful for all that he does for them.

C) Compared to children, the dogs rely little on Paulsen.

D) Compared to children, the dogs may be influential in Paulsen’s life-or-death decisions.

13. What might a musher who is running the Iditarod for the first time (or a musher who has never completed the race) be called?

A)  A rookie

B) A doughnut

C) A newbie

D) A wildcard

14. To whose instincts does Paulsen realize his own instinctual knowledge about surviving in the wilderness is comparable?

A) Ruth’s

B) His dogs’

C) His musher mentor’s

D) His father’s

15. What prevents Paulsen from running the Iditarod for a third time?

A) He has a severe foot injury.

B) His wife forbids him from participating again.

C) He learns he has coronary heart disease.

D) He moves to California.

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating textual details to support your response.

1. Early in the narrative, Paulsen recalls a story told to him by an old cowboy about cows and coyotes. What is this anecdote, and how does Paulsen find it inspiring?

2. How does Paulsen show by the end of the narrative that the dogs have become an integral part of his family?