Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod

At the outset of the book, Paulsen explains that he quit trapping and hunting because he began perceiving animals as more human-like; consequently, trapping and hunting suddenly felt “wrong.” Throughout the narrative, he humanizes the sled dogs with attributes, thoughts, and feelings.

Over time, the Iditarod race has come under scrutiny from animal rights organizations for being cruel and inhumane to dogs. How do you think Paulsen might have responded to these criticisms, knowing how deeply he cares for his dogs and for animal welfare in general? What textual details in Winterdance support your thoughts?

Teaching Suggestion: Classes may benefit from reading DogTime’s “The Iditarod Dog Race & The Bigger Conversation It Leads To” for a neutral overview and discussion of the controversy. It may be important to draw students’ attention to the many ways in which Paulsen was an animal rights advocate himself, seen in Winterdance and in his choices and actions throughout his life; in his 1994 interview with NPR, for example, he mentions how he became a vegetarian because he realized that it was “not correct to kill animals.” Students might meet briefly in pairs or small groups to share their ideas and point out textual evidence supporting their claims; comments and replies from their partner or group may be helpful in refining their approach to a written response.