1. Hawk, the bantam hen, hatched the eggs of a ruffed grouse. Explain how Hawk's affection for her adopted chicks mirrors Paulsen's love for his dogs.

2. Paulsen mentions that he spent most of his life in the woods but realized he knew very little until it was nearly too late. Identify and discuss the events that led to his "awakening."

3. At the conclusion of the Iditarod, Paulsen seemed hesitant to cross the finish line. He even considered turning around and heading back onto the trail. Why?

4. To whom is the book Woodsong dedicated? What is the significance of this dedication?

5. What survival lessons and knowledge of the woods did Paulsen learn from both wild and domestic animals?

6. Many animal characters in Paulsen's book appear to have distinct personalities. Discuss the personalities of Storm, Columbia, Cookie, and Fred. Some critics accuse Paulsen of anthropomorphism (attributing human traits to non-human entities). Do you believe he is guilty of this, or is he simply describing events as they occurred?

7. Identify and discuss the most challenging obstacles Paulsen faced during the Iditarod. Could he have been better prepared for these challenges?

8. In the first part of the book, who is the "Eskimo man" that helps Paulsen when he falls ill during a storm? Is this the same man who reappears during the Iditarod?

9. Paulsen is a skilled writer, yet he occasionally uses sentence fragments and even single words as complete sentences. Why does he do this? Is it effective?

10. Paulsen mentions that he participated in the Iditarod without seriously expecting to win. What motivated him to do that? Do you think he will enter the race again? Why?

11. Discuss the significance of the title. Identify the "songs" that Paulsen refers to in the book.

12. After escaping from Scarface's attack, Paulsen returns with a gun intending to shoot the bear. Discuss his decision not to pull the trigger. Do you agree with his choice?