Dogs are not the only animals that feature prominently in The Art of Racing in the Rain: Zebras and crows also play important symbolic roles in the book.

Consider the moments when zebras and crows appear. What do these animals represent? How do their symbolic meanings develop throughout the novel? How do these zebras and crows contribute to the book’s overarching themes?

Teaching Suggestion: Zebras and crows are both motifs in The Art of Racing in the Rain. In Chapter 11, the demonic zebra that Enzo hallucinates when he is trapped and malnourished represents chaos. Later in the novel, zebras are more generally a metaphor for personal demons that everyone struggles with. Crows first appear when Eve’s condition starts to worsen; they generally symbolize fear of the unknown and facets of life (like illness) that are beyond human control. Enzo regards crows as his nemesis; they feature prominently in his nightmares.

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.

The Art of Perspective: Writing From an Animal’s Point of View

In this activity, students will write a personal essay with an animal narrator, written to emulate the perspective, style, and themes in The Art of Racing in the Rain