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The Reluctant Dragon
In this beloved classic story, a young boy befriends a poetry-loving dragon living in the Downs above his home. When the town-folk send for St. George to slay the dragon, the boy needs to come up with a clever plan to save his friend and convince the townsfolk to accept him. This story first appeared as a chapter in Grahame's Dream Days and was first published as a separate book by Holiday House in 1938 with illustrations by Ernest H. Shepard.
58 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1898
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About the author
Kenneth Grahame
773 books762 followersKenneth Grahame was a British writer. He is best remembered for the classic of children's literature The Wind in the Willows (1908). Scottish by birth, he spent most of his childhood with his grandmother in England, following the death of his mother and his father's inability to look after the children. After attending St Edward's School in Oxford, his ambition to attend university was thwarted and he joined the Bank of England, where he had a successful career. Before writing The Wind in the Willows, he published three other books: Pagan Papers (1893), The Golden Age (1895), and Dream Days (1898).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 702 reviews
August 11, 2022
“...my wants are few, and at any rate I had peace and quietness and wasn't always being asked to come along and do something. And I've got such an active mind - always occupied, I assure you!”
Kenneth Grahame's : The Reluctant Dragon charming tale of a boy and a kindly, poetry-loving dragon who doesn't want to fight. It's a short book, but it put a smile on my face. Sometimes you can't ask for anything more than that.
Kenneth Grahame's : The Reluctant Dragon charming tale of a boy and a kindly, poetry-loving dragon who doesn't want to fight. It's a short book, but it put a smile on my face. Sometimes you can't ask for anything more than that.
April 1, 2020
Kenneth Grahame, best known for his rollicking The Wind in the Willows, wrote this beautiful short story in 1898, and it’s a classic that simply doesn’t age. In this time of COVID-19, Audible made quite a few of its children’s books available for free, and I took advantage and listened to Anton Lesser’s flawless narration. A silver lining to this dark, dark cloud.
January 6, 2016
A really cute story.
Though, I have to wonder if a modern child is going to get all the humor that the original child audience was able to get. They'll still think it' funny, of course, but some of the humor is more specific to the era that it was written.
For instance, when the dragon says "You must tell him to go away at once, please. Say he can write if he likes, but I can't give him an interview. I'm not seeing anybody at present." the modern kids are going to get that the dragon is just going to refuse to see the knight, but unless they watch or read lots of late 20th century stories, they may not get the full intended image of a wealthy gentleman sending his butler downstairs to tell visitors that the lord of the house is not receiving visitors.
It's a fun story, regardless, but I think it's even more whimsical if you picture the dragon as a slightly disreputable gentleman in his library, just waiting to be invited to the elite's dinner parties.
Though, I have to wonder if a modern child is going to get all the humor that the original child audience was able to get. They'll still think it' funny, of course, but some of the humor is more specific to the era that it was written.
For instance, when the dragon says "You must tell him to go away at once, please. Say he can write if he likes, but I can't give him an interview. I'm not seeing anybody at present." the modern kids are going to get that the dragon is just going to refuse to see the knight, but unless they watch or read lots of late 20th century stories, they may not get the full intended image of a wealthy gentleman sending his butler downstairs to tell visitors that the lord of the house is not receiving visitors.
It's a fun story, regardless, but I think it's even more whimsical if you picture the dragon as a slightly disreputable gentleman in his library, just waiting to be invited to the elite's dinner parties.
January 29, 2019
THIS BOOK IS MARVELOUS. EVERYONE SHOULD READ IT. <3
January 10, 2025
Kids will love it!
October 8, 2022
5/5 stars
When you're reading a big book that is consuming most of your time, you must be in want of short books to squeeze in between to keep yourself motivated. Well, The Reluctant Dragon did the same for me. A book to bring smile to your face. Sometimes you can't ask for anything more.
If you want a great book for children, this is the one for you. It will best be a bedtime story. It tells a charming tale of friendship between a human and an animal. Not to forget, a short read.
This is a tale of a dragon who is sweet, simple, and human friendly. He doesn't want to fight. Yes, he is that good, unlike other folks of his type. Also, he is not afraid of his human mates who are supposed to pose danger to his life. He wants to coexist with them. He likes the place and the people. The question is, will his nature win the confidence of these people who are afraid of him and are planning a way to get rid of him?
Go and read the book and it will bring a positive impact on you and a smile when you close the book. One piece of advice, if you're listening to the audiobook version of The Reluctant Dragon, Anton Lesser is the perfect narrator in my belief. I had such a fun time listening to this book.
Review Posted: 08 October 2022.
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"...my wants are few, and at any rate I had peace and quietness and wasn't always asked to come along and do something. And I've got such an active mind-always occupied, I assure you!"
When you're reading a big book that is consuming most of your time, you must be in want of short books to squeeze in between to keep yourself motivated. Well, The Reluctant Dragon did the same for me. A book to bring smile to your face. Sometimes you can't ask for anything more.
If you want a great book for children, this is the one for you. It will best be a bedtime story. It tells a charming tale of friendship between a human and an animal. Not to forget, a short read.
This is a tale of a dragon who is sweet, simple, and human friendly. He doesn't want to fight. Yes, he is that good, unlike other folks of his type. Also, he is not afraid of his human mates who are supposed to pose danger to his life. He wants to coexist with them. He likes the place and the people. The question is, will his nature win the confidence of these people who are afraid of him and are planning a way to get rid of him?
Go and read the book and it will bring a positive impact on you and a smile when you close the book. One piece of advice, if you're listening to the audiobook version of The Reluctant Dragon, Anton Lesser is the perfect narrator in my belief. I had such a fun time listening to this book.
Review Posted: 08 October 2022.
Visit My Blog to read this and all my other reviews.
May 16, 2021
I've never ever read a book with a "happy bohemian" dragon. 😄
This was an interesting story, and quite unlike typical dragon tales. A shepherd boy who is more interested in reading and yet his parents are perfectly happy with him. A dragon who is more interested in poems than battles. When the two come together, it makes for an unlikely friendship.
There are many themes subtly explored within this short story; struggling for acceptance amid your peers, striving to maintain a reputation though you aren't happy with it, judging people by looks and not willing to let them be who they want to be.
Overall, it's a quick and thought-provoking read with many deeper layers of truth.
***********************
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This was an interesting story, and quite unlike typical dragon tales. A shepherd boy who is more interested in reading and yet his parents are perfectly happy with him. A dragon who is more interested in poems than battles. When the two come together, it makes for an unlikely friendship.
There are many themes subtly explored within this short story; struggling for acceptance amid your peers, striving to maintain a reputation though you aren't happy with it, judging people by looks and not willing to let them be who they want to be.
Overall, it's a quick and thought-provoking read with many deeper layers of truth.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
Follow me on Instagram: RoshReviews
March 8, 2023
The Reluctant Dragon is quite humorous. My first thought was I was reading a Fairy Tale, “Long ago…”
A family of shepherds are raising a boy whose name is not given, he is just referred to as Boy, who was treated by his parents very fondly, quite proud and almost like an equal member of the household. The boy seems to have book knowledge and an inventive mind.
The book is a parody of the legendary St George and the Dragon, where the dragon is a menacing fire breathing dragon that is slain by the village champion.
The Dragon is in retirement mode, peaceable, loves poetry and not willing to put any effort into fighting. The Boy steps in to try and hide the Dragon from the Villagers but that fails and the Boy now has to take other means, as if it is his rightful duty, to save the Dragon from certain death.
The tale goes from one event to the next quite simply and the characters are sympathetic with a bit of tension in the story. Is there a moral? Not really sure but there is imagination, bonding and a bit of deceiving. What a great read as me and my Grandsons pass the book around to read every other page!
It definitely is a Fairy Tale where it ends happily ever after!
A family of shepherds are raising a boy whose name is not given, he is just referred to as Boy, who was treated by his parents very fondly, quite proud and almost like an equal member of the household. The boy seems to have book knowledge and an inventive mind.
The book is a parody of the legendary St George and the Dragon, where the dragon is a menacing fire breathing dragon that is slain by the village champion.
The Dragon is in retirement mode, peaceable, loves poetry and not willing to put any effort into fighting. The Boy steps in to try and hide the Dragon from the Villagers but that fails and the Boy now has to take other means, as if it is his rightful duty, to save the Dragon from certain death.
The tale goes from one event to the next quite simply and the characters are sympathetic with a bit of tension in the story. Is there a moral? Not really sure but there is imagination, bonding and a bit of deceiving. What a great read as me and my Grandsons pass the book around to read every other page!
It definitely is a Fairy Tale where it ends happily ever after!
February 21, 2021
7.0/10
As we all know dragons are mostly famous for one thing and that is…… poetry.
An old man narrates a story to two siblings ( a boy and a girl ), but this one takes a different approach to the whole dragon vs knight tales.
A short and funny tale that will leave you with a smile.
There is a moment when the brother says “I looked up at him and wondered whether I should ever live to smoke a big pipe with that careless sort of majesty!” I have two things to say here
1st. I’m glad times changed on this subject and I hope we stopped portraying smoke as something cool
2nd. Dream a bit bigger my guy, I mean surely there are better things to be when you grow up, although I do like that you have realistic goals in life.
As we all know dragons are mostly famous for one thing and that is…… poetry.
An old man narrates a story to two siblings ( a boy and a girl ), but this one takes a different approach to the whole dragon vs knight tales.
A short and funny tale that will leave you with a smile.
There is a moment when the brother says “I looked up at him and wondered whether I should ever live to smoke a big pipe with that careless sort of majesty!” I have two things to say here
1st. I’m glad times changed on this subject and I hope we stopped portraying smoke as something cool
2nd. Dream a bit bigger my guy, I mean surely there are better things to be when you grow up, although I do like that you have realistic goals in life.
December 14, 2020
ENGLISH: A singular parody of the legend of St. George and the dragon, with no princess, a dragon that refuses to fight, and a boy who acts as middleman.
ESPAÑOL: Singular parodia de la leyenda de San Jorge y el dragón, pero sin princesa, con un dragón que se niega a luchar, y un chico que actúa como intermediario.
ESPAÑOL: Singular parodia de la leyenda de San Jorge y el dragón, pero sin princesa, con un dragón que se niega a luchar, y un chico que actúa como intermediario.
July 7, 2025
Reread. Have loved several different editions/ illustrators.
This time I appreciated the Ernest Shepherd drawings, even though he couldn't decide how plump the dragon was, couldn't make it the size of "four carthorses," and couldn't decide what kind of armor St. George was lounging about in.
I love the vocabulary stretchers. I loved William Steig and *The Phantom Tollbooth* when I was a child for the same reason - if I'd known of this then I would have loved it.
Reread from openlibrary.org because the first part of the adult novella, The Dragon Griaule, reminded me of it. That story is also marvelous, but as it turned out, strictly for adults.
Btw, if you do like this, you might also like another of my favorites, The Book of Dragons by Edith Nesbit, Fiction, Fantasy & Magic, which is a collection of fables and is in the public domain. And doesn't Tolkien have something short & light & somewhat satirical about dragons, too? I'd look it up, but I bet one of you can tell us in the comments.
---
This time I read the one illustrated and abridged by Inga Moore. I think she might have cut a bit too much; it's not quite as enchanting as I recall. But it's more accessible, I think, and the satire a bit more clear. Recommended, for sure, esp. if it's the only edition your library has. Odd, though, that the dragon has no wings....
This time I appreciated the Ernest Shepherd drawings, even though he couldn't decide how plump the dragon was, couldn't make it the size of "four carthorses," and couldn't decide what kind of armor St. George was lounging about in.
I love the vocabulary stretchers. I loved William Steig and *The Phantom Tollbooth* when I was a child for the same reason - if I'd known of this then I would have loved it.
Reread from openlibrary.org because the first part of the adult novella, The Dragon Griaule, reminded me of it. That story is also marvelous, but as it turned out, strictly for adults.
Btw, if you do like this, you might also like another of my favorites, The Book of Dragons by Edith Nesbit, Fiction, Fantasy & Magic, which is a collection of fables and is in the public domain. And doesn't Tolkien have something short & light & somewhat satirical about dragons, too? I'd look it up, but I bet one of you can tell us in the comments.
---
This time I read the one illustrated and abridged by Inga Moore. I think she might have cut a bit too much; it's not quite as enchanting as I recall. But it's more accessible, I think, and the satire a bit more clear. Recommended, for sure, esp. if it's the only edition your library has. Odd, though, that the dragon has no wings....
July 10, 2011
Kenneth Grahame is, of course, much better known for the Wind in the Willows. This book is an almost unknown gem by comparison. Kids and adults love dragons, and this one is drawn with such humour and wit that he is totally adorable. As a child I could never get enough of this book, and my daughter and her children are the same. The language will stretch a younger child but it is refreshing to have a child's book that does not 'dumb down' the writing. The illustrations are a delight and it is a joy to share such a book with a young audience.
February 22, 2020
I love The Wind in the Willows and this has much of the same spirit in a shorter version. Wise, goofy animals with a philosophical bent who, for the most part, just want to be left alone to ponder the world. A cute satire on the chivalric romance and upending expectations about bravery, adventure, and perhaps crucially, violence. And this is cute in the best way; far from twee or cloying.
October 2, 2022
3.75 stars
This is strange to say but I randomized a list of classics to read and “The Reluctant Dragon” by Kenneth Grahame was the winner. I didn’t expect a children’s book to be the classic chosen nor did I expect to be unsure how I felt on this story. I had to read this classic children’s book twice to really gage my enjoyment and thoughts on it. This book is told as a story within a story, which is great for those who are looking for that kind of literary device, but I found it rather weakly done. Honestly, it felt jarring and unnecessary for the story. I also think that I had my expectations too high since I loved “The Wind in the Willows” so much and expected to love this just as much. Once we got into the dragon story I really started to like it. The scenes where the boy, St. George and the dragon were all together were my favorite. The fight scenes were great! Really liked it but not my favorite story of Mr. Grahame’s stories so far.
This is strange to say but I randomized a list of classics to read and “The Reluctant Dragon” by Kenneth Grahame was the winner. I didn’t expect a children’s book to be the classic chosen nor did I expect to be unsure how I felt on this story. I had to read this classic children’s book twice to really gage my enjoyment and thoughts on it. This book is told as a story within a story, which is great for those who are looking for that kind of literary device, but I found it rather weakly done. Honestly, it felt jarring and unnecessary for the story. I also think that I had my expectations too high since I loved “The Wind in the Willows” so much and expected to love this just as much. Once we got into the dragon story I really started to like it. The scenes where the boy, St. George and the dragon were all together were my favorite. The fight scenes were great! Really liked it but not my favorite story of Mr. Grahame’s stories so far.
August 21, 2017
The Ferdinand of the dragon world. Delightful!
December 1, 2025
Rather spiffing, old sport.
March 26, 2020
Here's a pretty fun and unique fairy tale!
Written with a little tongue and cheek, this tale is sure to please. There's a little boy, who's name is "Boy", a reluctant, can't be bothered dragon and a sparkle-on-his-tooth kind of knight that all agree to strike a deal and play a comical charade in order to meet the demands of the silly village people. Enjoy this uncommon lark!
Ages: 9+
Cleanliness: normal fairy-tale magic. "O Lord" is said.
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Written with a little tongue and cheek, this tale is sure to please. There's a little boy, who's name is "Boy", a reluctant, can't be bothered dragon and a sparkle-on-his-tooth kind of knight that all agree to strike a deal and play a comical charade in order to meet the demands of the silly village people. Enjoy this uncommon lark!
Ages: 9+
Cleanliness: normal fairy-tale magic. "O Lord" is said.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! You’ll see my updates as I’m reading and know which books I’m liking and what I’m not finishing and why. You’ll also be able to utilize my library for looking up titles to see whether the book you’re thinking about reading next has any objectionable content or not. From swear words, to romance, to bad attitudes (in children’s books), I cover it all!
May 10, 2020
4.5 stars
I thought this was really cute! I read Wind in the Willows not long ago, which is probably what the author is best known for. But while poking around, I came across this book and intended to read it, but with one thing and another, I didn't end up getting to this. Then I discovered that Audible had it with a different narrator (I have a copy with multiple actors) so I decided to give it a try. It was very enjoyable and I thought the reader was very easy to understand. But I've been listening to many Scottish and English readers lately, so I didn't have any trouble adjusting. I'm wondering if younger kids might. This story reminded me a little bit of Puff the Magic dragon with the friendship between the little boy and the dragon, but there was also a little bit of Ferdinand the Bull in it as the dragon was not at all interested in fighting. I enjoyed this book a lot more than Wind in the Willows and I'm wondering why I never heard of this book until now. Either way, I'm glad I found it.
I thought this was really cute! I read Wind in the Willows not long ago, which is probably what the author is best known for. But while poking around, I came across this book and intended to read it, but with one thing and another, I didn't end up getting to this. Then I discovered that Audible had it with a different narrator (I have a copy with multiple actors) so I decided to give it a try. It was very enjoyable and I thought the reader was very easy to understand. But I've been listening to many Scottish and English readers lately, so I didn't have any trouble adjusting. I'm wondering if younger kids might. This story reminded me a little bit of Puff the Magic dragon with the friendship between the little boy and the dragon, but there was also a little bit of Ferdinand the Bull in it as the dragon was not at all interested in fighting. I enjoyed this book a lot more than Wind in the Willows and I'm wondering why I never heard of this book until now. Either way, I'm glad I found it.
March 25, 2021
This was such a lovely story, wonderfully narrated by Anton Lesser. Free on Audible. A great listen for children and adults alike.
July 3, 2022
Lovely, heartwarming. 😊
November 3, 2025
Cute and fun for what it was.
June 28, 2010
The Reluctant Dragon is a mild-mannered specimen of his breed who, unlike the "active and earnest" fellows who used to charge around battling knights, has survived long enough to develop his passion for poetry. He is befriended by an intelligent young shepherd boy, who is placed in an awkward position when the villagers discover the dragon's presence. Although the dragon has harmed no one, the villagers are so aroused that they call on Saint George to battle this "pestilential scourge." When Saint George arrives the dragon flatly refuses to fight, and the boy is left to find a solution to the impasse.
This is a brilliantly written satirical fantasy, lambasting the traditional knight-and-dragon stories and providing a wonderful protagonist that boys of all ages (and many girls) will want to identify with. The fantastical pleasure of friendship with a dragon is enhanced by encounters with the famous knight, a theatrical battle, and plenty of intelligent wit to amuse both children and adults. The language is advanced, suitable for reading aloud or for confident self-readers. Some of the humor will be above young readers' heads, but there is enough action to make it interesting for younger ages.
The original classic version is charmingly illustrated in pen-and-ink by Ernest Shepard (who also illustrated the Winnie-the-Pooh books), but for younger readers a more colorful version may be more appealing. There is a visually pleasing paraphrase by Inga Moore, which unfortunately preserves almost none of Grahame's marvelous prose. The unabridged edition by Michael Hague has lavish illustrations on almost every page, and it is my favorite version.
This is a brilliantly written satirical fantasy, lambasting the traditional knight-and-dragon stories and providing a wonderful protagonist that boys of all ages (and many girls) will want to identify with. The fantastical pleasure of friendship with a dragon is enhanced by encounters with the famous knight, a theatrical battle, and plenty of intelligent wit to amuse both children and adults. The language is advanced, suitable for reading aloud or for confident self-readers. Some of the humor will be above young readers' heads, but there is enough action to make it interesting for younger ages.
The original classic version is charmingly illustrated in pen-and-ink by Ernest Shepard (who also illustrated the Winnie-the-Pooh books), but for younger readers a more colorful version may be more appealing. There is a visually pleasing paraphrase by Inga Moore, which unfortunately preserves almost none of Grahame's marvelous prose. The unabridged edition by Michael Hague has lavish illustrations on almost every page, and it is my favorite version.
February 9, 2025
February 2025 Review
Adorable. All the politeness, pomp, humor, complaints, and lovable stuffiness that is British culture.
June 2014 Review
Subtle. Simple. Short. No chapters, no needless introductions, no worthless explanations. Lovely.
This is a new layer that adds to the classic story of St. George and the Dragon. I felt like Grahame expected children to already be familiar with the ancient poetry, so one could read this and find all the little subtleties to it. From this book we are to see the legend from the child's perspective, because of course that is important.
I appreciated the nod to the fantastical, the expectations of respectability and showmanship, the honor for authority. Grahame even threw in a few comments about how important verse and language is-- ironic when considering the source material. There's the realistic assumptions for crowds only wanting fights and banquets, and a special like for privacy and methodical thinking. Definitely my kind of book.
In a way I wish it was longer, but with this little gem, I think Grahame did all he wanted to do. Just once. And that's that.
I also enjoy from Grahame: The Wind in the Willows.
Adorable. All the politeness, pomp, humor, complaints, and lovable stuffiness that is British culture.
June 2014 Review
Subtle. Simple. Short. No chapters, no needless introductions, no worthless explanations. Lovely.
This is a new layer that adds to the classic story of St. George and the Dragon. I felt like Grahame expected children to already be familiar with the ancient poetry, so one could read this and find all the little subtleties to it. From this book we are to see the legend from the child's perspective, because of course that is important.
I appreciated the nod to the fantastical, the expectations of respectability and showmanship, the honor for authority. Grahame even threw in a few comments about how important verse and language is-- ironic when considering the source material. There's the realistic assumptions for crowds only wanting fights and banquets, and a special like for privacy and methodical thinking. Definitely my kind of book.
In a way I wish it was longer, but with this little gem, I think Grahame did all he wanted to do. Just once. And that's that.
I also enjoy from Grahame: The Wind in the Willows.
November 10, 2018
Another cute fairy tale!
I enjoyed myself way too much and found myself so attached to the endearing dragon that I was seriously fearing for his life! He was just such a sweetiepie and I mean, a dragon who loves reading and making up poetry? How adorable is that??
The boy was also incredibly entertaining and resourceful and will definitely resonate with a lot of readers who just don't feel like they fit in with anyone, and especially their own families. He was just so spunky and kind of a drama queen.
They find themselves in quite the predicament but nevertheless keep their spirits up throughout!
Overall, a sweet little read for all the book dragons out there.
4 stars ~ This book grants an Outstanding (O) grade in Care of Magical Creatures (N.E.W.T.s) ~
I enjoyed myself way too much and found myself so attached to the endearing dragon that I was seriously fearing for his life! He was just such a sweetiepie and I mean, a dragon who loves reading and making up poetry? How adorable is that??
The boy was also incredibly entertaining and resourceful and will definitely resonate with a lot of readers who just don't feel like they fit in with anyone, and especially their own families. He was just so spunky and kind of a drama queen.
They find themselves in quite the predicament but nevertheless keep their spirits up throughout!
Overall, a sweet little read for all the book dragons out there.
4 stars ~ This book grants an Outstanding (O) grade in Care of Magical Creatures (N.E.W.T.s) ~
February 1, 2014
Of course, I had 'The Wind in the Willows' as a child. I truly wish I'd had this story as well. It's less well known - but I'm not sure why.
This is a truly wonderful story-within-a-story: two children, fancying that the snow tracks they've followed from their yard are those of a dragon, encounter a kindly neighbor, who tells them a story - of course, about a boy who meets a literarily-inclined, and unusually good-tempered dragon.
Whimsical, warm and clever.
This is a truly wonderful story-within-a-story: two children, fancying that the snow tracks they've followed from their yard are those of a dragon, encounter a kindly neighbor, who tells them a story - of course, about a boy who meets a literarily-inclined, and unusually good-tempered dragon.
Whimsical, warm and clever.
March 31, 2011
The Reluctant Dragon is a delight of language and plot. The pacifist and poetical dragon, the wise and well-read boy, and the compassionate St. George come together in a small story that I love to read and hear aloud.
January 6, 2021
Anton Lesser is the perfect narrator for this wonderful classic story! I so enjoyed listening to the book this morning--an especially fun listen!
February 4, 2015
An oldie moldie. But goodie. Ew... we have some really old books in our library. First published in 1898, "The Reluctant Dragon" shows how Kenneth Grahame was influenced by Victorian writers with voice. The humorous and stuffy narration reminds me of Lemony Snicket in his Series of Unfortunate Events, Lois Lowry in "The Willoughbys", and Pseudonymous Bosch in his Bad Books series, poking fun at Victorian narrators. "The Reluctant Dragon" starts out like a fairy tale, "Long ago..." and ends happily ever after. Graham creates a pastoral setting that has parents who are shepherds raising a boy who is given no name in the story. The boy has an idyllic life where the narrator says, "his parents were very fond of him, and rather proud of him too, though they didn't let on in his hearing and ...treated [him] more or less as an equal with his parents." He solves their problems and gets to read for they supplied "...the practical knowledge, and he the book-learning." A familiar trope in children's books is the wish for power. Children have even less power than adults so it is a prevalent theme. The boy gets responsibility and authority over the adults who do not talk down to him. The Victorian age gave rise to children's book and was a time when content shifted from being mostly didactic and condescending to a celebration of the innocent and imaginative child.
This book parodies the legend of St. George and the Dragon where the dragon is vicious and St. George cuts off its head rescuing the villagers. This short story with its high vocabulary is layered with meanings and satire. The shepherd father of the boy runs home to tell his family he spied a dragon in a cave. They boy reacts with no fear and says that he'll go talk to the dragon and sort it out. The dragon is a peaceable fellow who loves poetry and refuses to fight. The boy tries to convince the dragon to flee because he knows that the villagers will want the dragon killed. He tries to hide the dragon and makes friends with it. Their friendship is one of the forces that pushes the action forward.
The boy fears are realized when the villagers discover the dragon and they hail St. George to come and slay the dragon. The villagers dangerous views and their mob mentality is prejudiced toward the dragon just because he is different. The boy seeks an audience with St. George to convince him to give up the quest. The boy heroically stands up for the dragon convincing St. George that killing it is a senseless deed; however, St. George is duty bound to fight the dragon and tells the boy to figure out a solution. The boy comes up with the brilliant idea of staging a mock fight. Both dragon and St. George ask the boy to figure out a solution which he does; thus giving Boy control over everyone's destiny. This empowers the young reader into what it is like to making his or her own decisions and grow toward independence. The three agree on the solution and in the end everyone is happy. The boy wants a fight. The dragon wants to recite sonnets. And St. George doesn't want to kill anyone. The ending provides a typical fairy tale wish fulfillment fantasy where the characters get what they want and are happy with it.
Fairy tales leave out motivation, rounded characters and background explanations. "Long ago..." there was a boy who lived with his parents that were shepherds. That's all that is needed and then the conflict is introduced. The fairy tale traipses from one crazy event to another and I think it is the sheer simplicity and headlong rush into action that makes it so popular with kids. There is usually a moral and it requires use of one's imagination. The boy and the dragon bond through telling each other stories and using their imagination. The boy doesn't have prejudices toward dragons like adults. Here the fairy tale pokes fun at the attitudes of the villagers by revealing their quick judgement of the dragon and is used to question the world around them. It puts the child in control, as well as, subverts the existing St. George and the dragon legend.
This mocking of prejudice and convention is central to the story. The pretend fight shows that appearances are deceiving and that the villagers misguided. St. George doesn't even like to kill dragons; his intentions bound only by duty rather than bloodlust. The adults give the boy responsibility and the dragon is more interested in performance than being violent. At the end he draws all the attention away from the boy and St. George adding to the irony of the situation, creating sympathetic characters, and adding to the plot's tension.
This pastoral work creates a nostalgia for a simple and innocence past. The idyllic setting and happily-ever-after ending establish a utopia that doesn't really exist in the real world. Characters can be presented as pure representations of feelings and somewhat unsophisticated. The boy does not think about the dangers to himself at confronting the dragon when his dad first tells the family about it. He does feel pain that his dragon friend might get killed and through a series of solutions grows as a boy. However, there is no real sense of danger and shows self-preservation above all else. If you are looking for Smaug, then you'll be disappointed with this Shakespearean sonnet-spewing dragon. But if you want some smart satire and humor, then I highly recommend it. As a read aloud you could have some good discussions. And phew! Yes, I ordered a new book to replace the library's 1966 copyrighted one.
This book parodies the legend of St. George and the Dragon where the dragon is vicious and St. George cuts off its head rescuing the villagers. This short story with its high vocabulary is layered with meanings and satire. The shepherd father of the boy runs home to tell his family he spied a dragon in a cave. They boy reacts with no fear and says that he'll go talk to the dragon and sort it out. The dragon is a peaceable fellow who loves poetry and refuses to fight. The boy tries to convince the dragon to flee because he knows that the villagers will want the dragon killed. He tries to hide the dragon and makes friends with it. Their friendship is one of the forces that pushes the action forward.
The boy fears are realized when the villagers discover the dragon and they hail St. George to come and slay the dragon. The villagers dangerous views and their mob mentality is prejudiced toward the dragon just because he is different. The boy seeks an audience with St. George to convince him to give up the quest. The boy heroically stands up for the dragon convincing St. George that killing it is a senseless deed; however, St. George is duty bound to fight the dragon and tells the boy to figure out a solution. The boy comes up with the brilliant idea of staging a mock fight. Both dragon and St. George ask the boy to figure out a solution which he does; thus giving Boy control over everyone's destiny. This empowers the young reader into what it is like to making his or her own decisions and grow toward independence. The three agree on the solution and in the end everyone is happy. The boy wants a fight. The dragon wants to recite sonnets. And St. George doesn't want to kill anyone. The ending provides a typical fairy tale wish fulfillment fantasy where the characters get what they want and are happy with it.
Fairy tales leave out motivation, rounded characters and background explanations. "Long ago..." there was a boy who lived with his parents that were shepherds. That's all that is needed and then the conflict is introduced. The fairy tale traipses from one crazy event to another and I think it is the sheer simplicity and headlong rush into action that makes it so popular with kids. There is usually a moral and it requires use of one's imagination. The boy and the dragon bond through telling each other stories and using their imagination. The boy doesn't have prejudices toward dragons like adults. Here the fairy tale pokes fun at the attitudes of the villagers by revealing their quick judgement of the dragon and is used to question the world around them. It puts the child in control, as well as, subverts the existing St. George and the dragon legend.
This mocking of prejudice and convention is central to the story. The pretend fight shows that appearances are deceiving and that the villagers misguided. St. George doesn't even like to kill dragons; his intentions bound only by duty rather than bloodlust. The adults give the boy responsibility and the dragon is more interested in performance than being violent. At the end he draws all the attention away from the boy and St. George adding to the irony of the situation, creating sympathetic characters, and adding to the plot's tension.
This pastoral work creates a nostalgia for a simple and innocence past. The idyllic setting and happily-ever-after ending establish a utopia that doesn't really exist in the real world. Characters can be presented as pure representations of feelings and somewhat unsophisticated. The boy does not think about the dangers to himself at confronting the dragon when his dad first tells the family about it. He does feel pain that his dragon friend might get killed and through a series of solutions grows as a boy. However, there is no real sense of danger and shows self-preservation above all else. If you are looking for Smaug, then you'll be disappointed with this Shakespearean sonnet-spewing dragon. But if you want some smart satire and humor, then I highly recommend it. As a read aloud you could have some good discussions. And phew! Yes, I ordered a new book to replace the library's 1966 copyrighted one.
May 15, 2021
The Reluctant Dragon by Kenneth Grahame
A children story by a famous children storywriter. But, for me, it was little bit dull, having no attraction in it.
Taking the famous theme of St. George, anyhow, it was a good effort to teach that there must always be a table talk to resolve the issues, wheather we like or don't.
A children story by a famous children storywriter. But, for me, it was little bit dull, having no attraction in it.
Taking the famous theme of St. George, anyhow, it was a good effort to teach that there must always be a table talk to resolve the issues, wheather we like or don't.
June 8, 2023
LOVED IT!!!
Both my grandson and I loved this short story. We listened to it on a short road trip we took together today. The performance was great as were the descriptions of the characters; especially the dragon. I really liked the fact that the dragon was more interested in poetry than fighting battles. Left me with a smile on my face.
Both my grandson and I loved this short story. We listened to it on a short road trip we took together today. The performance was great as were the descriptions of the characters; especially the dragon. I really liked the fact that the dragon was more interested in poetry than fighting battles. Left me with a smile on my face.
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