The Dragon

This study guide will help you analyze the short story “The Dragon” by Cynthia Forder. You can also find a summary of the text, as well as inspiration for interpreting it and putting it into perspective.

Extract

Here, you can read an extract from our study guide:

Fantasy vs. reality

The theme of fantasy vs. reality is highlighted by Kay’s perspective of the world. First, she sees fantasy imagery instead of the oil refineries. She also believes that Bob is in love with her and it is not until the boy confronts her that her fantasy is shuttered. In reality, Bob only spent so much time with her because his mother asked him to.

The title of the short story is also important for this theme. Since the dragon is a well-known fantasy element, the reader expects the text to be from the fantasy genre. Instead, Kay and Bob’s story is based in reality and the fantastic aspects are only present in the girl’s imagination...