How to Train Your Dragon

“For a start, he didn’t LOOK like a Hero. Somebody like Snotlout, for instance, was tall, muscley, covered in skeleton, tattoos, and already had the beginnings of a small moustache. […] Hiccup was on the small side and had the kind of face that was almost entirely unmemorable.”

The Vikings of Berk equate size with valor. Far from the norm of his society, Hiccup can only be explained by what he is not. Snotlout, Hiccup’s peer and rival, is a foil to Hiccup in both temperament and physical stature. In describing Hiccup as physically smaller, the novel establishes how the Hairy Hooligan Tribe regards Hiccup, even though he is the tribe’s heir. Cowell thematically introduces The Underdog’s Triumph: “Size Is all Relative” through the significance of Hiccup’s size.

“Being frightened is not the same as being a coward. Maybe he was as brave as anyone else there because he went to catch a dragon despite knowing what dragons are like.”

In alignment with the hero’s journey, Hiccup’s call to adventure is to enter the dragon lair. Fear is a prerequisite for bravery, and most of the Vikings, especially the boys, do not seem to understand the danger they face. Because Hiccup is more literate than his tribe members, he knows more about dragons and has a greater fear of them. However, his increased fear gives him an increased capacity for bravery, which develops the theme of A Hero’s Coming-of-Age Journey.

“He swallowed hard, muttered a prayer to Loki, the patron saint of sneaky exploits, and edged forward cautiously to grab the most unconscious-looking dragon, so he could get out of this nightmare as fast as possible.”

In referencing Loki, the Norse trickster god, Cowell introduces another allusion. Loki engages in trickery and subterfuge, both to help and hinder the other gods. Most warriors would pray to Thor (the god of thunder) or one of the other battle-gods, so invoking Loki further characterizes Hiccup as an outlier. Because Loki frequently disrupts the plans and society of the other gods, calling on his name here sets up Hiccup to do the same.

“Well, at least that wasn’t DEATH, thought Hiccup as Gobber grabbed him by the neck to rescue him, nearly drowning him again in the process—but it certainly wasn’t GLORY either.”

Even though Gobber set up a binary option—success or death—Hiccup found something in between. The fact that he doesn’t achieve glory foreshadows the road ahead of him and his need for self-improvement and personal growth. This scene further establishes that Hiccup will disrupt the Hooligans’ way of life, often presenting them with options and outcomes they don’t fully understand.

“He was also a bit worried because he knew he should not have risked his life trying to get a dragon for Fishlegs. This was not the act of a Viking Hero. A Viking Hero would know not to intervene between Fishlegs and his Fate.”

Although Hiccup’s actions could be recognized as self-sacrificing and heroic, Hiccup’s Viking culture has different values, prizing strength and honor. In Norse mythology, fate is regarded as the highest power, and Hiccup’s intervention in Fishlegs’s destiny is a betrayal of the tribe’s values. Through the allusion to fate, Cowell subverts the traditional depiction of a “Viking Hero” and foreshadows that Hiccup will achieve heroism in an unconventional way.

“Hiccup and Fishlegs found the book tucked away in the fireplace, practically in the fire.”

A key motif is reading and writing. Medieval books cost a fortune—sometimes literally, and libraries would often chain them to the desks to prevent theft, in the way modern libraries do with computers. Candles were not permitted in libraries, and some scholars had to swear an oath they would bring no matches or other fire-starting devices into the building. In showing the book neglected and so close to open flame, the narrative emphasizes the extreme disregard the Hairy Hooligans have for books and reading.

“You will have to imagine that the cover is unusually thick, with huge golden clasps, and that some scribe has covered it in elaborately fancy gilt lettering.”

Anachronism is the incorporation of objects, events, or customs in a period to which they do not belong. Cowell’s physical description of a Medieval book is quite accurate; the more expensive books were built strongly and often decorated with gold foil. However, books were not introduced in Scandinavia until the 12th century, following the traditional Viking age. Cowell integrates anachronisms to create a realistic fantastical world. Additionally, the motif of reading and writing supports the theme of Breaking Tradition: Ingenuity in Leadership and further characterizes Hiccup as unique.

“‘Anyway,’ said Old Wrinkly, ‘it might be just what this Tribe needs, a change in leadership style. Because the thing is, times are changing. We can’t get away with being bigger and more violent than everybody else anymore. IMAGINATION. That’s what they need and what you’ve got. A Hero of the Future is going to have to be clever and cunning, not just a big lump with overdeveloped muscles. He’s going to have to stop everyone quarreling among themselves and get them to face the enemy together.’”

Old Wrinkly fulfills the role of a mentor. As a soothsayer, Old Wrinkly’s wisdom foreshadows events to come. This passage thematically develops Breaking Tradition: Ingenuity in Leadership and outlines the rest of the book. Stoick’s leadership falls under scrutiny at the celebration, and he begins to recognize the need for change. When the fearsome Green Death shows up, size and violence fail the Hooligans. This turn of events demands that the clever, imaginative Hiccup face the dragon through his own means.

“Show the beast who is Master by the sheer charismatic force of your personality—that sort of thing. I have about as much charisma as a stranded jellyfish and yelling is just another thing I am useless at.”

Hiccup outlines his primary conflict: following Viking social customs yields no results for him. Hiccup’s deviance from tradition causes the other boys to label him “Useless” and forces him to find an alternative method of dragon training. Hiccup’s ability to implement new strategies underscores the theme of Breaking Tradition: Ingenuity in Leadership.

“’A dragon is a working animal,’ said Stoick the Vast. ‘Too much hugging and kissing will make him lose his vicious streak.”

Chief Stoick the Vast’s name is derived from “stoic,” meaning one who endures hardship without expressing emotions. The chief’s ideals—and by extension, Viking values—reflect the philosophical principles of Stoicism and foreshadow his decision to exile Hiccup and the Novices on Thor’sday Thursday. Stoick believes that Hiccup will become stronger if he represses emotions like compassion. By expressing this value when Hiccup trains Toothless, Stoick characterizes himself as an unyielding leader.

“He took out the notebook in which he had been jotting down all he knew about dragons in the hope that it might be useful.”

Paper was rare in the Middle Ages, and parchment was expensive and difficult to make. The fact that Hiccup has a notebook is another literacy-related anachronism. The act of note taking characterizes Hiccup as an intellectual, in contrast to his tribe. Additionally, the traits of researching new methods of training and taking diligent notes depict Hiccup as patient and curious, someone with a good mind who can initiate progress. Hiccup’s inclination toward learning develops the theme of Breaking Tradition: Ingenuity in Leadership.

“But as soon as he reached the sea, Toothless seemed to grow up a bit. The sea-salt awoke in him some ancestral memory of the great pedigree hunting monsters that were his forefathers.”

Dragons and their masters share a bond, which the narrative illustrates through shared personality traits between dragons and their trainers. This depiction of Toothless foreshadows Toothless’s bravery and reveals something about Hiccup. Always at odds with the Viking way of life, Hiccup doesn’t have a strong connection with his forefathers, and this minor success in dragon training allows him to connect with that tradition.

“Fishlegs noticed something sharp and gleaming in the dragon’s lower jaw. ‘Toothless has gotten his first tooth!’ said Fishlegs.”

A key symbol is teeth. Fishlegs’s observation provides two relevant details about Toothless. On a literal level, this gives information about the dragon’s missing teeth and suggests that he is capable of growing them. On a symbolic level, the emergence of a tooth shows that while Toothless hasn’t yet grown into something useful, he does have the capacity to do so. The theme of The Underdog’s Triumph: “Size Is All Relative” comes to the fore through Toothless’s evolution.

“What kind of father thinks his stupid Laws are more important than his own son? And what kind of stupid tribe is this anyway, that it can’t just have ordinary people in it?”

In an uncharacteristic moment of anger and boldness, Hiccup casts doubt on his tribe and the Viking way of life. He challenges a culture that views the world in binary options to consider that laws themselves can be flawed. Hiccup posits that change can be beneficial, which thematically underscores Breaking Tradition: Ingenuity in Leadership. Although Hiccup’s declaration doesn’t have an immediate effect, it does cow Stoick enough to spend the night reconsidering his own worldview.

“The first Dragon was enough to give you nightmares. The second Dragon was enough to give your nightmares nightmares.”

While the Green Death serves as the primary antagonist in the novel, the introduction of a second fearsome dragon suggests that bigger threats always exist. Although Hiccup vanquishes the Sea Dragon, visions of the eight-foot tooth embedded in the shield haunt him. As a symbol of power, the tooth reminds Hiccup that the Vikings will always face dangers of one kind or another.

“Stoick had not slept at all. He had lain awake worrying. What kind of father did put his precious Laws before the life of his son? But then what kind of son would fail the precious Laws that his father had looked up to and believed in all his life?”

Many leaders in fiction think and reason in a lawful way. That is, they look to rules, laws, and codes to determine the difference between right and wrong and to make decisions. Stoick is no exception to this, but he hasn’t shown any sign of worry or fear to this point. However, Hiccup’s words at the celebration challenged him to think past the limitations of lawful decisions. He eventually comes to a decision that contradicts the law, showing his own personal growth as a character who can think for himself rather than depend on an external set of rules.

“Although this is the part of the story that the bards tend to focus on as the bit where Hiccup was particularly Heroic, I do not agree. It is a lot easier to be brave when you know you have no alternative. Hiccup knew in his heart of hearts that the Monster intended to kill them all anyway. So he didn’t have a lot to lose.”

Although written in the third person, Cowell wants the readers to understand that Hiccup is telling this story. Refusing to adopt the mantle of hero comes off as a strange addendum to the description of bravery earlier in the book; Hiccup fears the dragon but doesn’t believe he has a choice. Although he could hide, add himself to the ranks of Vikings and fight, or try to quietly escape the island, Hiccup sees no alternative other than confronting the monster. Hiccup’s courage to face this great ordeal develops the theme of A Hero’s Coming-of-Age Journey.

“Hiccup nearly passed out as his offensive Dragon breath poured out in a disgusting, yellow-green vapor. It was the stench of DEATH itself—a deep, head-spinning stench of decaying matter; of rotting haddock heads and sweating whale; of long-dead shark and despairing souls.”

Cowell uses sensory details to provide a fearful, repulsive description of the monster’s breath. Although “rotting haddock heads” can refer to fish, Haddock is also Hiccup’s surname. In the hero’s journey, the protagonist must confront death. Although the hero usually emerges alive (or reborn), the threat of death must be real to them. In incorporating olfactory imagery, the narrative conveys the depth of Hiccup’s trying experience.

“The thing is, we are all, in a sense, supper. Walking, talking, breathing suppers, that’s what we are. Take you, for instance. YOU are about to be eaten by ME, so that makes you supper. That’s obvious. But even a murdererous [sic] carnivore like myself will be a supper for worms one day. We’re all snatching precious moments from the peaceful jaws of time.”

Cowell thematically develops The Underdog’s Triumph: “Size Is All Relative” through the Green Death’s contrasting worldview. Unlike the Vikings, the great Sea Dragon knows that his size doesn’t grant him ultimate power. Instead, life is a series of moments taken from time, and this philosophy explains the dragon’s offer to delay eating Hiccup.

“This is what comes of not following the Law, he thought to himself. If I had banished the boys last night like I should have done, they would not be here to die with the rest of us. I should have put my trust in Thor.”

Stoick appears to slide backward on his character growth, deciding that straying from the law brought about an inevitable negative outcome. However, this moment shows Stoick’s acceptance of his failure to protect his son, not his failure to uphold tradition. Through this epiphany, the chief is able to ignore the law and welcome the boys back into the tribe.

“YOUR dragon got us failed just as much as HIS. I didn’t notice anybody’s dragon sitting up and begging like a good boy in the middle of that dragon-fight.”

Thuggory is heir to the Meathead Tribe, which parallels Hiccup’s position within the Hairy Hooligans Tribe. Thuggory has much in common with the protagonist despite his traditional Viking physic and behavior. Here, he accepts responsibility for failure as a group effort, much as Hiccup took responsibility for the dragon cave raid. By splitting the responsibility equally among the Meatheads and the Hooligans, Thuggory plays a small part in encouraging cooperation, which supports Hiccup’s efforts.

“They reminded Hiccup of a picture on one of his father’s shields: of two dragons forming a perfect circle as they ate one another, each with a tail in its mouth.”

Hiccup describes a variation of a real symbol, the ouroboros. Usually depicted as a single serpent (a snake or a dragon) swallowing its own tail, the ouroboros symbolizes the cycle of death and rebirth, or the concept of eternity. The Green Death has a moment of death before coming back to life, and the description foreshadows Hiccup’s own death and rebirth when swallowed by the dragon. The symbol also signifies the idea of eternally being threatened by some danger or another. Furthermore, the Norse myths on which Cowell’s Viking culture is based describes the World Serpent, Jormungandr, as a snake, dragon, or sea monster so large that he circles the earth and can bite his own tail.

“The talon of the Green Death had pierced the very heart of the supposedly heartless little dragon.”

In trying to save Hiccup, Toothless literally and figuratively proves that he has a heart. Like Hiccup, Toothless experiences his own death and rebirth, allowing him claim to a hero’s journey. Toothless’s bravery earns him a “Hero’s Funeral,” the first Viking burial bestowed upon a dragon, bringing the theme of The Underdog’s Triumph: “Size Is All Relative” to a close.