My Father's Dragon

The knapsack that Elmer secretly borrows from his father for his trip reflects Elmer’s ingenuity. Elmer always has the knapsack with him and is always prepared. The pack holds everything he needs to succeed. Elmer quickly pulls out the exact item necessary to overcome each obstacle he encounters. Elmer’s pack and its contents reflect both Elmer’s practicality and inventiveness. He uses the knapsack for simple utility, to store his supplies, but the pack also holds elements that go beyond basic gear. Frivolous and childlike things like lollipops and chewing gum prove instrumental for Elmer in achieving his goal. These surprising elements, and some commonplace ones that he uses unexpectedly, like the toothbrush and toothpaste, reveal Elmer’s creative problem-solving skills.

The narrator uses numbers to add believability to their story. They frequently detail the exact number of many different things, such as the six days and nights Elmer spends aboard the ship, the six monkeys and six magnifying glasses, the seven grueling hours it takes Elmer to cross Ocean rocks, the seven tigers, seven different colored hair ribbons, seventeen crocodiles, and the twenty-five peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (and six apples) Elmer packs for his trip. The narrator describes how many tangerines Elmer picks, eats, and saves for later.

The narrator’s firsthand knowledge of these exact numeric details shows readers how familiar the narrator is with their father’s story and attests to its veracity. Numbering also establishes intimacy so that a reader can connect with Elmer and feel, taste, and see what Elmer is experiencing.