Elmer and the Dragon

The dragon is the second main character in the story. Sometimes referred to as “the baby dragon,” the young creature is originally from the fictional region of Blueland, where he lived with his dragon family in the mountains. The author describes the dragon’s unique and colorful appearance. He has “blue and yellow stripes,” a “red horn and eyes,” and “gold-colored wings” (10).

Even though the dragon has been held captive on Wild Island, he is still a trusting, positive animal. He is portrayed as a gentle creature who wants to make friends and live harmoniously with others. For instance, after Elmer rescues him, he immediately offers him a favor in return, wanting to reciprocate Elmer’s kindness. Later, when he meets the canaries on Feather Island, the dragon is friendly and explains that he does not eat birds, and so they do not have to be afraid of him. As a baby dragon he is somewhat vulnerable and inexperienced. For example, after the storm he is weak and needs a lot of time and rest to recover. He worries about being recaptured and put in a zoo or circus and so avoids other humans when he reaches Popsicornia.

Being a dragon, he is still much stronger than Elmer and has the ability to fly, which helps him and Elmer get away from the vicious animals of Wild Island, and travel over the ocean to Popsicornia. He is also the only one strong enough to pull up the treasure chest from the ground, helping the other animals. Over the course of the story the dragon has several opportunities to test his courage and strength, but for the most part his character and personality do not change.

Flute is a secondary character in the story. A small canary, Flute was Elmer’s old pet back in Popsicornia, but after he let her out of her cage, she flew to Feather Island to live with a community of other escaped pet canaries.

Flute has a strong relationship with all the island’s birds and travels the island, spreading messages to them. For example, when she learns that their dragon visitor is friendly, she immediately spreads the news. She tells Elmer and the dragon, “‘I almost didn’t talk to you because the rest of the canaries were afraid. I’ll just tell them everything’s all right,’ and Flute trilled loudly in every direction” (40). Flute’s relationship with the Queen and King Can XI helps to move the story forward, as she introduces Elmer to the royals and explains how Elmer wants to help them. She excitedly spreads the news of King Can XI’s secret all around the island, continuing her role as messenger bird: “Flute went all over the island spreading the news and waiting for sundown” (50).

Flute is portrayed as a well-meaning but somewhat quirky bird. She anxiously believes that she and her friends are “infected” with curiosity and is eager to rid the whole island of this terrible “plague.” She tells Elmer, “I know it sounds silly, but the whole island is sick with curiosity, and old King Can is actually dying of it” (41). When Elmer and the friends are preparing to learn King Can XI’s secret, Flute can barely take the suspense, revealing her nervous and high-strung personality: “I just can’t stand it! I can’t stand it! […] Oh, I’ll be so glad to be rid of the curiosity plague” (50). By the end of the story, Flute’s curiosity has been cured, making her much calmer, and she accepts Elmer’s gift of chewing gum and rubber bands before saying goodbye to her old friend.

King Can XI is a secondary character in the story. He is the royal canary bird who reigns over the canary community on Feather Island. King Can XI is the descendant of the first canaries on the island, who were the pets of the first human settlers, and has inherited his position as King. In spite of living on the beautiful island, King Can XI cannot enjoy it, as he is “sick” with curiosity about his family secret. This sickness makes him weak and antisocial. For instance, when Elmer and Flute first arrive to talk to him, the Queen canary turns them away, explaining that the King might not receive visitors: “The King isn’t feeling well, you know” (46).

King Can XI is presented as a grumpy and suspicious King who possessively guards his family secret. In spite of being burdened by his mysterious secret, he feels attached to keeping it, since it has been part of his family’s lives for generations. He angrily tells Elmer, “‘Why, this has been a family secret ever since my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather was a young canary. No, I couldn’t possibly tell you!’ snorted King Can XI” (48). His eventual agreement shows his desperation to cure himself of his curiosity and gives Elmer and the dragon a new chapter in their adventure.

By the end of the story, King Can XI is a much calmer and friendlier bird. The author reveals his sensitive side, describing how he listened to Elmer play the harmonica “with tears in his eyes” (66) before thanking them for their help. By offering Elmer and the dragon part of the treasure, King Can XI shows his humility and gratitude for their help, marking the change in his character.

Mrs. Elevator is Elmer’s mother and a minor character in the story. She is depicted as a middle-aged woman who lives in Nevergreen City in Popsicornia. Mrs. Elevator is introduced at the end of the story when Elmer returns home from his adventure.

Mrs. Elevator’s enthusiastic welcome to her son adds to her characterization as a loving mom to Elmer. She greets Elmer affectionately, telling him, “Oh Elmer, how glad we are to see you! You don’t know how worried we’ve been these past two weeks!” (83). By explaining that she has grown to like Elmer’s friend the Alley Cat, Mrs. Elevator shows her open-mindedness and her affectionate nature.

In the illustrations, Mrs. Elevator is shown wearing a long, old-fashioned dress with her hair in a neat bun. In one picture she opens her arms to Elmer for a hug, and in the next image she stands in her formal living room, smiling with Elmer’s father. Mrs. Elevator’s warm reaction to Elmer’s homecoming adds to the story’s happy ending.

Mr. Elevator is Elmer’s father and a minor character in the story. He is portrayed as a middle-aged man who lives in Nevergreen City in Popsicornia. At the end of the story Mr. Elevator is home to greet Elmer when he finally returns from his adventure.

Mr. Elevator is shown in the pictures wearing a suit and bow-tie while happily welcoming Elmer and receiving his birthday present of three bags of gold coins. Mr. Elevator’s joyful reaction to seeing his son adds to the novel’s happy ending.