Primary Theme- the main theme throughout the whole or entire novel, poem, etc.
Secondary Theme-the main theme per chapter.
The primary theme of Dragonwings is the tough times of Moon Shadow and his father, Windrider in San Francisco. It is told from Moon Shadow's point of view which is very interesting. It is also about Windrider's dream of flying and how Moon Shadow tries to help him achieve this no matter what the cost. However, in the end Windrider realizes that his dream is destroying his family. This novel is taken place in 1903- 1910. Written by Laurence Yep.
Chapter 1
Moon Shadow and his mother are living in the Middle Kingdom wondering about Moon Shadow’s father in the Land of the Golden Mountain or San Francisco. He then receives a letter saying that his father wants Moon Shadow over in San Francisco to stay with him.
Chapter 2
Moon Shadow comes over with Hand Clap and meets his father and the rest of the company. Moon Shadow is shown all the demon houses and other daily devices used by the demons. Then he is shown the Tang village and feels at home.
Chapter 3
Moon Shadow is shown all the mechanical devices his father works on and is scared to touch them. There is an awkward silence and Moon Shadow and his father discuss how lousy each other are; as a father and as a son. Moon Shadow’s father explains how he got his name Windrider. It came from the Dragon King who said Windrider used to be a dragon; that’s why he calls himself that.
Chapter 4
Through the year, Moon Shadow learned that the company was more of a giant family, keeping each other safe. Moon Shadow was treated like a man, having every amount of work as the rest. On one day while they were delivering clothes, a car broke down. Windrider willingly helped try and fix it, and succeeded. Later on, Windrider was talking with Moon Shadow and said that he just let his hands do the work. Then Black Dog went missing and was found in the opium dens with a debt to pay.
Chapter 5
With the companies help, they paid Black Dog’s debt. However, when Moon Shadow was off going back to the company with all of Black Dog’s money he had to pay; Black Dog jumped him and took the money. Windrider, wanting revenge on Black Dog; left at night to fight him and teach him to never do it again. However, knowing that Black Dog’s gang wanted to kill Windrider, he and Moon Shadow had to go live in a shed owned by a demoness.
Chapter 6
Moon Shadow and Windrider move to a shed owned by Ms. Whitlaw who is a very kind woman. Each other share their cultures and styles. They also talk about the way their cultures think about dragons.
Chapter 7
Windrider starts working for a demon as his job, fixing things. Moon Shadow does his daily things but sometimes has time of in which he goes to visit Ms. Whitlaw. When Moon Shadow takes out the trash he is afraid of the boys in the ally who make fun of him and abuse him. He is also afraid of the water pump because he is used to wells instead of pumps. One day Moon Shadow thinks about his father’s dream and wants to write to the Wright brothers who started to fly in North Carolina. With some help from Ms. Whitlaw he manages to write the paper and mail it. Luckily the brother’s reply and Windrider starts the flying machine.
Chapter 8
Eventually Windrider finishes the machine but it is in a smaller version. He and Ms. Whitlaw plan a picnic to test the flying machine. They all have fun at the place eating and each trying to fly it. However, the fun had to end eventually so they all headed back home but before they left, Windrider attached a poem to it and let the flying machine float away in the distance. Once they got home they talked about the beautiful stars in the sky. The bad part was that these stories that were told reminded Windrider of his wife.
Chapter 9
Later on in the year, Moon Shadow, Windrider and the rest of the company had a big feast for a holiday in China. Once all of them got back to their houses there was a terrible earthquake. Everyone on the streets houses were destroyed except for Ms. Whitlaw’s in which it was built with great precision. Ms. Whitlaw and Windrider got some people to help clear the rubble that had fallen on people. They were very successful until they were told that they had to leave because there was a huge fire coming their way. However they managed to get away with all their goods to the park.
Chapter 10
They arrived at the park full of tents and settled in a spot with all their belongings. However, Moon Shadow and Windrider had to leave to try and get Uncle out of the company building because of the gigantic fire coming. Once they persuaded him, they all left back for the park. At that point they had a big meal cooked by White Deer and Ms. Whitlaw brought wine that she had saved. This part of the chapter truly shows how much character Ms. Whitlaw has.
Chapter 11
The tang people are eventually made to move from the park. They eventually are able to rebuild the company building, but Windrider and Moon Shadow go to a smelly barn next to a destroyed mansion to live by themselves. At this place they create a full model of Dragonwings and paint it to look like a dragon.
Chapter 12
While Moon Shadow was at the barn he found Black Dog there, rummaging around with Moon Shadow and Windrider's belongings. Moon Shadow asks what the poor guy is doing and Black Dog threatens him for the money. Moon Shadow refuses and is attacked, however Windrider appears and gives away the money. The problem was that, that money was to pay the rent. During those 2 days to get back all the money they fail. They begin to get ready to leave but there was a miracle. The Company had come and payed the rent and was there to help get the flying machine Dragonwings to the top of the hill. With some strength they manage and get Dragonwings into the air and is flying around. When Windrider tries to land he crashes, and is badly hurt. Later one he finally came to a conclusion that his dream was tearing apart the family. In the end Windrider returns to China and Brings back his wife.
Themes of Dragonwings
By: John G.
Theme- subject, topic, or recurrent focus.
Primary Theme- the main theme throughout the whole or entire novel, poem, etc.
Secondary Theme-the main theme per chapter.
The primary theme of Dragonwings is the tough times of Moon Shadow and his father, Windrider in San Francisco. It is told from Moon Shadow's point of view which is very interesting. It is also about Windrider's dream of flying and how Moon Shadow tries to help him achieve this no matter what the cost. However, in the end Windrider realizes that his dream is destroying his family. This novel is taken place in 1903- 1910. Written by Laurence Yep.
Chapter 1
Moon Shadow and his mother are living in the Middle Kingdom wondering about Moon Shadow’s father in the Land of the Golden Mountain or San Francisco. He then receives a letter saying that his father wants Moon Shadow over in San Francisco to stay with him.
Chapter 2
Moon Shadow comes over with Hand Clap and meets his father and the rest of the company. Moon Shadow is shown all the demon houses and other daily devices used by the demons. Then he is shown the Tang village and feels at home.
Chapter 3
Moon Shadow is shown all the mechanical devices his father works on and is scared to touch them. There is an awkward silence and Moon Shadow and his father discuss how lousy each other are; as a father and as a son. Moon Shadow’s father explains how he got his name Windrider. It came from the Dragon King who said Windrider used to be a dragon; that’s why he calls himself that.
Chapter 4
Through the year, Moon Shadow learned that the company was more of a giant family, keeping each other safe. Moon Shadow was treated like a man, having every amount of work as the rest. On one day while they were delivering clothes, a car broke down. Windrider willingly helped try and fix it, and succeeded. Later on, Windrider was talking with Moon Shadow and said that he just let his hands do the work. Then Black Dog went missing and was found in the opium dens with a debt to pay.
Chapter 5
With the companies help, they paid Black Dog’s debt. However, when Moon Shadow was off going back to the company with all of Black Dog’s money he had to pay; Black Dog jumped him and took the money. Windrider, wanting revenge on Black Dog; left at night to fight him and teach him to never do it again. However, knowing that Black Dog’s gang wanted to kill Windrider, he and Moon Shadow had to go live in a shed owned by a demoness.
Chapter 6
Moon Shadow and Windrider move to a shed owned by Ms. Whitlaw who is a very kind woman. Each other share their cultures and styles. They also talk about the way their cultures think about dragons.
Chapter 7
Windrider starts working for a demon as his job, fixing things. Moon Shadow does his daily things but sometimes has time of in which he goes to visit Ms. Whitlaw. When Moon Shadow takes out the trash he is afraid of the boys in the ally who make fun of him and abuse him. He is also afraid of the water pump because he is used to wells instead of pumps. One day Moon Shadow thinks about his father’s dream and wants to write to the Wright brothers who started to fly in North Carolina. With some help from Ms. Whitlaw he manages to write the paper and mail it. Luckily the brother’s reply and Windrider starts the flying machine.
Chapter 8
Eventually Windrider finishes the machine but it is in a smaller version. He and Ms. Whitlaw plan a picnic to test the flying machine. They all have fun at the place eating and each trying to fly it. However, the fun had to end eventually so they all headed back home but before they left, Windrider attached a poem to it and let the flying machine float away in the distance. Once they got home they talked about the beautiful stars in the sky. The bad part was that these stories that were told reminded Windrider of his wife.
Chapter 9
Later on in the year, Moon Shadow, Windrider and the rest of the company had a big feast for a holiday in China. Once all of them got back to their houses there was a terrible earthquake. Everyone on the streets houses were destroyed except for Ms. Whitlaw’s in which it was built with great precision. Ms. Whitlaw and Windrider got some people to help clear the rubble that had fallen on people. They were very successful until they were told that they had to leave because there was a huge fire coming their way. However they managed to get away with all their goods to the park.
Chapter 10
They arrived at the park full of tents and settled in a spot with all their belongings. However, Moon Shadow and Windrider had to leave to try and get Uncle out of the company building because of the gigantic fire coming. Once they persuaded him, they all left back for the park. At that point they had a big meal cooked by White Deer and Ms. Whitlaw brought wine that she had saved. This part of the chapter truly shows how much character Ms. Whitlaw has.
Chapter 11
The tang people are eventually made to move from the park. They eventually are able to rebuild the company building, but Windrider and Moon Shadow go to a smelly barn next to a destroyed mansion to live by themselves. At this place they create a full model of Dragonwings and paint it to look like a dragon.
Chapter 12
While Moon Shadow was at the barn he found Black Dog there, rummaging around with Moon Shadow and Windrider's belongings. Moon Shadow asks what the poor guy is doing and Black Dog threatens him for the money. Moon Shadow refuses and is attacked, however Windrider appears and gives away the money. The problem was that, that money was to pay the rent. During those 2 days to get back all the money they fail. They begin to get ready to leave but there was a miracle. The Company had come and payed the rent and was there to help get the flying machine Dragonwings to the top of the hill. With some strength they manage and get Dragonwings into the air and is flying around. When Windrider tries to land he crashes, and is badly hurt. Later one he finally came to a conclusion that his dream was tearing apart the family. In the end Windrider returns to China and Brings back his wife.
Thank You