How to Train Your Dragon

Led by Snotlout, the others mock Hiccup and his dragon. They notice the dragon has absolutely no teeth and start calling it “Toothless.” Fishlegs retorts that Snotlout has no right to the Monstrous Nightmare that he selected. By right, the fearsome beast belongs to Hiccup. The two boys argue, which ends in Fishlegs suggesting that Hiccup challenge Snotlout for the right. As the future chief, Hiccup reluctantly accepts, and the boys decide to settle it with a fistfight after Thor’sday Thursday.

Back at the village, Hiccup and Fishlegs go to the Great Hall to look for the book Gobber recommended, How to Train Your Dragon by Professor Yobbish. However, when they find the book, forgotten and almost falling into the fire, it only has one chapter that states simply: “Yell at it” (27).

The next day, Hiccup talks with his grandfather, Old Wrinkly, who had foretold that Hiccup would find a dragon that would set him apart from the tribe. When Hiccup complains that it’ll only stand out because it’s smaller than everyone else’s, Old Wrinkly explains to him that “size is all relative” (29). The dragons in Berk are insignificant next to a real Sea Dragon.