The Fifty First Dragon

By Heywood Broun

Vocabulary Words & Definitions

Joust• Verb• To fight with lances on horseback

Expulsion• Noun• Forcing out someone from a

group

Dexterity• Noun• Skillfulness with hands or feet;

cleverness

Timorously • Adverb • Timidly; shyly

Restive• Adjective• Nervous; restless

Ethics• Noun• Rules of a moral conduct or

behavior

Indiscriminate• Adjective• Unrestrained in choice;

haphazard (unplanned/careless)

Judicial• Adjective• Showing careful consideration of

all sides of a problem before making a decision

Ferocity• Noun• Fierceness; aggressive behavior

Brandish• Verb• To wave or display in a

threatening way

Impetuous• Adjective• Acting suddenly, without much

thought; rash

Malice• Noun• A desire to be purposely hurtful

to others

Preliminary • Adjective• Happening before; leading up to

the main action

Discourse• Noun• A long speech, discussion, or

writing about a topic

Testy• Adjective• Touchy; easily angered or

bothered

Solicitude• Noun• Concern; inquiring about

Literal• Adjective• Real; exact

Meager• Adjective• A small amount; scant; scarce

supply

Author Notes•Heywood Broun • Born 1888-1939•Harvard Graduate•New Yorker

Author Notes

Sports reporter, World War I correspondent, literary criticBelieved journalism can point out social wrongs

The Fifty-First Dragon• Spontaneous humor balanced with fable-like message

about self confidence

• Humor stems from:• Anachronism: a thing or person that belongs in an

earlier time• Sarcasm: a sneering or cutting remark• Fantasy: wondrous, strange, imaginative images• Cynicism: a scornfully negative remark• Understatement: makes the situation seem less

important than it is

Anachronism• Events existing out of their proper time in

history

Examples: • A horse drawn carriage on an interstate

highway• A jet airplane in a cowboy movie• Abe Lincoln using a microwave or cell

phone• A sword is an anachronism for modern

warfare.