"The Fire Ascending" Characters Analysis

List of Characters

Role Identification

In "The Fire Ascending" by Chris d'Lacey, the main protagonists are David Rain, Zanna Martindale, and Lucy Pennykettle. They embark on a journey to uncover the secrets of the mysterious fire tear and the dragons that inhabit their world. The main antagonist is Gwilanna, a sorceress seeking to control the dragons for her own nefarious purposes. Liz Pennykettle, Alexa Martindale, Gadzooks, and G'reth also play significant supporting roles in the story.

Character Descriptions

• David Rain: David is a young college student who possesses the ability to communicate with dragons. He is described as curious, compassionate, and determined. He has a deep connection with dragons and becomes the primary protagonist of the series.
• Zanna Martindale: Zanna is a fellow college student and David's love interest. She is portrayed as intelligent, resourceful, and fiercely loyal. Zanna has a strong bond with her dragon companion, G'reth, and plays a vital role in the quest to protect the dragons.
• Lucy Pennykettle: Lucy is a young girl and the daughter of Liz Pennykettle, a potter who creates clay dragons. Lucy is portrayed as imaginative, brave, and inquisitive. She forms a unique bond with the dragon, Gadzooks, and becomes an integral part of the dragon's destiny.
• Gwilanna: Gwilanna is the main antagonist of the story, a sorceress who seeks to control the dragons and use their powers for her own gain. She is manipulative, cunning, and power-hungry. Gwilanna's actions pose a constant threat to the protagonists and the welfare of the dragons.
• Liz Pennykettle: Liz is Lucy's mother and a skilled potter who creates clay dragons with special properties. She is depicted as creative, caring, and protective of her daughter. Liz's dragons hold a secret power that becomes crucial in the battle against Gwilanna.
• Alexa Martindale: Alexa is Zanna's mother and a renowned scientist. She provides valuable knowledge and guidance to the protagonists in their mission to save the dragons. Alexa is portrayed as intelligent, logical, and determined to uncover the truth about the dragons' existence.
• Gadzooks: Gadzooks is a young dragon who forms a unique bond with Lucy. He is depicted as intelligent, innocent, and vulnerable. Gadzooks possesses a secret power that becomes instrumental in the final battle against Gwilanna.
• G'reth: G'reth is Zanna's dragon companion and a wise, ancient dragon. He serves as a mentor to Zanna, guiding her through their quest to protect the dragons. G'reth is portrayed as wise, patient, and deeply connected to the dragon world.

Character Traits

• David Rain: Curious, compassionate, determined
• Zanna Martindale: Intelligent, resourceful, loyal
• Lucy Pennykettle: Imaginative, brave, inquisitive
• Gwilanna: Manipulative, cunning, power-hungry
• Liz Pennykettle: Creative, caring, protective
• Alexa Martindale: Intelligent, logical, determined
• Gadzooks: Intelligent, innocent, vulnerable
• G'reth: Wise, patient, connected

Character Background

• David Rain: David is a college student who discovered his ability to communicate with dragons when he encountered a mysterious clay dragon named Gadzooks. This led him on a journey to uncover the truth about dragons and their connection to the fire tear.
• Zanna Martindale: Zanna is a college student who joins David in his quest to protect the dragons. She comes from a family with a deep connection to dragons and possesses a strong bond with her dragon companion, G'reth.
• Lucy Pennykettle: Lucy is a young girl who is drawn into the world of dragons through her mother's creation of clay dragons. She forms a unique bond with Gadzooks and becomes an essential part of the dragon's destiny.
• Gwilanna: Gwilanna is a sorceress who seeks to control the dragons and use their powers for her own purposes. Her background is shrouded in mystery, but her desire for power drives her actions throughout the story.
• Liz Pennykettle: Liz is a potter who creates clay dragons with special properties. She has a deep understanding of the dragons' history and plays a crucial role in unraveling their secrets.
• Alexa Martindale: Alexa is a scientist and Zanna's mother. She brings a scientific perspective to the investigation of dragons and provides valuable knowledge to the protagonists.
• Gadzooks: Gadzooks is a young dragon created by Liz Pennykettle. He possesses a secret power that becomes crucial in the battle against Gwilanna.
• G'reth: G'reth is an ancient dragon and Zanna's companion. He serves as a mentor and guide to Zanna, sharing his wisdom and knowledge of the dragon world.

Character Arcs

• David Rain: David starts as a curious college student who discovers his ability to communicate with dragons. Throughout the story, he grows into a confident dragon protector and embraces his role in the battle against Gwilanna.
• Zanna Martindale: Zanna begins as a supportive friend to David but evolves into a strong and determined dragon protector. She becomes more confident in her abilities and forms a deep connection with her dragon companion, G'reth.
• Lucy Pennykettle: Lucy starts as an imaginative young girl fascinated by her mother's clay dragons. As the story progresses, she becomes integral to the dragons' fate and exhibits bravery and determination.
• Gwilanna: Gwilanna remains a manipulative and power-hungry antagonist throughout the story. Her relentless pursuit of control over the dragons drives her actions until the climactic battle against the protagonists.

Relationships

• David and Zanna: David and Zanna develop a deep bond as they embark on their journey together. They support and rely on each other, and their shared love for dragons strengthens their relationship.
• Lucy and Gadzooks: Lucy and Gadzooks share a unique bond as Lucy becomes Gadzooks' "scribe." They rely on each other for emotional support and play crucial roles in each other's character development.
• Liz and Lucy: Liz and Lucy have a close mother-daughter relationship. Liz's knowledge of dragons and her creations play a significant role in Lucy's involvement with the dragons' fate.
• Alexa and Zanna: Alexa serves as a mentor to Zanna, providing scientific knowledge and guidance. Their relationship evolves into a partnership as they work together to uncover the truth about dragons.
• G'reth and Zanna: G'reth acts as a mentor to Zanna, imparting his wisdom and knowledge of the dragon world. They form a strong bond as they journey together to protect the dragons.

In conclusion, "The Fire Ascending" by Chris d'Lacey features a diverse cast of characters, each with their own unique traits, backgrounds, and relationships. The protagonists, David, Zanna, and Lucy, undergo personal growth and face challenges as they strive to protect the dragons from the manipulative antagonist, Gwilanna. The intricate relationships between the characters add depth to the narrative and enhance their individual character arcs.