The first chapter serves the purpose of introducing the setting and characters. The beginning of the novel takes place on Gont and begins with the story of a young boy named Duny. He lives with his aunt who is a witch, and she teaches him his first lessons in magic. He learns how to control the mist and call the animals thereby getting his nickname, Sparrowhawk. Duny expresses his power over the fog when the …showed first 75 words of 556 total…

…showed last 75 words of 556 total…spirit. Sparrowhawk falls and almost is lost, and decides that after he has dealt with the dragon he is leaving the islands, for he is in danger of the shadow. Ged slays the young dragons and soon meets the mother who offers him the name of the shadow so he can have power over it. Ged can control the dragon because he knows its name and makes it promise to stay on its own island.