Dragons and literature In the world there are a lot of mythical creatures that we know about. One creature that stands out from the rest is the dragon. We see these creatures in books, movies and on television. Often times we see people celebrating holidays with dragons in it, for example, the Chinese New Year. When the the new year begins Chinese people around the world start their year off with dragons. Have you ever wondered where the myth of dragons came from? Well scholars say the belief in dragons probably evolved independently in both Europe and China and perhaps in the Americas and Australia. How could this happen? Many people have speculated about which real life animal inspired the first legend. Let’s explore what a dragon known …show more content…
When the dragons first appeared in myths it isn't known for sure what the time period was. However they can be traced back as far as approximately to 4000 B.C. Dragons are said to have been able to live almost anywhere, depending on the type of dragon mentioned. Their habitats range from the center of the earth to the middle of the ocean. They could also be found in caves,volcanoes, or anywhere dark and damp. Stories of dragons appear throughout history so there was never a period assigned to their beginning. One type of dragon was feared back in the time of Christopher Columbus. When the world was thought to be flat, these dragons were said to be at the end of the earth, waiting to eat anyone who sailed that far into the ocean. That story stopped sailers from traveling farther into the ocean. It got so bad that sailors made maps showing where these beast lived. Dragons have been in stories that go back to the ancient gods. In the mythological story of Perseus and Poseidon, in order to save the princes a three headed dragon was killed. In contrast oftentimes often times dragons are seen as amazingly strong and dangerous creatures that everyone loves. They are liked a lot because of their appearance and
(blackdrago.com) “Dragon images have been found on the Ishtar Gate of Babylon, on scrolls from China, in Egyptian hieroglyphs and Ethiopian sketches, on the prows of Viking ships, in bas relief on Aztec temples, on cliffs above the Mississippi River and even on bones carved by Inuits in climates where no reptile could live.” (McNeil) Stories of dragons can be found all through history. Over five thousand years ago, ancient Sumerian cultures had dragon legends in their religions. Modernly, few still believe dragons exist, they can still be found in our movies, books and video
The sandy shore of the dark, mysterious Loch Ness is surrounded by large rolling hills of green. The day is coming to an end, the sun is starting to slip behind the tall trees and in the fading light, and an enormous, slick body ascends from the murky water. A long neck is briefly visible through the mist; it slips back into the depths only seconds after it appeared. There is a major controversy on the identity of the beast lurking in the Loch Ness in Scotland. There are many hypotheses on the topic, all showing some type of research or picture evidence gathered by locals, scientists and tourists. Although a large amount of people believe that the Loch Ness monster is a reptilian plesiosaur or a variety of sea serpent, with scientific evidence it can be proven that the beast is actually a long- necked seal.
The dragon is portrayed as the undefeatable evil. He is nearly invincible, breathes fire, and manages to fatally wound the ultimate hero of the poem. This makes him the ultimate evil Although Beowulf does defeat the dragon, the battle ends in a tie, since both sides perish, which shows the never ending balance between the two extremes: good and evil. The theme of loyalty is also explored here. When the battle between Beowulf and the dragon first begins, “[his] hand-picked troop/ broke ranks and ran for their lives” (1129). This is a common archetype that allows the hero to face the antagonist alone, all while having assistance during the journey leading up to the final battle. The author used this to emphasize the Anglo-Saxon belief of fate. Beowulf was supposed to face the dragon alone, thus his comrades had to disappear. The two ways to do this would have been to have Beowulf go alone, which would conflict with the belief of Warrior Culture, or portray his allies as cowards which would also help reinforce the Anglo Saxon values regarding courage. Thus by adding in the archetype of the cowardly allies, the author creates an emphasis on the important parts of Anglo-Saxon culture without relying on
Dragons lie in the realm of fantasy; legendary creatures who are deeply rooted in magic and have captivated audiences for centuries. The depiction
When I was little, I used to stay up late at night, watching old movies with my father. He worked at night, so on his nights off, he often could not sleep. Our dad-daughter bond was, no doubt, forged by our love of old black and white and even cheesy films. It was on one of those late nights that I first saw a huge snake coiled next to a tree, draped in a glittery sheep’s fur. I am sure that my eyes were big in awe the whole time, for to this day, when I watch or even read mythological stories, I feel the same childhood awe.
Constellations have helped many people for many years. Draco the Dragon is by far the coolest constellation in the sky. The things that make draco the dragon interesting is the facts and myths.
When the dragon awakes after three hundred years of sleep, he discovers that his cup has been stolen. The dragon, also known as the worm, fills with anger and rage. Even though he is so angry, he does like the idea of battle: “Yet he took joy in the thought of war, in the work of fighting” (Donaldson 40). The dragon cannot wait to ravage the land of the people where one man has stolen from him: “The hoard-guard waited restless until evening came; then the barrow-keeper was in rage: he would requite that precious drinking cup with vengeful fire” (Donaldson 40). The dragon destroys the land and kills everyone around. The dragon even destroys Beowulf’s home.
In contrast, Beowulf is seen as a hero, even when exemplifying the violent and dangerous qualities the dragon is feared for. Anglo-Saxon society prized loyalty, personal valor, and fame. In order to be a hero, one must recognize the need to act, and not shy away from it. The dragon, based on that definition, embodies the Anglo-Saxon idea of a hero: it is loyal to its cause, it is a good warrior, and it recognizes the need to act. It even has a sense of justice and a sense of wrong, shown by the way it reacted to the theft of the chalice. The dragon becomes vengeful and defensive, using cruelty as a means to correct the wrong. Described as “the guardian of the mound” (2302), the dragon’s intent is identical to Beowulf’s. Beowulf is seen as a hero not only because of his actions, but because he is human. The only thing that makes the dragon different is its inhuman qualities, and therefore it is a monster, a “ground-burner” (2713). Heroism in Anglo-Saxon society is a concept embodied by warriors and guardians, who would vie to be the most well-known. Heroism, to the Anglo-Saxons, is an excuse to use cruelty as a way to further one’s fame. It is a social crutch of sorts, leaned on for the vain chance to be immortal. When Beowulf agrees to fight the dragon, it is to have a heroic death, so he may be remembered. In the battle, just as with Grendel and Grendel’s mother,
In many European traditions, dragons are viewed as villains because they represent the antithesis of a good king. Good kings share their wealth; dragons hoard it. However the dragon’s actions against society in Beowulf can be justified. After Beowulf becomes the ruler of Geatland and all seems well and peaceful, the dragon enters the story. His appearance is provoked: one day while the dragon quietly guards his ancient hoard, an unnamed Danish slave manages to enter the hidden lair and awaken the dragon’s dormant rage.
The medieval times were filled with many events that have helped to shape our society today such as the rise of the bubonic plague, the birth of feudalism, the growth of the Catholic Church, and among these is the beginning tales of mythical monsters. The stories of mythical monsters were spurred by the imagination of men who saw an unusual creature or something unexplainable. A world renown German physicist by the name of Albert Einstein claimed, “The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.” (brainyquote.com) Mythical creatures were founded by the creativity of very bright individuals who wanted to entertain people by telling elaborate stories that contained a strong antagonist. Mythical creatures also allowed society to have heroes because with every evil monster there must be a savior to slay the hideous beast. Although many different monsters have been mentioned the Dragon, the Kraken, the Basilisk, and the Griffin were among some of the most popular and well known creatures.
However, they are also very alike in that they behave in very similar ways, from guarding something or roaming freely and causing chaos. Generally, the monsters in Greek mythology follow this outline and are depicted in a way that shows these qualities. Throughout several myths, monsters are described as diverse creatures. At first glance, they all seem very distinctive. However, each monster is like a combination of several qualities and characteristics that are matched in different ways to form the monsters that appear in myths such as Hercules, Bellerophon, and Perseus.
but all we know is that St. George rode off to the Dragon’s layer and came back with the princes unharmed and the dragon stabbed with a big peirce in it’s side. St. George became a popular hero, and Saint after his
world we live in. Mythical creatures are created by people’s imaginations, hopes, fears, and most
Unlike western mythology the dragon in Chinese legends is not considered as an evil creature, they do not bring death nor despair. Instead of being associated with hellfire, they are believed to be associated with water, having natural control over water, rain, floods, and hurricanes. A pleased dragons would bring a rainfall for harvest or unlike an angered one could muster up devastating weather. They weren't thought to be demons, but as deities of rain, to bring protection from fire.
Unlike the former two “monsters” in Beowulf, the dragon is not characterized among cold, dark imagery. Rather, Beowulf (representing the “good”) must venture to the “flaming depths” to fight the dragon in its own territory (2549). Instead of a dark, wintry description, the dragon is surrounded by hot, light imagery in respect to the fire it breathes. Although this is the nature of the beast (literally), the Beowulf-poet’s choice of a dragon as the third monster is critical in making a statement about “good” in respect to “evil.” In a way, the speaker is bringing Beowulf and the dragon to an equal level; he even regards the two in battle as “each antagonist” rather than one protagonist and one antagonist (2565). In this manner, the line between “good” and “evil” is obscured even