Dragon Lore
Josh Dominguez, Arthur Juarez, Jonah Dean
What is a dragon?
Dragons are mythical reptiles from ancient times. They are depicted as large serpents or lizards which commonly have the ability to breathe fire. Many dragons have a spiritual connection to religion and symbolize important aspects of many different cultures around the world.
Where do they come from?
Dragons mainly originate from Europe and Asia. These two cultures thought of dragons in vastly different ways, causing European dragons to be very different from Asian dragons.
Are there different kinds of dragons?
There are many different types of dragons, each with their own characteristics and legends. They are also very different depending on their place of origin. In Asia, dragons are symbolized as intelligent and peaceful, and have a more serpent-like appearance. European dragons, such as Smaug from The Hobbit, resemble an enourmous lizard and symbolize terror.
Dragons in literature
Dragons are only in the fantasy genre. Ancient tales of dragons are typically poems, and are now very common throughout books.
Dragon legends
Many European tales depict a knight slaying a powerful dragon. Some famous legends are Beowulf, Saint George and the Dragon, and the legend of Sigurd.
Famous dragons
One of the most well-known dragons from ancient folklore is Fafnir, which has inspired many modern stories, including Smaug in the Hobbit. Many dragons are simply known as "the dragon" in epic poems such as Beowulf