Purdue ENGL 217

Wyvern Text

Post-Norman Invasion heraldry (after 1066)

Wyvern Meaning

Two-legged, winged dragon symbol

Wyvern Connection

Represents military power and nobility

Wyvern Importance

Shows dragons' shift from mythic beasts to national emblems

St. George Text

The Golden Legend, The Faerie Queene (Spenser, 1590)

St. George Meaning 

Christian saint and dragon slayer

St. George Connection

Slays dragon as symbol of sin and evil

St. George Importance

Establishes the dragon as a Christian moral allegory and English national symbol

Political prophecy Text

Geoffrey of Monmouth, History of the Kings of Britain (c. 1136)

Political prophecy Meaning

Use of prophecy to symbolize political events

Political prophecy Connection

Red and white dragons represent Britons vs. Saxons

Political prophecy Importance

Turns dragon myth into political commentary and national symbolism

Geoffrey of Monmouth Text

History of the Kings of Britain

Geoffrey of Monmouth Meaning

12th-century historian blending myth and history

Geoffrey of Monmouth Connection

Introduces red and white prophetic dragons through Merlin

Geoffrey of Monmouth Importance

Establishes dragons as symbols of fate and nation in Arthurian legend

Mary queen of Scots Text

Historical figure; propaganda from Book of Revelation imagery

Mary queen of Scots Meaning

Catholic queen framed as apocalyptic threat

Mary queen of Scots Connection

Compared to the dragon/Beast symbolizing sin and corruption

Mary queen of Scots Importance

Shows political use of dragon imagery in religious conflict

Hoard Text

Beowulf

Hoard Meaning

Dragon's treasure; symbol of greed and decay

Hoard Connection

Dragon guards hoard and destroys those who disturb it

Hoard Importance

Reflects moral corruption and futility of material wealth

Meadhall Text

Beowulf (Heorot)

Meadhall Meaning

Center of community, loyalty, and celebration

Meadhall Connection

Dragon's destruction of the hall marks the fall of order

Meadhall Importance

Symbolizes fragility of civilization and heroic culture

Wyrd Text

Beowulf and Old English poetry

Wyrd Meaning

Fate or destiny controlling human life

Wyrd Connection

Dragon enacts Beowulf's destined death

Wyrd Importance

Shows fatalism and inevitability in heroic encounters

Peaceweaving Text

Beowulf (Hildeburh, Wealhtheow)

Peaceweaving Meaning

Marriages used to unite rival tribes

Peaceweaving Connection

Dragon's destruction symbolizes the failure of human peace

Peaceweaving Importance

Highlights futility of diplomacy in a world ruled by fate and vengeance

Fafnir Text

Norse mythology

Fafnir Meaning

Dwarf transformed into dragon by greed

Fafnir Connection

Guards a cursed treasure hoard

Fafnir Importance

Illustrates moral corruption and shared Germanic dragon tradition

Vortigern Text

Geoffrey of Monmouth, History of the Kings of Britain

Vortigern Meaning

King attempting to build a collapsing fortress

Vortigern Connection

Red and white dragons beneath his tower foretell national conflict

Vortigern Importance

Links dragons with prophecy, fate, and Britain's destiny

Revelation Text

The Bible

Revelation Meaning

Apocalyptic vision of good vs. evil

Revelation Connection

Great red dragon symbolizes Satan and chaos

Revelation Importance

Defines Western dragon imagery as a moral and spiritual symbol

Redcrosse Knight Text

Text/Author: Spenser, The Faerie Queene (1590)

Redcrosse Knight Meaning

Knight of Holiness who battles a dragon

Redcrosse Knight Connection

Dragon represents sin and temptation

Redcrosse Knight Importance

Recasts St. George's dragon fight as Protestant moral allegory

Norman Invasion Text

Historical event (1066)

Norman Invasion Meaning

Norman conquest reshaping English culture

Norman Invasion Connection

Brought dragon and wyvern imagery into heraldry

Norman Invasion Importance

Marks dragons' evolution from mythic to political symbols

Swedes / Geats / Danes Text

Beowulf

Swedes / Geats / Danes Meaning

Interrelated warrior tribes of early Scandinavia

Swedes / Geats / Danes Connection

Dragon's attack ends Geatish kingdom

Swedes / Geats / Danes Importance

Symbolizes the death of heroic societies and passing of eras

Gnomic saying Text

Text/Author: Old English poetry

Gnomic saying Meaning

Short moral or wisdom statement

Gnomic saying Connection

Frames dragon tales as moral lessons about fate and greed

Gnomic saying Importance

Embeds dragon lore in Anglo-Saxon philosophy of fate

Edmund Spencer Text

The Faerie Queene (1590)

Edmund Spencer Meaning

English Renaissance poet celebrating virtue

Edmund Spencer Connection

Redcrosse Knight's dragon fight mirrors St. George

Edmund Spencer Importance

Turns dragon myth into allegory of Protestant faith and national virtue

Human / Non-Human Beings Text

Beowulf, The Faerie Queene, Norse myths

Human / Non-Human Beings Meaning

Exploration of the boundary between humanity and monstrosity

Human / Non-Human Beings Connection

Dragons mirror human greed, pride, and mortality

Human / Non-Human Beings Importance

Shows dragons as reflections of the human condition

Liminal space Text

Common theme in medieval and mythic literature

Liminal space Meaning

Threshold or in-between state (life/death, mortal/divine)

Liminal space Connection

Dragon lairs and battlefields are liminal zones

Liminal space Importance

Emphasizes transformation and confrontation with the unknown

Lamia Text

Greek myth; later in Keats' Lamia (1819)

Lamia Meaning

Serpentine female monster linked to desire and death

Lamia Connection

Shares serpentine traits and moral symbolism with dragons

Lamia Importance

Blends beauty and monstrosity, exploring temptation and humanity

Loki Text

Norse mythology

Loki Meaning

Trickster god causing chaos and transformation

Loki Connection

Father of Jörmungandr, the world serpent

Loki Importance

Connects dragons to themes of deception, fate, and cosmic destruction

Quadruped vs. Sexuped Text

Medieval art and taxonomy

Quadruped vs. Sexuped Meaning

Distinction between four-legged and six-limbed dragons

Quadruped vs. Sexuped Connection

Defines dragon types in myth and art

Quadruped vs. Sexuped Importance

Reflects evolving efforts to classify and understand the monstrous

Merlin Text

Geoffrey of Monmouth, History of the Kings of Britain

Merlin Meaning

Prophet and magician linking human and divine realms

Merlin Connection

Interprets red and white dragons as political omens

Merlin Importance

Bridges prophecy, power, and dragon symbolism in Arthurian myth