Using the Middle English Compendium, I have started tracking where medieval dragons were spotted. This particular map covers Middle English texts from c. 1100 to c.1540. Click on the icon for more info about a particular sighting.
The Return of the Reader and a peculiar little manuscript
According to many medieval writers, dragons sometimes need to sleep. Apparently, wreaking havoc, breathing fire, and hoarding riches is rather exhausting work. Beowulf’s dragon rests for 300 years before bringing disaster to the Geats, and Merlin discovers two sleeping dragons on the land where a certain king wants to build a tower. People, while much…
Sir Eglamour and the scientific study of dead dragons
If you’re looking for a solid medieval romance where good always triumphs over evil and true love is always rewarded, then Sir Eglamour has you covered. With its dramatic battles and poignant love scenes, it is no wonder that this mid-14th century tale maintained popularity throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and even was…
Teaching Dragons
While we normally begin every other Friday with a look at a particular dragon within the medieval corpus, today I’m going to take a moment to describe how I integrate medieval dragons into my modern classroom. While medieval peoples likely categorized dragons as real albeit wondrous beasts, my students understand them as fantasy creatures that…
Medieval Dragon Sightings 