![]() ![]() If a knight is successful at defeating his foe, he may become The Dragonslayer. ![]() Also contrast the Dragon Rider, who rides and may fight alongside a dragon instead of against it. ![]() Contrast Dragon Knight, when either the knight is themed around dragons or the dragon is the knight. See also Dragons Prefer Princesses, which this trope is often paired with - the setup of a knight facing a dragon to rescue a kidnapped princess is a fairytale classic. "Knight" and "dragon" use fairly specific meanings in this context, knights being the medieval European kind in plate armor and dragons being the Western fire-breathing type. Which side holds an advantage is also prone to varying medieval knights always killed their dragons, but their modern counterparts, no longer favored by cosmic power, find the odds far more in the dragon's favor unless the knight gets clever about things. The extent and nature of this rivalry also changes it may be a sporadic series of conflicts with little overarching structure, an organized feud, or even a form of Fantastic Racism. One variant has the moral sides reversed, with a sympathetic dragon and a villainous knight. It's typically played very straight in traditional fairytales, but is usually played with in modern works. This trope is particularly common in fairytales and fairytale-inspired settings, but also shows up in other fantasy worlds. However, as this motif was extremely widespread in European history, it's still common and well-known despite outliving the cultural context that gave it birth. In modern works, this allegorical angle is largely forgotten and the association of knights with God and dragons with Hell is no longer very common, even when these are still respectively portrayed as good or evil. The image of a knight slaying a hideous dragon was thus a popular metaphor for good's triumph over evil. Knights were instead associated with a marriage of piousness with the warrior ideal, serving as the archetypal champions of Heaven and righteousness on Earth. In European Christianity, serpents and dragons represented satanic powers, a connection ultimately derived from the serpent of Eden, and Satan himself was often depicted as a draconic beast (explictly in the Book of Revelation). This pairing is firmly rooted in medieval stories and symbology. When a village-burning, princess-eating dragon is brought down in a fairytale or fantasy story, it's often slain by a heroic knight when a knight rides out to slay a monster, this monster is often a dragon. The image of the brave Knight in Shining Armor standing against the ferocious, ravening dragon is one that's well-established in Western culture. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |