... , Alfred the Great, led Anglo-Saxons against the invading Danes that England became in a true sense a nation. Danes were fierce Viking peoples who crossed the cold North Sea in their dragon-powered boats in the 8th and 9th centuries. They were destroying everything in their paths and eventually took over and settled in parts of northeast and central England. 4. Even King ... , the Norse god of thunder and lightning, sign was the hammer and possibly the twisted cross called the swastika, found on many anglo. gravestones. 3. The dragon is another significant figure, the protector of a trea...

• Word Count: 1742
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... Knight with the Lion is the last story we read in Arthurian romances. It again tells the story of loyalty and adventure. Yvian saves the lion from the fire breathing dragon and the lion remains loyal to him for the rest of the story because of it. Yvian is a kind, generous knight, as most of them are, who encounters many events ... during his journey such as the fire breathing dragon, the knight at the spring, the demons, and the giant of the mountain. Gawain, the nephew of King Arthur, is his faithful companion for most of the journey. Laudine ends ... of the three in Arthurian Romanc...

• Word Count: 1323
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... and that is one reason they are considered heroes in medieval literature. Another quality that Beowulf, Sir Gawain, and Sir Lucan share is bravery. Before Beowulf's final battle with the dragon he is aware that he is no longer the same fierce, young warrior that he once been, but he remains brave and determined to slay the beast. In Beowulf's final ... boast he said, "I've known fear, as a youth I fought in endless battles. I am old now, but I will fight again, seek fame still, if the dragon hiding in his tower dares to face me". Even though Sir Gawain's character shows qualities of wea...

• Word Count: 1346
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School