Children's and Young Adult Literature Commons^™

Redefining Dragon Depicture, Miranda D. Renfro

Augsburg Honors Review

The dragon has been a staple character in myths and stories in all cultures for centuries, and in most cases of Western culture, the dragon is an enemy. However, the typical role of the dragon has recently been undergoing some significant changes, particularly in the area of young adult literature. A trend has arisen in which the dragon no longer carries the connotation of evil or darkness. Instead, the dragon is being written in a number of benevolent roles including mentor and companion to the hero. The characteristics resemble those of Eastern dragons from areas such as China and Japan. …