By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)
The tale of St George and the Dragon, or ‘St George of Merrie England’ as it’s also known in some versions, is a classic English fairy tale. And yet its origins aren’t English, and St George accomplished this feat not in England but in another land (usually either Libya or Egypt). How well do we know the legend of St George and the slaying of the dragon?
Not very well, it turns out. Let’s take a closer look at what the actual legend tells us. Afterwards, we’ll offer an analysis of the story’s meaning and significance, but first let’s recap the plot of the legend.