The Dragon-like Heroes of Serbian and English Epic Poetry

Abstract

Comparative foundation in folklore research should equip us with the necessary tools to disentangle the intricate web of oral pasts of different cultures. This web might be made of the same material, but methods and techniques could vary, and that is the moment in which the comparative scholarship becomes indispensable. This paper aims to show that the dragon-like heroes who exist in Serbian epic poetry under that name, could be a remnant of an older tradition and that we could postulate their existence in other epic poetries, including in particular English epic poetry. The application of the knowledge regarding the interpretations of snakes, dragons and thunder gods in both of these national poetries and their respective folklores, guides the way in which it is discovered that many, if not all, of the interpretations could be applied to the qualities of the dragon-like heroes both in Serbian and English epic poetry. Both Zmaj Ognjeni Vuk and Beowulf can be seen as dragon-like heroes through their virtues of early maturity and enormous strength, through their ability to fight in battle more bravely and more intelligently than other heroes. They are able to beat other dragons due to the qualities which they share with them, they are the champions who are sought in the trying times of numerous kingdoms, and they are the sole protectors of the safety of various mead-halls. The early Christianisation that was carried out on the British Isles probably contributed to the early conversion and negative valorisation of epic heroes of the old, pagan times. Therefore, it takes time to single out the positive elements which are attributed to Beowulf and to put them in the right perspective. However, the epic tradition in the Balkans has had a much greater impact and the negative elements are almost completely diminished. This could be the reason why it might seem rather difficult to put the sign of equation between these two epic heroes. Nevertheless, both of them have the same qualities and exhibit remarkable similarities once they are compared in greater detail: they are both orphaned (historically more or less correctly), they both displayed unusual feats of bravery in their early lives, they are both considered to be of extreme importance to their respective kingdoms as peerless heroes. Yet, at the very first glance it seems almost impossible to say that they are similar. Although many layers have been added over the course of time, the tradition which seems to be shared emerges in both epic poetries in its essential uniqueness, despite different embellishments.