Saint George and the Dragon (book) facts for kids
Saint George and the Dragon
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| Author | Margaret Hodges |
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| Illustrator | Trina Schart Hyman |
| Country | United States |
| Genre | Children's picture book |
| Publisher | Little, Brown |
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Publication date
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August 23, 1984 |
| Pages | 32 |
| ISBN | 978-0-316-36789-9 |
| OCLC | 10046624 |
| 398.2 19 | |
| LC Class | PZ8.1.H69 Sai 1984 |
Saint George and the Dragon is a famous children's book written by Margaret Hodges and beautifully illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman. It was published by Little, Brown and won the important Caldecott Medal in 1985 for its amazing pictures. The story in the book is based on a very old and long poem called The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser.
Contents
About the Book
Saint George and the Dragon is a children's picture book. It is a small book, about 9 by 10 inches, and has 32 pages. The book tells a classic tale of bravery and adventure.
The Story of George and the Dragon
The story begins with a brave knight who has never fought in a battle. He is sent by the Queen of Faeries to fight a scary dragon. This dragon has been causing trouble in their land. The knight travels with Una, who is the princess of the land.
On his journey, the knight meets an old hermit on a hill. The hermit tells him about his family history. He also tells the knight his true name: George.
George soon finds the dragon. The dragon is so huge it looks like a hill lying down. When the dragon sees George's sword, it gets ready to fight. The dragon knocks George down two times, but each time George gets up even stronger.
After a very tough third fight, George finally wins. He defeats the dragon! The king had promised Una's hand in marriage to whoever could slay the dragon. So, the king keeps his word, and George and Una get married.
Even though the land is now safe, George continues to fight other battles for the Queen of Faeries. Through these brave acts, George becomes known as Saint George.
Main Characters
- George: He is the brave knight hired by the Queen of Faeries. His job is to defeat the dangerous dragon.
- Queen of Faeries: She is the one who sends George on his important mission to fight the dragon.
- Una: She is the princess of the land. Una travels with George on his quest.
- Hermit: This wise old man meets George on a hill. He tells George his true name.
- Dragon: This huge monster causes many problems for the people. George eventually defeats it.
- King: He is Una's father. The king promises his daughter to the hero who slays the dragon.
- Queen: She is Una's mother.
- Donkey: Una rides this animal alongside George.
- Dwarf: This character is in charge of carrying the food for the journey.
Important Meanings in the Story
The story of Saint George and the Dragon has many deeper meanings. The dragon in the story can represent evil or difficult challenges. George, the knight, shows how courage and strength can overcome these challenges.
In the story, George helps a town of people who were giving gifts to the dragon. After he defeats the dragon, the people change their ways. George's armor has a Red Cross on it. This symbol is often used to show goodness and protection. The story teaches us about standing up against what is wrong and bringing hope to others.
