Attending St. Michael’s Elementary School, I remember we would sit around the statue of St. Michael at the end of every day, waiting for our mothers as they plowed through the carpool line. At some point, we had all been told the story of St. Michael—of how he conquered this dragon, representing Satan, throwing him out of the heavenly realm. In this particular instance, the image of the dragon seen as evil, a threat, something to be destroyed. But the symbol of the dragon holds and endless number of interpretations.

What is most interesting about the dragon symbol is that it can be found in various countries across large spans of time, subject to a many different analysis. According to Wikipedia, “In many Eastern and Native American cultures dragons were, and in some cultures still are, revered as representative of the primal forces of nature and the universe. They are associated with wisdom—often said to be wiser than humans—and longevity.” Additionally, dragons are associated with “opposing forces of the cosmos” (Wikipedia)—creation, destruction, light, darkness, fire, water, benevolence, malevolence—the list of paradoxes is endless.

There are also endless interpretations behind the symbols found on Oxford’s campus and UT’s campus. Even today, the significance behind Oxford’s gargoyles is still questioned. As Blackword says, “what have a pair of levers in eternal embrace or a weather-beaten harvester to do with the pursuit of academic excellence?” (660). These figures could symbolize anything from the passage of time to a warning against sins or a praise for good deeds. Every image is subject to interpretation.

Why do we still question these images and have such a “fascination with the past”? (619). The study of these historical symbols is something beyond a study—it is a search for self. While the first thought I have about dragons is a religious story, Emily thinks of Shrek and Chetna thinks of her lucky dragon. We all have different perceptions. The Discovery Learning Project says “knowledge can be constructed by you rather than received from a higher authority.” (343D) So even as we analyze mythological creatures and symbols, we are constantly creating our own worldview and discovering things we didn’t know about ourselves. We can use history, symbols from the past, and discussion with each other to continue this discovery and search for truth.