This document summarizes a popular Polish legend called "The Legend of the Wawel Dragon." The legend takes place in medieval Krakow during the reign of King Krak, the legendary founder of the city. According to the legend, a dragon was terrorizing the local village by killing and eating people. Despite efforts by the king and his knights, no one could defeat the dragon. Eventually, a poor shoemaker named Skuba came up with a plan to trick the dragon using a lamb stuffed with sulfur. After eating the lamb, the dragon became extremely thirsty and drank so much water from the Vistula River that it exploded, saving the village. Skuba married the king's daughter as a reward for his
2. Poland like every other nation has its own traditions, and an integral part of these traditions are countless myths and legends.
3. These stories constitute an important aspect of national heritage. The legends initially oral, then written stories have been handed down from generation to generation.
4. Many of these legends have been around for a thousand years or more. Somelegends, myths and stories recount the meaning behind Poland's national symbol and flag.
5. They tellabout several of its early rulers and aboutthefirst king, and the dragon of Krakow. Many of the legends take place in actual places that one could visit today.
6. Poland like much of Europe has many legends and myths and like legends and folktales the world over none really knows whether these stories may or may not have some truth in them.
13. Characters: King Krak- the legendary founder of Cracow, his daughter Wanda, a poor shoemaker called Skuba, knights, the inhabitants of the settlement
14. The main plot: Once upon a time a cruel beast- a dragon settled in a deep, dark cave under the Wawel Hill.
15. It became a serious disaster for the poor village people, who sacrificed their living belongings to save their lives.
16. But it became more and more dangerous as the dragon started to kill and to wolf pure people down.
17. The inhabitants of the settlement were very scared and they asked their monarch to solve the problem, which wasn’t easy because it involved many human beings.
18. The king himself and his best knights tried several times to exterminate the monster, but there was no result.
19. One day a poor shoemaker called Skuba appeared at the royal court. He promised the king to kill the dragon using not force but a trick.
20. He stuffed a lamb with sulphur and set it outside the dragon's cave. The dragon ate it and soon became incredibly thirsty.
21. He turned to the Vistula River for relief and drank and drank.
22. But no amount of water could quench his aching stomach, and after swelling up from drinking half the Vistula river, he exploded.
23. Skuba married the King's daughter as promised, and they lived happily ever after.
27. WawelDragons (Gold, Silver, Bronze Grand Prix Dragons and Dragon of Dragons Special Prize) are awards, usually presented at Cracow Film Festival in Poland