From Ritual to RomanceFrom Ritual to Romance is a 1920 landmark study of anthropology and folklore that examines the roots of the King Arthur-Holy Grail legends. Jessie Weston's revolutionary theory holds that most elements of the Grail story are actually the remnants of incredibly old fertility rites -- with the lance and the cup serving as sexual symbols. Drawing on James George Frazer's seminal works on folklore, magic, and religion, Weston seeks to make connections between the legend's early pagan elements and its later Christian influences, uniting the quest for fertility with the striving for mystical oneness with God. T.S. Elliot cited this work as a major influence for his famous epic poem, "The Waste Land." JESSIE LAIDLAY WESTON (1850-1928) was an independent scholar and folklorist who specialized in mediaeval Arthurian texts. |
Contents
| 1 | |
CHAPTER II | 12 |
The Freeing of the Waters | 25 |
CHAPTER IV | 34 |
Is it possible to establish chain of descent connecting | 52 |
CHAPTER VI | 65 |
CHAPTER VII | 81 |
CHAPTER VIII | 101 |
CHAPTER IX | 113 |
CHAPTER X | 137 |
CHAPTER XI | 149 |
CHAPTER XII | 164 |
CHAPTER XIII | 175 |
CHAPTER XIV | 189 |
| 211 | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Adonis adventure Alfred Nutt appears Aryan Attis belief Bledri Bleheris Borron celebrations ceremonies Chapel chapter character Chrétien Chrétien de Troyes Christian closely connected criticism cult Cumont curious death deity Drama elements evidence existence fact feast feature Fertility Fish Fisher King Folk-lore Grail castle Grail legend Grail romances Grail story Greek healing herbs hero Holy Grail importance Indra initiation J. G. Frazer Korybantes Kouretes Lancelot land later Legend of Sir literary literature maidens Mannhardt Maruts Medieval Mithra Mithraism Morris Dance Mumming Play Mysterium und Mimus Mystery Naassene Nature ritual origin parallel Parzival Pentangle Perceval Perlesvaus Phrygian poem popular possess practice Professor von Schroeder Quest Quester referred remarks represented restoration Rig-Veda rites rôle Saint Salii scholars significance Sir Gawain Sone de Nansai suggestion survival Sword Dance symbols tale Tammuz Tarot theme theory tion Wauchier worship wounded writer youth