Jessie L. Weston

Reproduction of the original: The Legend of Sir Lancelot du Lac by Jessie L. Weston

From Ritual to Romance By Jessie L. Weston

From Ritual to RomanceJessie L. WestonWeston's book is an academic examination of the roots of the King Arthur legends and seeks to make connections between the early pagan elements and the later Christian influences. The book's main focus is on the Holy Grail tradition and its influence, particularly the Wasteland motif. The origins of Weston's book are in James George Frazer's seminal work on folklore, magic and religion, The Golden Bough (1890), and in the works of Jane Ellen Harrison. In the introductory Chapter the reader will find the aim and object of these studies set forth at length. In view of the importance and complexity of the problems involved it seemed better to incorporate such a statement in the book itself, rather than relegate it to a Preface which all might not trouble to read. Yet I feel that such a general statement does not adequately express my full debt of obligation. Among the many whose labour has been laid under contribution in the following pages there are certain scholars whose published work, or personal advice, has been specially illuminating, and to whom specific acknowledgment is therefore due. Like many others I owe to Sir J. G. Frazer the initial inspiration which set me, as I may truly say, on the road to the Grail Castle. Without the guidance of The Golden Bough I should probably, as the late M. Gaston Paris happily expressed it, still be wandering in the forest of Broceliande Table of ContentsPrefaceIntroductoryThe Task of the HeroThe Freeing of the WatersTammuz and AdonisMedieval and Modern Forms of Nature RitualThe SymbolsThe Sword DanceThe Medicine manThe Fisher kingThe Secret of the Grail: The MysteriesThe Secret of the Grail: The Naassene DocumentMithra and AttisThe Perilous ChapelThe Author

THE stories contained in the present volume of Arthurian Romances are drawn from the same collection of tales as that from which the first visit of Gawain to the Grail castle, in the preceding volume of the series, is derived. Indeed, the stories follow in close sequence, and a glance at the introductory lines of the Grail visit will show that that adventure is placed immediately after the successful termination of the expedition against Chastel Orguellous, which forms the subject of this volume.

From Ritual to Romance was written in 1920 by Jessie L. Weston. The book was made famous by being mentioned by T. S. Eliot in the notes to his poem, The Waste Land. He says, "Not only the title, but the plan and a good deal of the incidental symbolism of the poem were suggested by Miss Jessie L. Weston's book". The book centres on an examination of the roots of the King Arthur legends and seeks to make connections between the early pagan elements and the later Christian influences. In particular, the book looks at the Holy Grail tradition and its influence.