From Ritual to Romance

From Ritual to Romance

Jessie L. Weston

Weston'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 Contents

Preface

• Introductory
• The Task of the Hero
• The Freeing of the Waters
• Tammuz and Adonis
• Medieval and Modern Forms of Nature Ritual
• The Symbols
• The Sword Dance
• The Medicine man
• The Fisher king
• The Secret of the Grail: The Mysteries
• The Secret of the Grail: The Naassene Document
• Mithra and Attis
• The Perilous Chapel
• The Author