From Ritual to Romance (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781596053236)

From Ritual to Romance is a landmark study of anthropology and folklore that examines the roots of the King Arthur-Holy Grail legends. Jessie L. 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.

Author: Jessie Laidlay Weston
ISBN-10: 1596053232
ISBN-13: 9781596053236
Publisher: Cosimo Classics
Language: English
Published: 11/01/2005
Pages: 240
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.58lbs
Size: 8.00h x 5.00w x 0.55d