From Ritual to Romance
- Pages
- about 232
- Category
- History
- Language
- English
- Reading time
- 4.3 h at 250 wpm
From the opening
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!
During the Bayreuth Festival of 1911 I had frequent opportunities of
meeting, and discussion with, Professor von Schroeder. I owe to him not
only the introduction to his own work, which I found most helpful, but
references which have been of the greatest assistance; e.g. my
knowledge of Cumont’s Les Religions Orientales, and Scheftelowitz’s
valuable study on Fish Symbolism, both of which have furnished
important links in the chain of evidence, is due to Professor von
Schroeder.
The perusal of Miss J. E. Harrison’s Themis opened my eyes to the
extended importance of these Vegetation rites. In view of the evidence
there adduced I asked myself whether beliefs which had found expression
not only in social institution, and popular custom, but, as set forth
in Sir G. Murray’s study on Greek Dramatic Origins, attached to the
work, also in Drama and Literature, might not reasonably—even
inevitably—be expected to have left their mark on Romance?
A short sample. Read the whole book
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