![]() ( c) In two cases it is definitely stated that the King will be restored to youthful vigour and beauty. ( b) and whose infirmity, for some mysterious and unexplained reason, reacts disastrously upon his kingdom, either depriving it of vegetation, or exposing it to the ravages of war. (13-14) ( a) There is a general consensus of evidence to the effect that the main object of the Quest is the restoration to health and vigour of a King suffering from infirmity caused by wounds, sickness, or old age Regarded first as the direct cause of the wasting of the land, it gradually assumes overwhelming importance, the task of the Quester becomes that of healing the King. See Jessie Laidlay Weston, From Ritual to Romance (1920: Cambridge: University Press, 1957 PN 686 G7 W45 Robarts Library): The distinctive feature of the Perceval version is the insistence upon the sickness, and disability of the ruler of the land, the Fisher King. In the Fisher King legend, however, there is no human sacrifice: the King stands for the land, in his barrenness, and his healing accordingly comes to symbolize the land's healing. Usually the King was killed, his flowing blood being taken as the power that rejuvenates the land. The legend exists in many versions, pagan and Christian, and originated in pagan fertility rites celebrating the movement of Nature from barren winter to fertile lifeful spring and often involving human sacrifice to bring about this natural rebirth. Įliot's title refers to the ancient legend of the Fisher King, the ruler of the Waste Land, so-called in the Perceval versions of the Grail legend because it was doomed to barrenness until the King, who was wounded in the sexual organs, was healed by a knight of great purity. Works will immediately recognise in the poemĬertain references to vegetation ceremonies. Used especially the two volumes Atthis Adonis One which has influenced our generation pro. ![]() Work of anthropology I am indebted in general, Mend it (apart from the great interest of theīook itself) to any who think such elucidation of the Indeed, soĭeeply am I indebted, Miss Weston's book willĮlucidate the difficulties of the poem muchīetter than my notes can do and I recom. Of the poem were suggested by Miss Jesse L. Valerie Eliot (London: Faber and Faber, 1971 PR 6009. Eliot, The Waste Land: A Facsimile and Transcript of the Original Drafts Including the Annotations of Ezra Pound, ed. The indispensable work on the poem's composition is T. Eliot's notes to The Waste Land are bold-faced and retain their original lineation.
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