Tales from the Island of Serendip 4 4

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In Parzival, Wolfram von Eschenbach incorporates the holiness of Robert’s Grail into the framework of Chrétien’s story, but makes the grail a precious stone that falls from the sky.

 

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In Wolfram’s version, the Grail was kept safe at the castle of Munsalvaesche entrusted to Titurel, the first Grail King. The castle has sometimes been identified with the real sanctuary of Montserrat in Catalonia, Spain.

 

 

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In the Welsh cycle of mythic tales, the Mabinogion, there is the romance of Peredur, indirectly founded on Chrétien's poem but combined with elements of Celtic pre-Christian traditions.

 

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The authors of the Vulgate Cycle, a major source of Arthurian legend written in French, used the Grail as a symbol of divine grace.

 

 

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The Cycle is a series of five prose volumes that tell the story of the quest for the Holy Grail and the romance of Lancelot and Guinevere, expanding on tales of the Holy Grail and recounting the quests of the Grail knights.

 

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It was one of the most important sources of Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur.

 

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The story of the Grail and of the quest to find it became increasingly popular in the 19th century, referred to in literature such as Alfred Tennyson's Arthurian cycle the Idylls of the King.

 

 

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Julia Margaret Cameron's friendship with Tennyson led to him asking her to photograph illustrations for his Idylls. These photographs are designed to resemble oil paintings from the same time period, including rich details such as historical costumes and intricate draperies.

 

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Idylls of the King is one of Alfred, Lord Tennyson's most famous works, and has influenced many modern treatments of the Arthurian legends and myths.

 

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I saw the spiritual city and all her spires

And gateways in a glory like one pearl —

No larger, though the goal of all the saints —

Strike from the sea; and from the star there shot

A rose-red sparkle to the city, and there

Dwelt, and I knew it was the Holy Grail,

Which never eyes on earth again shall see.

 

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The Grail later appeared in movies; it debuted in a silent Parsifal.

 

 

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In The Light of Faith (1922), Lon Chaney attempted to steal it.

 

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The Silver Chalice, a novel about the Grail by Thomas B. Costain was made into a 1954 movie.

 

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Robert Bresson made Lancelot du Lac in 1974 .

 

 

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Of course there have been many versions…

 

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…some funnier than others.

 

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EXCALIBUR

 

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"He who draws the sword from the stone, he shall be king."

 

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In his film Excalibur, John Boorman attempted to restore a more traditional heroic representation of an Arthurian tale.

 

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The Grail is revealed as a mystical means to revitalize Arthur and the barren land to which his depressive sickness is connected.