Eternal Chalice: The Grail in Literature and Legend

by Monica Brzezinski Potkay Narrated by Monica Brzezinski Potkay

Overview

The goal of this course is to provide an overview of the many different ways writers of fiction and nonfiction have imagined, and reimagined, the object known as the Grail. We'll look at how the Grail was invented as a powerful literary symbol in the late 12th and early 13th centuries by a group of medieval romancers who celebrated the Grail as a symbol of perfection. At times, this perfection was social, and the Grail functioned as a symbol of the perfect knight or of the ideal chivalric society. Most often, however, the Grail's perfection was unmistakably religious, so that it was indeed the Holy Grail, a symbol of God's perfect love, grace, wisdom, and joy. After being ignored for centuries, the Grail was rediscovered in the 19th century by both poets and scholars, who radically reinvented what the Grail stood for. Now, at the beginning of the 21st century, the Grail fascinates many who search for the perfect spiritual wisdom it promises.

Editorial Reviews

AUG/SEP 07 - AudioFile

When a scholar has passion for his or her work, it makes the subject matter come alive. That's the case with Monica Brzezinski Potkay's 14 lectures on the legend of the Holy Grail. Potkay structures each lecture around a single question, then devotes half-an-hour to answering it. She weaves references through the series to keep listeners connected, and, most important, she explains this esoteric topic with an enthusiasm that is touching. Her speaking voice is always rich, and when she discusses aspects of the grail legend that confuse or exasperate her, these emotions color her delivery. G.T.B. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940172658884
Publisher:	Recorded Books, LLC
Publication date:	11/28/2008
Edition description:	Unabridged

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