Parzival – Gawain: From The Grail by A. M. Miller: Two Plays
Why has the Parzival legend had such a lasting hold on the human imagination? In part it might be because this medieval epic strikes a peculiarly modern tone. It is one of the first works to portray the inner development of its hero, and thus translates the dominant religious mythos of the West into terms amenable to individual imagination and experience.
As we follow Parzival’s transformation from a “knight of the sword” into a “knight of the word,” we witness spiritual truths translated into the language of life. This version of Parzival is an offering to the human community, based on a belief that the timeless wisdom contained in the Grail legend makes it a true “vessel of grace.”
About the Author
Daniel J. Polikoff is a poet, translator, and independent scholar. He received his PhD in Comparative Literature from Cornell University and his Diploma in Waldorf Education from Rudolf Steiner College. In addition to work in numerous literary journals and anthologies, he has published two collections of poetry (Dragon Ship and The Hands of Stars) as well as Parzival/Gawain: Two Plays, his edited translation of a dramatic version of the Grail legend. Dr. Polikoff has taught literature in Waldorf schools and shared his passion for Rilke in a wide variety of venues, including the Festival of Archetypal Psychology at Notre Dame (where the idea was born for his book In the Image of Orpheus); the San Francisco Jung Society; and seminars in literary circles. He resides with his wife Monika and two children in the San Francisco Bay area.
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