Published in 1936, the book is divided into three parts. The first is about traditions wherein the author FitzRoy Somerset, 4th Baron Raglan discusses the differences and the validity of written accounts. There are accounts written at the time by persons present at the events they describe; accounts by eyewitnesses but not written down yet; archaeological evidences; accounts obtained from actors or spectators shortly after the event; and accounts obtained by questioning people what happened at the time before or those obtained at second or third hand.
He then proceeds to cite examples in legends and myths such as Robin Hood, the Norse Sagas, King Arthur, Hengist and Horsa, Cuchulainn, and the Tale of Troy.
The second part discusses what myths are about. According to Lord Raglan, most myths "are about gods, heroes, goddesses and heroines because they are accounts of the royal ritual... [r]itual religions aim to secure the well-being of the community by the due performance of ritual actions." Moreover, "each of these religions had certain rituals of central importance, and in each the central figure was the king, in whose person the fortune of the state was incarnate."
In this chapter, Lord Raglan enumerates the qualities common among heroes in myths and legends. The following is a list of the qualities he has observed from among the heroes:
1. The hero's mother is a royal virgin.
2. His father is a king; and
3. often a near relative of his mother; but
4. the circumstances of his conception are unusual, and
5. he is also reputed to be the son of a god.
6. At birth, an attempt is made, usually by his father or his maternal grandfather, to kill him, but
7. he is spirited away, and
8. reared by foster parents in a far country.
9. We are told nothing of his childhood; but
10. on reaching manhood, he returns or goes to his future kingdom.
11. After a victory over the king and/or a giant, dragon, or wild beast,
12. he marries a princess, often the daughter of his predecessor, and
13. becomes king.
14. For a time he reigns uneventfully, and
15. prescribes laws, but
16. later he loses favor with the gods and/or his subjects, and
17. is driven from the throne and city, after which
18. he meets with a mysterious death
19. often at the top of a hill.
20. His children, if any, do not succeed him.
21. His body is not buried, but nevertheless
22. he has one or more holy sepulchres.
Lord Raglan then cites examples of heroes and tallies how many qualities above are present in each hero. Oedipus has all 22 qualities, followed by Theseus and Moses with 20, while Dionysus and Arthur both got 19.
The last part is a short discussion on dramatic performances.
The author has a tendency to rant and go off-topic. Nevertheless, his observation of the heroes he has cited in the book might be helpful for people studying mythology and folklore. I do not recommend this however to people who have not read hero tales. Lord Raglan does not provide a summary of the tales of the heroes he used as examples.
Rating: 8 out of 10
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