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The term chapel perilous first appeared in
Sir Thomas Malory Sir Thomas Malory was an English writer, the author of ''Le Morte d'Arthur'', the classic English-language chronicle of the Arthurian legend, compiled and in most cases translated from French sources. The most popular version of ''Le Morte d'Ar ...
's ''
Le Morte d'Arthur ' (originally written as '; inaccurate Middle French for "The Death of Arthur") is a 15th-century Middle English prose reworking by Sir Thomas Malory of tales about the legendary King Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, Merlin and the Knights of the Rou ...
'' (1485) as the setting for an adventure in which sorceress Hellawes unsuccessfully attempts to seduce
Sir Lancelot Lancelot du Lac (French for Lancelot of the Lake), also written as Launcelot and other variants (such as early German ''Lanzelet'', early French ''Lanselos'', early Welsh ''Lanslod Lak'', Italian ''Lancillotto'', Spanish ''Lanzarote del Lago' ...
. T. S. Eliot used it symbolically in ''
The Waste Land ''The Waste Land'' is a poem by T. S. Eliot, widely regarded as one of the most important poems of the 20th century and a central work of modernist poetry. Published in 1922, the 434-line poem first appeared in the United Kingdom in the Octob ...
'' (1922).
Dorothy Hewett Dorothy Coade Hewett (21 May 1923 – 25 August 2002) was an Australian playwright, poet and author, and a romantic feminist icon. In writing and in her life, Hewett was an experimenter. As her circumstances and beliefs changed, she progressed ...
took ''The Chapel Perilous'' as the title for her autobiographical play, in which she uses "the framework of the Arthurian legend, Sir Lancelot, to create a theatrical quest of romantic and epic proportions."


Other uses


As used in literature

The term as used in literature is explicated in detail by Jessie L. Weston in her 1920 book ''
From Ritual to Romance ''From Ritual to Romance'' is a 1920 book written by Jessie Weston. Weston's book is an examination of the roots of the King Arthur legends. It seeks to make connections between the early pagan elements and the later Christian influences. Th ...
''. It is defined by Thomas C. Foster as "the dangerous enclosure that is known in the study of traditional quest romances." He cites the plot of the 1966 book '' Crying of Lot 49'' as an example. This term is also used by Eleanore M. Jewett in her 1946 book ''The Hidden Treasure of Glaston''.


As used in psychology

"Chapel perilous" is also a term referring to a psychological state in which an individual is uncertain whether some course of events was affected by a supernatural force, or was a product of their own imagination. It was used by writer and philosopher
Robert Anton Wilson Robert Anton Wilson (born Robert Edward Wilson; January 18, 1932 – January 11, 2007) was an American author, futurist, psychologist, and self-described agnostic mystic. Recognized within Discordianism as an Episkopos, pope and saint, Wilson ...
in his 1977 book ''
Cosmic Trigger ''Cosmic Trigger I: The Final Secret of The Illuminati'' is the first book in the ''Cosmic Trigger'' series, first published in 1977 and the first of a three-volume autobiographical and philosophical work by Robert Anton Wilson. It has a forewor ...
''. According to Wilson, being in this state leads the subject to become either paranoid or an agnostic. In his opinion there is no third way. The term "chapel perilous" was used by
Antero Alli Antero Alli is a professional astrologer who has authored books on experimental theatre, astrology and Timothy Leary's 8-circuit model of consciousness. He lives in Portland, Oregon, where he conducts workshops and stages theatrical productions, ...
, in his 1986 book, ''Angel Tech: A Modern Shaman's Guide to Reality Selection'' which is based on
Timothy Leary Timothy Francis Leary (October 22, 1920 – May 31, 1996) was an American psychologist and author known for his strong advocacy of psychedelic drugs. Evaluations of Leary are polarized, ranging from bold oracle to publicity hound. He was "a her ...
's
eight-circuit model of consciousness The eight-circuit model of consciousness is a holistic model originally described by Timothy Leary, later expanded on by Robert Anton Wilson and Antero Alli, that suggests "eight periods ircuitsand twenty-four stages of neurological evolution". ...
. In Alli's book ''chapel perilous'' is a rite of passage, when moving between the four lower circuits of consciousness to the higher circuits.


Cultural references

* "Exit Chapel Perilous" is a 2005 song by Umberloid, written and produced by Ott and Chris Barker. * "Chapel Perilous" is a song by Telesma on their 2007 album ''O(H)M''. * '' Chapel Perilous'' is a 2013 comedy fantasy short film, directed by
Matthew Lessner Matthew Lessner is an artist and independent filmmaker. Biography Born in Walnut Creek, California, Lessner was raised in Roseburg, Oregon, where he attended Roseburg High School. He graduated in 2005 from Chapman University, where he studied ...
. * "Chapel Perilous" is a song by Feed Me Jack, and was a part of their 2015 EP ''Anatolia''. * "Chapel Perilous" is a song by
Mild High Club Mild High Club is an American psychedelic pop group, led by the musician Alexander Brettin. History Brettin grew up in the Midwest, playing flute in his school band. He majored in jazz studies at Columbia College in Chicago, and started Mild H ...
, which featured on their 2016 album ''Skiptracing'', which heavily referenced the song " When You Wish Upon A Star" sung by
Cliff Edwards Clifton Avon "Cliff" Edwards (June 14, 1895 – July 17, 1971), nicknamed "Ukulele Ike", was an American singer, musician and actor. He enjoyed considerable popularity in the 1920s and early 1930s, specializing in jazzy renditions of pop standar ...
*"Chapel Perilous" is a 2018 Album by the experimental rock band
Gnod Gnod are a British rock band from Salford, Greater Manchester, England.Smith, Samuel A.''INTERVIEW: Gnod'' The Quietus, 14 November 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2013.Connolly, Lea''Poking fun at religions, praising jungle and re-working the rules ...
.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chapel Perilous Arthurian literature Mental states