Source material: The White Goddess

This is not the first time I’ve read Robert Graves’ The White Goddess (though hardly a memory remains of the previous readings) but this time Graves’ many assumptions, theories and hopscotching through European and Middle-Eastern mythology is really starting to annoy me.

Picture that’s been used on the cover of the White Goddess: 3 goddesses giving an apple. Note the birds, the  snake and the labyrinths.


Nevertheless, the book makes for good source material. Not only does it give a crash course in mythic symbols, it also steered me towards the main juxtaposition I’d like to use in my novel (the triangle of beloved woman, lover-hero and ‘weird’, the twin or opponent). Also, the idea of the hero and his twelve companions. At this point, the number twelve may play an important part in the novel and I’m looking for any connections with twelve, especially mythological. So, in a sense, I have to take this book not as a scientific essay but rather read it in a poetic way, having it show me connections that otherwise may have stayed hidden.