Plot Summary
This scene was the opening scene of Wagner’s Götterdämmerung Act III and it precedes Scene 1. Summarize it.
What is Prelude (and its summary)?
The horse that was gifted to Siegfried that later perished on his funeral pyre.
Who is Grane?
The "Achilles' heel" of one of the main characters of Act III (describe why it is a weak point and how it leads to this character's downfall)
What is Siegfried's back?
Brünnhilde blesses every part of Siegfried except for his back. Hagen, with his spear, stabs Seigfried in this spot to kill him.
This leitmotif alerts others of Siegfried's arrival.
What is Siegfried's Horn Call?
The "heroic" or treacherous character Brünnhilde references in her monologue in the Final Scene of Götterdämmerung. (Discussion)
Who is Siegfried?
This scene was the first scene of Wagner’s Götterdämmerung Act III and it precedes Scene 2. Summarize it.
What is Scene I (and its summary)?
This bird is often used to symbolize Odin in Norse mythology. Wagner characterizes a pair of these birds as Wotan’s personal messengers.
What is a Raven?
The being Hagen claimed was responsible for Siegfried's death.
What is a wild boar?
The leitmotif associated with this character underscores Brünnhilde's immolation scene. It is used to emphasize the flames of Siegfried's funeral pyre.
Who is Loge?
The thing the Rhinedaughters offer to trade Siegfried in exchange for the ring.
What is Siegfried's prey?
This scene was the second scene of Wagner’s Götterdämmerung Act III and it precedes Scene 3. Summarize it.
What is Scene II (and its summary)?
This tree referred to as the “World Ash Tree” in Wagner’s Ring Cycle, binds the nine realms of Norse mythology together.
What is Yggdrasil?
The individual Brünnhilde blames primarily for Siegfried's betrayal.
Who is Wotan?
The leitmotif repeated by the Rhinedaughters many times throughout the Ring Cycle, most notably during the opening and final scenes of Das Rheingold, as well as the prologue of Act III of Götterdämmerung.
What is the Rhinegold lietmotif?
One of Wagner's five rejected endings to Act III of Götterdämmerung. This ending describes Brünnhilde as gladly freeing herself from the evils of worldly desires via suicide. It expresses ideas similar to those of a German philosopher of whom Wagner was a fan.
What is The Schopenhauer Ending?
This scene is the last scene of Wagner’s Götterdämmerung Act III and arguably the most dramatic in all of the Ring Cycle. Summarize it.
What is Scene III (and its summary)?
The title from which Wagner translated Götterdämmerung, meaning "twilight of the gods". It is famous in Norse mythology and popular culture.
What is Ragnarök?
The final thought of Siegfried as he lay dying.
What is lamenting over Brünnhilde?
A portion of the piece played during Siegfried's recounting his adventures characterized by a loud cymbal crash and dramatic pulsating of Horns. It accompanies a dramatic moment in the libretto.
In order from most simplistic to most advanced, Literalisitc, Allegorical, Cultural, and Psychological.
What are the levels of interpretation of Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen (according to Robert J. Hall Jr.)?
The horse from Saga of the Volsungs that Wagner modeled the horse Grane after.
Who is Grani?
The character whom Wagner hints will destroy Valhalla in Scene IV of Das Rheingold (pg. 117).
Who is Loge?
A piece characterized by long, slow somber french horns and culminating in a crescendo of cymbals, triangles, and rumbling drums. This piece is meant to bring about a feeling of great sorrow and loss. It is performed at the end of Act III.
What is Siegfried's Funeral March?
The Perfect Wagnerite: A Commentary on the Nibelung's Ring.
What is a commentary on Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen written by Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw?