DEVELOPING THEME

QUESTION

• After reading the first two chapters, choose a theme you think might be developing. Explain it, how the characters and plot convey it, predictions, and what you are learning about that theme so far.

Agenda

• Theme
• PACT
• STEAL: the Opera's "ghost" and Christine Daae
• Learnings from the theme
• Connections
• Predictions of Plot

Theme

• Truth is hidden behind external appearances
• Chapter 1 & 2= 20 pgs

Narrator= Laroux

P.A.C.T. =

Plot

Atmosphere

Character

Theme

Plot: Chapter 1

• Young ballet dancers burst into La Sorelli's room. They say they have seen "the ghost"
• Meg Giry tells them that the ghost has a private box
• Joseph Buquet is found dead (hanging from a rope), the dancers believe that the ghost did it
• When men go to retrieve the body, he is no longer hanging on the rope (it's suggested that the Opera ghost is responsible)
• The managers of the opera are retiring, the handing over of the Opera to the new ones will take place after the performance

Plot: Quotes

• "The managers of the Opera, were giving a last gala performance to mark their retirement" (13).
• "'It's the ghost!' little Jammes had cried. " (16).
• "'that's the ghost's box... orders have been given at the box-office that it must never be sold.'" (20).
• "'Joseph Buquet is dead!'... he was found hanging in the third-floor cellar!'... the rope has disappeared" (21-22).
• "imagine that somebody must have been interested in seeing that the rope disappeared after it had effected its purpose' (22).

Plot: Chapter 2

• Comte de Chagny, Viscount Raoul de Changny, and Christine Daae Viscount Raoul de Changny are introduced. The Opera is set in Paris
• Daae made her debut at that gala when she replaced the usual lead (the lead fell ill)
• Raoul wants to speak to Daae alone but she asks him to leave without acknowldeging who he is
• The Viscount overhears Daae talking to a man in her dressing room
• When Daae leaves the room, Raoul searches for the man in her room. However, there is no one inside.

Plot: Quotes

• "she (Daae) sang in the place of La Carlotta, who was ill" (24).
• "the count (Philippe Changny) followed his brother (Raoul) down the passage that led to Daae's dressing-room' (28).
• "'since you are pleased not to recognize me, I should like to say something to you in private'...'When I am better' (29)
• "He had heard a man's voice in the dressing-room" (30).
• "he struck a match... There was no one in the room!" (31).

Atmosphere

• Suspenseful
• Mysterious
• Foreboding

Atmosphere: Quotes

• "imagine that somebody must have been interested in seeing that the rope disappeared after it had effected its purpose; and time will show if I am wrong' (22).
• "Oddly enough, she was not known to have a professor of singing at that moment. She had often said she meant to practise alone for the future. The whole thing was a mystery" (24).

Atmosphere: Quotes

• "The truth is that no one ever knew how Joseph Buquet met his death. The verdict at the inquest was 'natural suicide'" (21).
• "'Oh, to-night I gave you my soul and I am dead!' Christine replied." (30).

S.T.E.A.L.

Opera 'Ghost":
Round

S.T.E.A.L.

• Speech
• Thoughts
• Effects on others
• Actions
• Looks

CHARACTER: speech

• Commanding, possibly forceful
• Eloquent
• Compassionate
• Serious
• Total: 4 sentences

CHARACTER: SPEECH - Quotes

• "'Christine, you must love me!'" (30).
• "'Are you very tired?'" (30).
• "'Your soul is a beautiful thing, child,' replied the grave man's voice...No emperor ever received so fair a gift. The angels wept tonight'" (30).

CHARACTER: Thoughts

• None revealed thus far

CHARACTER: Effect on Others

• Feared
• Infamous "celebrity" amongst the ballerinas
• Hated by Raoul and perplexes him
• Obeyed

CHARACTER: Effect on Others - Quotes

• "who gave the explanation in a trembling voice: 'It's the ghost!' And she locked the door" (13).
• "All the girls pretended to have met this supernatural being more or less often" (14).

CHARACTER: Effect on Others - Quotes

• "At one and the same time, he had learned what love meant, and hatred... He wanted to know whom he hated" (31).
• "'Look here!... Am I going mad?'" (31).
• "the ghost's box. No one has had it for over a month... orders have been given at the box-office that it must never be sold" (20).

CHARACTER: Actions

• Mischievous
• Possibly capable of cruelty
• Quite a riddle

CHARACTER: Looks- Quotes

• "When he did not show himself, he betrayed his presence or his passing by accident, comic or serious" (14-15).
• "he was found hanging... 'It's the ghost!' little Giry blurted" (21).
• "'What are you hiding for?'" (31).

CHARACTER: Looks

• Not explicitely stated
• Exaggerated rumours
• Thin
• Has an ugly face
• Dresses like a gentleman

CHARACTER: Action - Quotes

• "'If that's the ghost, he's very ugly!'" (14).
• "The ghost had appeared to them in the shape of a gentleman in dress-clothes" ( 14).
• "The absence of that nose is a horrible thing to look at" ( 15).
• "'He is extraordinarily thin and his dress-coat hangs on a skeleton frame" ( 15).
• "without a body... a head of fire" (16).

S.T.E.A.L.

Character: Speech

• Secretive
• Romantic
• Expressive

CHARACTER: SPEECH - Quotes

• "'When I am better, do you mind?... I am not ill now,' said Christine suddenly, with strange and unexpected energy" (29).
• "'I sing only for you'" (30).
• "'Oh, to-night I gave you my soul and I am dead!'" (30).

Character: Thoughts

• None revealed thus far

CHARACTER: Effects on Others

• Wanted
• Loved
• Impressed many
• Known as a gentle person

CHARACTER: EFFECTS ON OTHERS - quotes

• "At one and the same time, he had learned what love meant, and hatred. He knew that he loved" (31)
• "'Christine, you must love me!'" (30)
• "'Christine Daae: what a triumph!" (23)
• "'She is not herself to-night. She is usually so gentle'" (29).

Character: Actions

• Determined
• Committed

CHARACTER: ACTIONS - quotes

• "'Christine Daae: what a triumph!' 'Impossible!... Six months ago, she used to sing like a crock!' (23).
• "The whole house went mad... Christine sobbed and fainted in the arms of her fellow-singers" (24).

CHARACTER: Looks

• None revealed thus far

Theme

• Truth is hidden behind external appearances
• Plot, atmosphere, and characters (STEAL):
• Christine Daae hiding a truth
• Raoul Chagny hiding in the shadows
• the Opera's ghost hiding his identity and presense

Learnings from the theme

• Truth is hidden behind external appearances
• The gullibility of human nature
• Attraction of myth over truth
• Hiding is easier than confronting

Connections

• Truth is hidden behind external appearances:
• Presenting only the positive (media)
• Hiding one's flaws and failures
• Herd mentality and peer pressure in our world

QUESTION

• After reading the first two chapters, choose a theme you think might be developing. Explain it, how the characters and plot convey it, predictions, and what you are learning about that theme so far.

Predictions

• The Opera's "ghost" and Viscount Raoul de Changny's love for Christine Daae will lead to external conflict
• Daae will deal with the reason she sings (internal conflict)
• Identity of the "ghost" will be found out
• Childhood link between Raoul and Christine will be expounded on later
• Connection between the "ghost" and Christine will be explained later