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Title Page
Dedication Page
General Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations for key references
Guide to abbreviations used in text
Allen Dunning's numbered Guide to the Ring's Musical Motifs
Detailed Table of Contents

The Ring

Introduction


References
Appendix I
Appendix I I

Key Colour Coding

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I would be grateful for donations of any size, small or large, to help defray the cost (1) of maintaining this website, (2) and to finance my past and present research which produced my book posted here, Volume One of "The Wound That Will Never Heal," and my forthcoming revision of Volume One (to be submitted for publication), and completion of Volume Two on Wagner's six other canonic operas and music-dramas. I sacrificed at least seven years of paid employment and incurred debts to complete this project, and am currently unemployed, so I thank you in advance for any financial help you can provide. Your friend, Paul Heise.

(Siegfried’s expression and gestures show that he has understood the meaning of the Woodbird’s song. (…) Mime creeps back and watches Siegfried from the front of the stage.)

 

Mime: (#66>>) He ponders and broods on the booty’s worth: has some wily Wanderer been loitering here, roaming around and beguiling the child with his counsel of cunning runes? Doubly sly the dwarf must be: I’ll set the most cunning snare now and fool the defiant child with Falsely friendly words.

 

Mime: (#129ab: He comes closer to Siegfried and welcomes him with wheedling gestures. [[ #131 ]] Welcome, Siegfried! Tell me, brave boy, have you learned the meaning of fear?

 

Siegfried: (#122) I’ve not yet found a teacher.

 

Mime: [[ #131 ]]; #66 or #106?) But you’ve slain the (#129ab) snake-like dragon: he must have been a poor companion?

 

Siegfried: (#20a or #101?) Grim and spiteful though he was, his death yet grieves me deeply since far worse villains still remain unslain! (#123 Vari; #20a or #101 chords on horns?) The man who bade me murder him I hate much more than the dragon.

 

Mime: (very amiably: [[ #131 >> ]]; #66 or #106?) But soft! You’ll not have to see me much longer: (mawkishly: #26a &/or #101?) I’ll soon lock your eyes in lasting sleep! You’ve done (as if praising him) what I needed you for; all that I still want to do is to win from you the booty: - [[ #131>> ]]; #66 or #106?) I think that I ought to succeed in that; you’re easy enough to fool after all!

 

Siegfried: So you’re planning to do me harm?

 

Mime: (surprised: #129ab/[[ #131>> ]]) What, did I say that?”

 

[[#132ab]] Siegfried’s loneliness and urgent need for a boon companion, Bruennhilde

(#132’s motival links, if any, not yet ascertained)

[See #128 for #132’s dramatic context]

 

[[#133]] Wotan’s wooing of Erda to gain both objective knowledge of what he fears, and aesthetic intuition (represented by their daughter Bruennhilde), his means to forget the fear Erda taught