Background Flashcards
Where was it set?
Who is it written by?
Paris 1815
Schöenberg
Who are the key characters?
Valjean - tenor - recently released from prison
Javert - baritone - police who released valjean but spends life trying to recapture him
Factory foreman - fires Fantine when she refuses his advances
Fantine - factory worker with illegitimate child, fired for loose morals
Colette - Fantine’s daughter
Eponine - thenardier’s daughter
Enjolras - student revolutionary
Marius - friend of enjolras
Key story lines act 1
Valjean released - steals from bishop but bishop forgives him
Valjean becomes factory owner
Fantine works in factory and is sacked by foreman and arrested - soon dies - Valjean guilty about Fantine seeks her release. Promises to care for Colette, escapes with her to Paris. Javert chases them. Colette left thenardiers.
Student revolution in Paris 9 years later.
Cosette and Marius in love but eponine loves Marius too
Background act 2
In Paris Javert arrested as a spy Valjean joins rebels to protect Marius Valjean saves Enjolras and frees Javert Rebels defeated Marius marries Cosette Valjean flees to protect them Valjean explains about Fantine on his death bed
Background to ”At the end of the day”
Act 1 opening number after prologue
Prologue takes us through history
This song is about factory life and Fantine being sacked
Valjean fails to stop it
General structure
Strophic form - repeat verses
We’re analysing verses 1,3,10
How would you compare these 3 songs:
‘At the end of the day’
‘Do you hear the people sing? (People’s Song)’
‘The Heat is on in Saigon’
All about struggle
People’s Song is before the struggle because it’s the excitement before the start of the struggle
The Heat is on in Saigon is after the struggle because it’s the excitement and relief after the struggle
At the end of the day is in the middle of the struggle because it’s showing what the struggle is like
