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Table of Contents

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

Donations Welcome

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.

[[#92abc]] “Siegfried” the world’s noblest hero – fearless and innocent because he does not know who he is

(#92 is in the family of heroic motifs stemming from the last three notes of #53; it is therefore related to #1, #2, and #3, and through #1 to #57b; this heroic family of motifs includes #71, #77, #88, #95, and perhaps #152)

[[#93]] Sieglinde’s praise of Bruennhilde’s heroic service to the Waelsung race as the "Sublimest Wonder"

Popularly but incorrectly known as the “Redemption Motif” or “Redemption by Love Motif”; Currently known as the “Glorification of Bruennhilde,” or as Wagner’s “Hymn to Heroes”

(#93 is in the family of motifs which includes #8, #23, and #149. Cooke regards the motifs of this family as unified under the theme of “Woman’s Inspiration,” but that doesn’t really sum up their meaning.)

[[#94]] Wotan’s intent to punish Bruennhilde by putting her to sleep, defenseless, for any man to wake and win her as his bride

Since Bruennhilde is Wotan’s repository for Wotan’s unspoken secret, which he confessed to her, he has placed her at risk of exposing his secret hoard of knowledge to the man who wakes and wins Bruennhilde, and thus falls heir to Wotan’s hoard of runes.

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

[[#95]] The Valkyries’ protest against Wotan’s intent to leave Bruennhilde’s divine Valkyrie chastity free for any passing man to sully

By leaving the virgin Bruennhilde asleep, Wotan intends to leave her vulnerable to the shame of being wooed and won by a common mortal. The Valkyrie muses ostensibly inspire Wotan’s chosen heroes to martyrdom without having sexual union with them, so Wotan’s intended punishment of Bruennhilde will deprive her of her divine status as a Valkyrie.