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Wagner: The Flying Dutchman Trivia Quiz

The Flying Dutchman is an unusual opera as it is basically a ghost story. See what you know about the opera and the legend.

A multiple-choice quiz by catamount. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
catamount

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
212,209

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
519

Last 3 plays: shvdotr (7/10), rustic_les (10/10), OswaldEllie (10/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The libretto for the Flying Dutchman was written by Richard Wagner himself, but it was based on a work by which Romantic German author? Hint

Heinrich Heine

E.T.A. Hoffman

Friedrich Schiller

Heinrich von Kleist

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Question 2 of 10

2. When was the opera "The Flying Dutchman" first performed? Hint

1843

1871

1789

1911

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Question 3 of 10

3. Wagner got the inspiration for "The Flying Dutchman" on a sea voyage.

True

False

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Question 4 of 10

4. "The Flying Dutchman" was cursed to sail the oceans until doomsday because he did what?
Hint

Was unfaithful (a woman in every port)

Killed an albatross

Swore to attempt to round Cape Hope "forever"

Engaged in piracy and attacked a pilgrims' vessel

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Question 5 of 10

5. Why does "The Flying Dutchman" go to shore in Norway? Hint

To find a captain who will replace him

To find treasure he buried long ago

To find a faithful wife

To visit a holy shrine for redemption

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Question 6 of 10

6. What is the name of the main female character in "The Flying Dutchman"? Hint

Anita

Lolita

Marita

Senta

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Question 7 of 10

7. The opera "The Flying Dutchman" was an immediate huge success.

True

False

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Question 8 of 10

8. The leading female character reacts violently to "The Flying Dutchman's" appearance. Why? Hint

He is extremely ugly

She has sworn to never marry

He is the spitting image of her fiance

She recognizes him from a portrait in her house

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Question 9 of 10

9. "The Flying Dutchman" finds redemption in the opera.

True

False

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Question 10 of 10

10. When was the first performance of "The Flying Dutchman" in England? Hint

1900

1795

1870

1913

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Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The libretto for the Flying Dutchman was written by Richard Wagner himself, but it was based on a work by which Romantic German author?

Answer: Heinrich Heine

The story is found in "The Memoirs of Herrn von Schnabelewopski", but it is a much older maritime tale of a ghostly ship that is doomed to sail the ocean forever. The theme also occurs in "Pirates of the Caribbean".

2. When was the opera "The Flying Dutchman" first performed?

Answer: 1843

The opera premiered in the Royal Saxon Court Theatre of Dresden.

3. Wagner got the inspiration for "The Flying Dutchman" on a sea voyage.

Answer: True

Wagner sailed from Pillau on the Baltic to London in 1839. The voyage was plagued by heavy storms.

4. "The Flying Dutchman" was cursed to sail the oceans until doomsday because he did what?

Answer: Swore to attempt to round Cape Hope "forever"

Senta explains the story in her aria "Yo ho ho hey". Incidentally, Wagner heard this Norwegian sailors' call during his trip from Pillau to London.

'In bitter gale and raging storm, he once tried to round a cape;
he cursed in mad fury, and swore: "Never will I give up!"
Hoo! And Satan heard it! Yo ho ho hey!
Hoo! Took him at his word! Yo ho ho hey!
Hoo! And, damned, he now roams the sea without rest or peace!'

From: http://opera.stanford.edu/Wagner/Hollander/synopsis.html

5. Why does "The Flying Dutchman" go to shore in Norway?

Answer: To find a faithful wife

The only hope of redemption for "The Flying Dutchman" is to find a wife who is "faithful unto death". He is allowed to go to shore every seven years to find one. Senta explains in her aria "Yo ho ho hey":

'At anchor every seven years, a wife to woo he goes ashore:
he wooed every seven years, but never a true wife he found.
Hoo! "Hoist sails!" Yo ho ho hey!
Hoo! "Weigh anchor!" Yo ho ho hey!
Hoo! "False love, false faith! Back to sea, without rest or peace!"'

From: http://opera.stanford.edu/Wagner/Hollander/synopsis.html

6. What is the name of the main female character in "The Flying Dutchman"?

Answer: Senta

Senta's father Daland, a Norwegian merchant, is dazzled by the Flying Dutchman's treasures and more than happy to break his previous arrangement with Erik to give his daughter away to the much richer man. Little does he suspect the stranger's true identity...

7. The opera "The Flying Dutchman" was an immediate huge success.

Answer: False

People were used to operas where the main characters just stood around and bellowed out their arias; they were not quite ready for the "Singspiel" (sung play) form of opera that Wagner promoted and perfected.

8. The leading female character reacts violently to "The Flying Dutchman's" appearance. Why?

Answer: She recognizes him from a portrait in her house

In the "spinning room" scene the other girls accuse Senta of not working hard enough because she is in love with the man in an ancient portrait. When she meets the Dutchman face to face, she immediately recognizes the resemblance.

9. "The Flying Dutchman" finds redemption in the opera.

Answer: True

Senta proves to be the faithful wife destiny has chosen for him. She is willing to leap off a cliff to die for him. They rise together, embracing, while the Dutchman's ship breaks into splinters. Since they are now both dead, it would seem to be a perfect marriage.

10. When was the first performance of "The Flying Dutchman" in England?

Answer: 1870

The performance was at Drury Lane in the Italian version "L'Olandese Dannato."

Source: Author catamount

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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