The Magic Flute Study Guide - Manitoba Opera

Activity #6 – Using the Five C’s, Have your Students Analyze the Opera as
Drama:
Characters: Are they interesting? Believable? Are their actions, words, thoughts consistent?
Conflict: What conflicts are established? How are they resolved?
Climax: To what climax does the conflict lead?
Conclusion: How well does the conclusion work? Is it consistent? Satisfying? Believable?
Context: What are the historical, physical, and emotional settings? Sets and costumes?
In the classroom
� Give students the synopsis in your own words, by making copies for them to read, or by
having them re-tell the story after they have read it to their classmates.
� Ask comprehensive questions.
� Present and discuss composer and librettists.
� Listen to the preview CD. Have students identify and recognize recurring themes.
� Discuss the historical background, emphasizing the visual and performing arts and historysocial
science frameworks. Discuss the results of certain events. Whom did they affect?
How? Why? Did any changes occur as a result?
� Review the glossary of terms.
� Assign topics for written reports related to the opera. Essays
can be written on historical aspects, as well as ethical
questions raised by plot or character.
� Listen to excerpts from the opera. Watch a video of the opera.
� Have the students watch for references to themes in the opera
in their everyday lives. Radio, TV, magazines, and movies often
refer back to classics.
An illustration of
The Magic Flute
After the opera
� Have students write a review of what they saw. Was the
production a good representation of the five C’S?
� Have the students create their own designs for sets, costumes,
wigs, make-up, etc.
� Have them listen to another opera, read the libretto and design
the above for it. Stress the importance of historical accuracy.
� Have your students write a letter to one of the characters giving
them advice for the future.
Activity #7 – “Tweet” about The Magic Flute
� Have students “tweet” about The Magic Flute by writing out a twitter in 140 characters or
less on a sheet.
� Have them read their tweet aloud to the class.
� Have them post it to Manitoba Opera’s Facebook wall.
Activity #8 – Enlightenment and The Magic Flute
The end of the opera brings the victory of light over darkness. This represents the ideals of a
major trend of thought in the 18th century called the Enlightenment.
� Research the Enlightenment and identify examples of this philosophy in The Magic Flute.
Manitoba Opera would love to receive a copy of any activities produced by the
students. Please forward them to the attention of:
Sally Sweatman, Education & Outreach Coordinator
Manitoba Opera, 1060 - 555 Main St., Winnipeg, MB R3B 1C3
204-949-0377 (fax), ssweatman@manitobaopera.mb.ca
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Tamino’s flute playing
charms the wild beasts