Name: Jacob Carroll

Song Analysis Report Form

Part 2 Character / Scene Analysis
*Synopsis OR Backstory/Plot (if this piece is not from a larger dramatic work):

Mendelssohn uses Biblical episodes relating to Elijah, which in the original, 1 Kings 17:19
and 2 Kings 2:1, are narrated in rather laconic form, to produce intensely dramatic
scenes, by adding several related biblical texts, mostly taken from the Old Testament.
These were doubtless well fitted to the taste of Mendelssohn's time, and a Victorian
sentimentality also seems detectable in places.
Among the episodes is the resurrection of a dead youth. A dramatic episode is the
contest of the gods, in which Jehovah consumes an offered sacrifice in a column of fire,
while a sequence of increasingly frantic prayers by the prophets of the god Baal failed.
Part I is concluded by the bringing of rain to parched Israel through Elijah's prayers. Part II
depicts the prosecution of Elijah by Queen Jezebel, his retirement to the desert, his vision
of God appearing, his return to his work, and his ascension on a fiery chariot into heaven.
The work ends with prophecies and praise.

Now that you have the characters and story line for this piece, answer the following
questions to make your understanding of your own character more specific and
intentional:

*What is my characters name along with a brief description? Elijah, who was a living
person, around 9 BC, in the reign of Ahab, was a prophet and a miracle worker.

*Where is my character coming from? (literally) Gilead

*Where is my character going? (literally) Hes not going anywhere(currently), he is in Baal

*What does my character want? He is praying to God, so that he might demonstrate

anything that will prove His being. He has given Elijah instructions, which he followed, so
that he might show the prophets of Baal and Ahab.

*What, if anything, might be blocking my character from getting what he/she wants?
(DISCLAIMER, theres not much evidence in scripture that shows that Elijah would have any
doubts, but in the interest of characterization Ive found some ways of looking at this) The
thing blocking my character might be that he doesnt know if his praying will be worthy
enough, or strong enough, or that God is listening to him, and that he may have just
ordered the Prophets of Baal to kill several of their bulls and follow his instructions for
not.

*How does my character overcome this block? Elijah overcomes this by believing and
proclaiming his belief in prayer infront of the prophets of Baal.

*Who is your character singing to? Self, God, another character, the audience? Elijah is
singing to god, before the prophets of Baal.

*What is your characters action or objective in this scene/song? My characters

objective in this aria is to elicit an act of God before the prophets of Baal.

*Personal thoughts about this piece of music after working on it for a couple of months:
This piece is certainly very evocative and beautiful, I very much enjoy singing it. Outside
of the context of religion, it is a touching show of ones absolute belief and faith in some
one or some thing, and to the lengths that theyll go to stand behind them.