Phantom of the Opera: Reading Comprehension Questions

Prologue: (flashback)

  1. What does Raoul buy at the auction?
  2. How does he describe what he bought?
  3. What happens to the chandelier & opera house during the overture?

1)Act 1, Scene 1:

  1. What name of the opera the opera company is rehearsing? Who wrote it?
  2. What part is Carlotta singing in the opera?
  3. What part is Piangi singing?
  4. Who is M. Lefevre(M = monsieur) & what does he announce?
  5. Who are the new managers of the opera house?
  6. How does Lefevre describe Christine Daae?
  7. While Carlotta is singing for the new managers, what happens?
  8. What messages does Madame Giry deliver from the “Opera Ghost”? (what does he say to them?)
  9. What does Meg suggest the new managers do to resolve their problem?
  10. What happens to the stage & the performance while Christine is singing?

2)Act I, Scene 2

  1. How did the Phantom feel about Christine’s performance?
  2. How does Christine describe her new tutor?
  3. What happens to Christine as she sings about the Angel of Music?
  4. What does Madame Giry give to Christine?

3)Act I, Scene 3

  1. How do Christine & Raoul know each other? (when did they meet)
  2. What name does Raoul call Christine?
  3. Why does Christine refuse to go to supper with Raoul?
  4. What does the Phantom call Raoul as he accuses him of taking credit for Christine’s success?
  5. Foreshadowing clue: the Phantom is calling Raoul names for a reason. Based on what he says to Raoul, what kind of a relationship do you think the Phantom, Raoul, & Christine will have later in the story?
  6. How does the Phantom take Christine from her dressing room?
  7. There is a hint of symbolism in the way Christine disappears. How is it symbolic? Think about what you know about the Phantom’s looks and the characteristics of a mirror.

4)Act I, Scene 4

  1. How does Christine seem to feel while being taken below to the lair?

5)Act I, Scene 5

  1. What things does the Phantom have in his lair?
  2. Why does the Phantom take Christine?
  3. What does the Phantom ask Christine to do about the light of day?
  4. How will Christine be able to “live as she’s never lived before”?
  5. What does he want her to do about the life she knew before?
  6. What does Christine see to cause her to faint?

6)Act I, Scene 6

  1. What is the Phantom doing now?
  2. What does Christine remember about the night before?
  3. Why does the Phantom get mad at Christine?
  4. Why does the Phantom believe Christine will eventually love him?

7)Act I, Scene 7

  1. What does Buquet do to anger the Phantom?
  2. How do the ballet girls react?
  3. Who warns Buquet?

8)Act I, Scene 8Il Muto is the name of the new opera they will perform at the opera house

  1. When this scene first begins, what is M. Firmin reading?
  2. Does he like or dislike what he is reading? Why?
  3. What does the Phantom’s (O. G.) letter to Andre say?
  4. What does the Phantom’s letter to Firmin say?
  5. What does the Phantom’s letter to Raoul say?
  6. Who does Carlotta think has written the note to her?
  7. What does Carlotta’s note say?
  8. Where is Christine now?
  9. What does the note say that Madame Giry gives to the managers?
  10. What will happen if the Phantom’s demands are ignored?

9)Act I, Scene 9

  1. Where does Raoul sit for the performance of Il Muto? What does “Il Muto” mean?
  2. How is this a foreshadowing clue?
  3. What part is Carlotta singing in the new opera?
  4. What part is Christine singing in the opera?
  5. What name does Carlotta call Christine?
  6. What happens to Carlotta’s voice as she is singing?
  7. How do we know the Phantom is the cause of what happens to Carlotta?
  8. How does Christine ultimately get the lead role of “Countess” in the new opera?
  9. What happens while the ballet girls are dancing?
  10. Why does Christine suggest she & Raoul go to the roof?
  11. How does Firmin explain (to the audience) what happened?

10)Act I, Scene 10

  1. Why doesn’t Christine want to return to the stage?
  2. How does Christine convince Raoul that the Phantom is real?
  3. What part of the Phantom does Christine sing about while in a trance (dream)?
  4. What does Raoul promise he’ll be for Christine?
  5. How does the Phantom feel about Christine after hearing her promise to Raoul?
  6. At the end of the Act the Phantom creates a disaster – what is it & why does he cause it to happen?

1)Act II, Scene 1Setting: (time & place) of Act II

  1. What costumes are Andre & Firmin wearing to the opera ball?
  2. How long has it been since the Phantom paid a visit?
  3. What has happened between Christine & Raoul?
  4. What does the Phantom wear to the masquerade ball (describe)?
  5. What new opera has the Phantom written?

2)Act II, Scene 2

  1. Where did Madame Giry first see the Phantom?
  2. How does she describe the Phantom to Raoul (list of things he was)?
  3. How/when was the Phantom deformed?
  4. What happened after the Phantom went “missing”?

3)Act II, Scene 3

  1. What does Andre’s note from the Phantom say?
  2. What does Firmin’s note from the Phantom say?
  3. Why does Christine have mixed feelings about performing?
  4. In the Phantom’s note, what are his instructions for:
  1. Carlotta –
  2. Piangi –
  3. managers –
  4. Christine –
  1. What is Raoul’s plan?
  2. Why doesn’t Christine want to go through with Raoul’s plan?
  3. How does Raoul convince her to help?

4)Act II, Scene 4

  1. What does Carlotta say about the Phantom’s opera that makes Giry give her a warning?
  2. What happens to the piano as Reyer is trying to direct?
  3. What does Christine do while everyone is singing?

5)Act II, Scene 5

  1. Whose grave does Christine visit?
  2. Why has she come to visit?
  3. What does the Phantom now call himself as he sings to Christine?
  4. As Raoul tries to rescue Christine, what does the Phantom do to him?
  5. What does the Phantom “declaim” to Raoul & Christine as they exit?

6)Act II, Scene 6

  1. Where is the marksman hidden?
  2. What do they hear after the exit doors are secured?
  3. What causes the marksman to fire a shot?

7)Act II, Scene 7

  1. What part is Piangi playing in the opera?
  2. What does the Phantom do to Piangi while he is in the alcove?
  3. What part is Christine playing in the opera?
  4. How does the Phantom hide his face while he is on stage with Christine?
  5. What does Christine take from the Phantom?
  6. What happens after Christine exposes the Phantom’s face to the audience?
  7. Who knows where the Phantom lives (and leads the way)?

8)Act II, Scene 8

  1. According to the Phantom, why has he been forced to live below in darkness?
  2. What does Raoul do after Madame Giry leaves?

9)Act II, Scene 9

  1. What is the 1st scrap of clothing the Phantom remembers from childhood?
  2. Where does Christine say that the Phantom’s “true distortion lies”?
  3. What is Christine’s dilemma?
  4. What does she choose?
  5. What does the Phantom tell Christine & Raoul to do after he frees Raoul?
  6. What does the Phantom tell Christine when she gives the ring back?
  7. What happens to the Phantom when the mob enters his lair?

Identify Elements of Drama

Answer these on your paper after the reading comprehension questions

Exposition – when/where it happens and what do we find out?

Rising Action– when/where it happens and what action takes place?

Climax – when/where it happens and what is the turning point action?

Falling Action–when & where it happens/how is the conflict resolved?

Denouement – when & where it happens/what happens at the end? (resolution)