Gaston Leroux wrote "The Phantom of the Opera" in 1908 based on his experiences at the Paris Opera House. The story follows Christine Daaé, a singer who is taught by the mysterious "Angel of Music". It's later revealed that the Angel is actually Erik, a disfigured man known as the Phantom who lives beneath the opera house. When Christine falls for Raoul, the Phantom kidnaps her and threatens to kill Raoul if she doesn't marry him. In the end, Christine agrees to marry Erik to save Raoul, but later escapes Paris with Raoul while Erik dies alone.

1. Lesson 2
The Phantom of The Opera
(Summary)

2. The Author
Gaston Louis Alfred Leroux
He was born on 6th May 1988 and died on 15th April 1927
He was a poet, a journalist and a novelist who lived in France. Gaston
Leroux wrote several famous horror novels such as “Rouilable”, “The
Haunted Chair”, “The Phantom of The Opera” and “The Wax Mask”.
Leroux wrote “The Phantom of The Opera” in 1908 based on his own
experiences watching performances at the Paris Opera House.

3. The summary of The Phantom of
The Opera
One night in the Opera House, Annie Sorelli
bursts into the dancers’ room. She has just
seen the Opera Ghost or the phantom. All the
dancers talk excitedly about the ghost. Meg
Giry warns them not to talk about the ghost.
Then, her mother, Madame Giry informs them
of Joseph Buquet’s death

4. The new directors of the Opera House,
Monsieur Armand and Firmin, do not believe
that the phantom is real and decide to ignore
his letter. Christine Daae’ is chosen to sing
Margarita in Faust since La Charlotta is not
feeling well.

5. On Tuesday night, Paris likes Christine’s singing.
Raoul goes to meet her in her dressing room,
but she denies knowing him. Raoul goes out,
but hears a man’s voice in her room. When
she leaves, however, there is no one in the
room.

6. The next day, the directors receive a second
letter from Phantom demanding Box 5 for his
personal use , 20000 francs and that Christine
sing Margarita again. Madame Giry warns
them about the Phantom but they refuse to
listen, and do not give the Phantom what he
wants.

7. On the same day , Raoul receives a letter from
Christine and they meet at Tuileries Gardens.
She explains everything to him and says the
voice in her dressing room was that of her
angel of music.
On Friday morning, La Charlotta receives a
letter ordering her to stay at home, but she
ignores the order and the threats. Back in the
Opera House, the directors sit in Box 5 and
they find flowers in it.

8. Faust is being staged and La Charlotta is to
sing Margarita. When she starts singing, her
voice sounds like a toad’s. The directors hear a
voice that the chandelier will fall and it does,
killing a woman and injuring many people.
Raoul and Christine see each other every day
for a week but she suddenly disappears. She
asks him to meet her on the tenth floor of the
Opera House, where she tells him everything
that has happened to her and the Phantom.

9. Erik takes her to his house on a lake under the opera
House where he confesses his love for Christine and tells
her his real name.
Erik, the Phantom of the Opera and The Opera Ghost,
reveals himself to her. He has the face of a dead man. He
has no nose, two black holes for eyes and a yellow face.
Christine tells Raoul that Erik has threatened to kill Raoul
if she does not want to marry Erik.Raoul then plans to
run away with Christine on Saturday night. Suddenly,
they hear a strange voice. Then, a Persian gentleman
appears and tells them to use the front stairs out of the
building.

10. On Saturday night, Christine sings Margarita
again. Suddenly, the lights go out and when they
come in again, Christine has disappeared. After
that, Raoul and the Persian disappear.
The Persian leads Raoul into a secret passage to
find Christine. They accidentally enter a torture
room full of mirrors and they are trapped. Erik
and Christine can see them dying in the room.
Erik threatens to kill them if Christine does not
want to become his wife.

11. Christine agrees to marry him and kisses him.
Erik is so touched , he releases the three of
them. After that, Raoul and Christine
disappear from Paris and later, the Persian
finds Erik dead.

12. Reference
Adapted from:
Morais, C., & Kay, G. (2009). Light On Lit Form 2.
Malaysia: Pearson Malaysia Sendirian Berhad.