Chapter XII · "Tannhäuser"
Reading edition
Wagner and Greek ideals—Methods of Wagnerian study—The story of the opera—Poetical and musical contents of the overture—The bacchanale—The Tannhäuser legend—The historical Tannhäuser—The contest of minstrels in the Wartburg—Mediaeval ballads—Heroes and their charmers—Classical and other parallels—Caves of Venus— The Hörselberg in Thuringia—Dame Holda—The tale of Sir Adelbert.