Q & A ABOUT PHANTOM & TRIVIA

A Q&A about this wonderful story has been suggested. Therefore, I will start it off.

Q: From Leroux's novel, did Raoul actually shoot a cat which was staring at him through his bedroom window or was it Erik?

Q: From Leroux's novel, why did Christine insist on one last performance of Faust instead of eloping with Raoul that fateful night?

Q: From the original novel, how did the money disappear from the managers' pockets? Remember the "safety pin"?

Now, who has the answers.

Q: From Leroux's novel, why did Christine insist on one last performance of Faust instead of eloping with Raoul that fateful night?

A: If i'm not mistaken, Christine wanted to sing one more opera to please Erik before she ran off. She believes that it would be less painful for Erik before she eloped

Q: From Leroux's novel, did Raoul actually shoot a cat which was staring at him through his bedroom window or was it Erik?

A: At first I thought it was Erik. But the more I think about it, it was more likely to be a cat or something familiar. We are never told at any point after this event that Erik was injured. I also think Raoul was a little off his rocker after hearing Christine's story.

Q: From the original novel, how did the money disappear from the managers' pockets? Remember the "safety pin"?

A: Have an idea about the last question, but I need to look it up. I know that part of it had to do with a trapdoor in the managers office where the phantom could get into their coats (I can't think of the name of the coats here). As for the safety pin, that's the part I don't remember

Looks like we are leaning more as we dig for answers. Gabby81 got 2 out of three.

Since you did, we will have you pose the next set of questions and you may use the same question you have not yet answered.

Your turn sweetie!

Q - From the original novel, how did the money disappear from the managers' pockets? Remember the "safety pin"?

Q - What did Erik do in Persia to amuse the sultana?

Q - Why did the Sultan (or whatever he was called) want Erik killed?

Q - From the original novel, how did the money disappear from the managers' pockets? Remember the "safety pin"?

Erik picket the manager's pocket from the trapdoor within the manager's office.

Q - What did Erik do in Persia to amuse the sultana?

He had condemned prisoners brought in where he could fight them hand to hand before using his Punjab lasso. This led to him teaching the little sultana how to use this sinister weapon on her guests.

Q - Why did the Sultan (or whatever he was called) want Erik killed?

Because Erik had built the Palace of Mirrors which allowed the shah to walk throught the building without being seen, the shah did not want the secret of the building to reach anyone else, especially his enemies, therefore, he ordered the architech (Erik( executed.

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More questions:

Q. What were the Rosey Hours of Mezanderan the Persian could talk about?

Q. What was the fiery head seen by the firemen?

Q. Why were the managers walking backward at one point in the story?

Q. Why were the managers walking backward at one point in the story?

They were recreating the first night that the money was put in Richards pocket. They had met with some dignitaries that night, and were walking ahead of them backwards while talking to them. Montchamant was imitating this to keep a close eye on the pocket of Richard, to see how, when the money could have been stolen.

Q. What was the fiery head seen by the firemen?

The firery head was the rat killer. It looked like a fiery head because he would carry the latern up to his face, and you couldn't see the rest of him. I believe he came to the cellars roughly once a month or so.

Not sure of the Rosey Hours of Mezanderan

I'm going to post the next questions. The first one is correct.

The fiery head was not the rat catcher. It was Erik playing tricks. He used magic/illusions for this one. Remember, he was noted as a magician.

Q. What were the Rosey Hours of Mezanderan the Persian could talk about?

Leroux was not completely clear, but it seems to be a time of much bloodshed, especially by Erik. This is why the Persian said he didn't want to talk about it.

Not bad. Let's see who can answer the next group.

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Q. What is the Punjab Lasso and how was it used?

Q. What was the torture in the torture chamber?

Q. Why did Erik sleep in a coffin?

Hang on, now I'm confused. Where does the rat killer play into this then?

Humour me.....chapter 21 - The cellars of the opera (page 204 in my edition)

Yes, Raoul and the Persian were on the verge of fainting, like Lieutenant Papin, the fireman. But the fiery face had turned toward them when they cried out, and now it spoke to them:
"Don't move! Don't move! And whatever you do, don't follow me. I'm the rat-killer. Let me pass with my rats."
The fiery face suddenly vanished into the shadows while the corridor ahead became lighter as a result of what the rat-killer had just done with his shaded lantern. Before, so as not to frighten the rats in front of him, he had kept the lantern turned toward himself, illuminating his own face; now, so that he could go faster, he was lighting the darness ahead of him. He hurried forward, taking with him all the climbing, squeaking waves of rats, all the countless noise.
Released from their horror, Raoul and the Persian began breathing freely again, though they were still trembling.
"I should have remembered that Erik told me about the rat-killer," said the Persian. "But he didn't say he looked like that, and it's strange that I never met him before." He sighed "I thought it was another of the monster's tricks. But no, he never comes to this part of the cellars."

This is where the author makes a note about how he came to learn of the rat-killer. Tell me what you think. Is this real?

I will have to get back to you. It's at the beginning, not as far as you pointed out. It's between the first and forth chapters. The firemen saw the fiery head, not the scene with Raoul and the Persian.

What I wrote above was straight out of the novel. They even mention the fireman that had nearly fainted upon seeing it. The rat-killer said he was there every two weeks. I just assumed it was the 2nd time he had been seen? The story of what the fireman saw was in the beginning, like you said, quite close to the start. But as I said, that passage that I quoted to me says that the fiery head was the rat-killer. I'm not trying to argue here, I just remember when I read that above except, that we finally got some closure. Unfortunately, I don't remember the beginning part as well (I'm on chapter 2 of my reread). But I remember most of the stuff when Raoul and the Persian go looking for Erik, mainly because they did offer so many answers to my unanswered questions. Again, fight me on this one if it's not true. Discussions that lead to answers are the best

Q. What is the Punjab Lasso and how was it used?

The Punjab lasso was a rope made of catgut. Erik used it as his weapon of choice. It is basically what we call a noose (hangman's noose). Erik was quite talented with the lasso, and he is believed to have killed many condemned men in a sort of production, to the sultana. The only way to save your self, is to keep your hand at the level of your eye. That way, the rope cannot close around your neck, and you use your arm to get out of it.

Q. What was the torture in the torture chamber?

The torture chamber was made solely of mirrors. I can't quite remember what was in the intersection of the walls (it turned the mirrors into a non-ending forest), but there was an iron tree with a rope on it for those who want to die instead of live in the torture chamber. The mirrors gave such an illusion, that it was very easy for people to begin to go mad. And to top things off, for Raoul and the Persian at least) he turned the heat way up to give the impression of an African jungle. The only way out of the chamber, that we know of, is the trapdoor in the floor...


Q - Why does Erik sleep in a coffin?

Not sure exactly, so this will in turn be one of my questions. The only thing I believe is related to that question, was he said to Christine that he was death (not literatly), he said he was death, from his head to his feet. Therefore, if he considers himself dead, where better to sleep than in a coffin

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Q - Why does Erik sleep in a coffin?

Q - What song does Erik (pretending to be her father) play on the violin in the graveyard?

Q - Does Raoul lose his sanity? Or basically was he ok after him and Christine run?

Just to clarify the torture chamber; mirrors were not the torture. The illusion of the forest and jungle were caused by the intensity of the light reflecting from the mirrors. Remember even the walls heated up. This made the victim see mirages and they suffered severe heat and thirst from the ever increasing heat from the light. The Punjab Lasso was left hanging on the metal tree as a way out for the victim; they could hang themselves. Erik is so thoughtful, isn't he?

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The fiery head and firemen from Chapter 1:
'For instance, a fireman is a brave fellow! He fears nothing,
least of all fire! Well, the fireman in question, who had gone
to make a round of inspection in the cellars and who, it seems, had ventured a little farther than usual, suddenly reappeared on the stage, pale, scared, trembling, with his eyes starting out of his head, and practically fainted in the arms of the proud mother of little Jammes.[1] And why? Because he had seen coming toward him, at the level of his head, but without a body attached to it, a head of fire! And, as I said, a fireman is not afraid of fire.'

Some may interpret this as the rat catcher, but if you will read carefully, and take into consideration Erik's skill, this is his work.

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Q - Why does Erik sleep in a coffin?

As the Phantom explained: `That is where I sleep. One has to get
used to everything in life, even to eternity.'


Q - What song does Erik (pretending to be her father) play on the violin in the graveyard?

The Resurrection of Lazarus.

Q - Does Raoul lose his sanity? Or basically was he ok after him and Christine run?

Nothing in the book references Raoul's sanity, except that he and Christine kissed in font of Erik and he set them free.

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Q. Does Erik and Raoul have a confrontation in the cemetary at Perros?

Q. Did the Phantom ever appear at a gala?

Q. Did the Phantom ever speak to the guests at the gala?

Lol...I guess we're going to have to agree to disagree right now on the fiery head!

Q. Does Erik and Raoul have a confrontation in the cemetary at Perros?
Raoul followed Christine to the cemetary, where he noticed the pile of skulls by the church. As Christine left, the skulls began to roll off the pile, and raoul thought he heard voices from them. Raoul saw a shadow in the vestry which he followed and grabbed his cloak. The shadow figure turned and Raoul saw the death's head and his heart failed him. He was found the next day. There is no confrontation as in the movie, but Raoul does deal with him in the church.

Q. Did the Phantom ever appear at a gala?
Yes, he does. He arrives at Le Bal Masque. He is dressed as red death, with his deaths-head and long flowing cape. On the cape is written "Do not touch me. I am the Red Death passing by." He also attended the farewell dinner for Debienne and Poligny.

Q. Did the Phantom ever speak to the guests at the gala?
The Opera Ghost did not speak at the Bal Masque. Even when a man touch him after the warning on his cape, he simply grabbed the man's arm until he cried out in pain and OG released him. He also does not speak at the Managers dinner. If I missed a gala, I apologize

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Q - Is Mme Giry off her rocker, or are her stories of the Opera Ghost real?

Q - What was the Phantoms new addition to the Managers handbook for Article 98?

Q - Was Erik present on the rooftop when Christine told Raoul all she knew about the Opera Ghost?

As for the fiery head, read both sections closely. I see what you are saying, but this flaming head witnessed by the fireman floated. The description by the Persian did not say it was floating and we see that rat catcher talking to him and Raoul

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The Phantom did speak at the Mangers dinner. He didn't give a speech, but he did utter words. Look at Chapter 3:

What happened was this: Mm. Debienne and Poligny, sitting at the center of the table, had not seen the man with the death's head. Suddenly he began to speak.

"The ballet-girls are right," he said. "The death of that poor
Buquet is perhaps not so natural as people think."

Debienne and Poligny gave a start.

"Is Buquet dead?" they cried."Yes," replied the man, or the shadow of a man, quietly. "He was found, this evening, hanging in the third cellar, between a farm-house and a scene from the Roi de Lahore."
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Q - Is Mme Giry off her rocker, or are her stories of the Opera Ghost real?

The Opera Ghost was real. He wrote the notes to her and left her sweets. Besides, he instructed her how to put the money in the managers' pockets since it was not in the envelope.

Q - What was the Phantoms new addition to the Managers handbook for Article 98?

'...ends with Clause 98,
which says that the privilege can be withdrawn if the manager
infringes the conditions stipulated in the memorandum-book.'

Q - Was Erik present on the rooftop when Christine told Raoul all she knew about the Opera Ghost?

Yes, because he was the one who whispered his own name and then gave long sighs at different intervals.
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Q. Who was called the "living corpse" and why?

Q. How did Joseph Buquet die; murder or suicide?

Q. What was significant about the scorpion and the grasshopper?

If the fireman wore dark clothing in a dark passageway, with only his head visible, it would appear that the head was floating. The fiery head was originally attributed to the Phantom because no other option was sought out or considered. Yes, Erik could have done it, but I strongly believe that Leroux threw the Rat Catcher scene in specifically to show that the fiery head was not Erik.

Ok, I hope I'm not being a pain in the butt, but here's what I found shortly before we're told it's the rat killer....

The Persian had scarecely finished stating that line of conduct once again when a fantastic face appeared before the two men. A whole face, not just a pair of golden eyes. But it was a luminous face, a face of fire! Yes, a fiery face that came toward them at a man's height but without a body. It gave off fire and, in the darkness, looked like a flame in the shape of a man's face.

So both the fireman and the Persian saw a floating fiery head.

Q. How did Joseph Buquet die; murder or suicide?
Murder. Erik was PO'd that Buquet was talking about him, so he strangled/hung him. Shortly thereafter, the rope disappeared.

Q. Who was called the "living corpse" and why?
I can only assume it was Erik. His face was disfigured, didn't really have a nose, he wore a deaths' head. He also tells Christine(I don't remeber the exact words) that he is dead from his head to his feet.

Q. What was significant about the scorpion and the grasshopper?
Turning the scorpion meant that Christine said yes to Erik, that she would be with him; turning the grasshopper meant no. The scorpian also meant that the cellars below would be flooded as to destroy all the gunpowder that Erik had to blow up the opera house. The grasshopper would blow everything up. The Persian believed that Erik had deceived them, and that each animal meant the opposite of what Erik had explained. Christine ended up turning the Scorpian, which did release the water to ruin the gun powder.
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Switching gears!

Q - In the 2004 movie, who do we see as the Phantoms first victim?

Q - In the 2004 movie, why did Christine stop Raoul from killing the Phantom in the cemetary?

Q - In the 2004 movie, why does Christine give the Phantom her ring at the end?

(These may be more speculation than actual fact, but I'm curious of the answers

I just realized that this thread is under the original novel, not the movie, so ixnay the above questions.

Q - Who was putting the money in the envelope back in Richard's pocket?

Q - What were Christine and Raoul wearing for Le bal masque?

Q - Was the Persian forced to leave Persia, or did he leave on his own?

You can post questions about the movie as long as you compare it to the original.

Q - Who was putting the money in the envelope back in Richard's pocket?

Mme. Giry

Q - What were Christine and Raoul wearing for Le bal masque?

White domino and black domino costumes.

Q - Was the Persian forced to leave Persia, or did he leave on his own?

No, he was banished.


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Q. What did Erik make Christine promise?

Q. Why did the police commission did not hunt down the Phantom as we see in so many films?

Q. Where was Raoul put after he was removed from the area with the barrels of gunpowder?

I can't answer these right now, it's bedtime. But I just wanted to say how "special" I feel about this question: Q. Did the Phantom ever appear at a gala? He did appear at Le Bal Masque, as well as the farewell dinner. That's where the answer should have ended, per the question. However, I kept going. And I cannot believe that I didn't realize that Erik spoke at the dinner! I had the book right in front of me, and I still didn't see it. Sigh! Oh well! Some good questions there...gonna have to look them up before answering

Ok, I've done my research and I'm gonna do my best to answer these
Q. What did Erik make Christine promise?
"I made her swear that when I was dead she would come one night, by way of the lake in the direction of the Rue Scribe, and bury me in secret with the gold ring she'd worn til then. I told her how she could find my body and what she should do with it."

Q. Where was Raoul put after he was removed from the area with the barrels of gunpowder?
After the gunpowder room, they returned to the torture chamber, where they were barely rescued on Christine's pleas. The Persian sees him on the sofa beside the mirror in Christine's Lours-Phillipe room. Erik then holds him prisoner in the communards dungeon, until he releases him so that he and Christine can be together.

Q. Why did the police commission did not hunt down the Phantom as we see in so many films?

Before I answer this, I only know what I've read. I've only seen the 2004 movie (in which they do not investigate Phantom, and the 1962 movie which was one of the worse movies I've ever seen. According to the Persian, he went to the police to tell them his story, but they did not believe him and thought he was a lunatic.


This set of questions is going to be less fact-based and more opinion based :

Q - We are told early on that Christine is not good enough to marry Raoul, because she is of lower class. Would famous performers such as La Sorelli and Carlotta be higher up in class and therefore more worthy to marry someone such as Le Viscount?

Q - Why was Erik so brazen as to crash Poligny and Debienne's farewell dinner. What was he trying to prove? Or was this his way of bragging about Buquet's death?

Q - In the novel, there seem to be many sightings of the phantom. As we saw in the 2004 movie, very few people had seen him : Mme Giry may actually be the only one, though Buquet led on that he had as well. Why is he so willing to make himself known and seen in public? Is he so arrogant that he believes no one is as cunning as him and that he would never get caught?

Brava! You answered all the questions correctly.

Q - We are told early on that Christine is not
good enough to marry Raoul, because she is of lower class. Would famous
performers such as La Sorelli and Carlotta be higher up in class and
therefore more worthy to marry someone such as Le Viscount?

Performers in those days were still considered low class and not in a class to marry nobility. Whether a diva or prima ballerina, they were all perfomers, and such were thought of having loose morals. That's why Philippe told Raoul you can play with them, but you can't marry them.



Q -
Why was Erik so brazen as to crash Poligny and Debienne's farewell
dinner. What was he trying to prove? Or was this his way of bragging
about Buquet's death?

Erik knew he had already terrified cast and crew of the opera house. With his warbed sense of humor, he found it entertaining to see the parties reactions, after all, what would or could they do to a "ghost"?


Q - In the novel, there seem to be many
sightings of the phantom. As we saw in the 2004 movie, very few people
had seen him : Mme Giry may actually be the only one, though Buquet led
on that he had as well. Why is he so willing to make himself known and
seen in public? Is he so arrogant that he believes no one is as cunning
as him and that he would never get caught?

Both the novel and movie want to show you the Phantom had to show himself at one time or another to validate something or someone haunted the opera house. Erik knew that if only one person saw him now and again, the gossip would grow and more and more people would be afraid of him. It's a matter of human nature and superstition. Remember, 'gossip's worth it's weight in gold'.


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Q. From all we've seen the novel and 2004 film the Phantom appears to be insane and murderous, but was he? Was Erik truly mad?

Q. Who did Christine really love, Erik or Raoul?

Q. Who was Erik? All of his promises he kept, even to making little Meg a baroness, so who was he? A noble, royaly, or magician?

Some of these question will require reasoning and thought, rather than a passage from the book or a scene fromt the movie.

The book and the movie I find differ a little bit in some of these responses. But I'll give reasons for both, if I can.

Q. From all we've seen the novel and 2004 film the Phantom appears to be insane and murderous, but was he? Was Erik truly mad?
In the movie, there is little doubt in my mind that he definately has a few screws loose. And who can blame him. He has spent the large portion of his life in a dark and dank lair, no human contact, nothing. Socialization is a very important part in life that we all go through, and that was taken from him as a small child. At the first of the movie, it doesn't seem to bad, but on the rooftop, all seems to change, as the phantom is not getting his way and he's not used to that.

For the novel, we know he was a "murderer" or perhaps assassin in Persia for the sultana. It is understood that he murdered Joseph Buquet, and made the chandelier fall, cause one patrons death. As for Phillipe, I'm still not sold on that one. But yes, he is a murderer. Regardless of his promise to the Persian. As for mad....I'm not sure. He is definately sadistic and has no care for human life that may stubble upon his domain. He's used to getting what he wants, and like a child, has a tantrum if he doesn't. The only part that makes me think he is mad is at the end, when he's willing to blow up the entire opera house if Christine didn't choose him. Not sure a sane person would do that

Q. Who did Christine really love, Erik or Raoul?
This one I know there are going to be many ideas on. I believe that Christine loved them both. Equally, I'm not sure. She was aware of the "loose screws" that Erik/Phantom had. In the novel, he has a real power over her, trance-like. But you see twice where she has real love for him.....once in her dressing room where Raoul here's her sigh "Poor Erik", and then towards the end when he's recounting the story to the Persian about how she called him "Poor unhappy Erik" and they cried together. I think the difference here is the kind of love. Raoul she loved and wanted to be with, start a family whatever. Christine's love for the phantom seems to be more of a friendship love. I know there are parts of the book and novel that seem to contradict this, but in the end, I think that's the way it was.

Q. Who was Erik? All of his promises he kept, even to making little Meg a baroness, so who was he? A noble, royaly, or magician?
Brutal question. Erik was a man of many faces (pardon the pun). He rubbed elbows with the shah and the sultana, and was accepted by him. When he was forced to leave Persia, and came to Paris, he had to rebuild his reputation. I'm sure there were many people afraid of him, and I'm sure he did some bullying in the process. Look at how he bullied Montcharmin and Richard? I don't believe that he was royalty, but I believe that he could have fit as a nobleman. He was a proper gentleman (sort of), impecably dressed, I'm sure he could have fooled many. As for magician, I believe so. But we found that most of his "magic" tricks, weren't magic at all, but clever traps that he has set up. He has the ability to pull the wool over many people's eyes, who believe he's some sort of magician, but I think he's just that cunnnig with his tricks. You have a long time to work on stuff like this when you're stuck in a cellar for a long time. On the outside, he appears to be a magician, but that's just one of many masks he wears.

Good job! I'll accept those answers. Now your turn for questions my sweet. We should dub you the new Phantom of the Opera guru.