Final answer:
Schubert's "Der Erlkönig" follows the plot of a supernatural encounter where a father races to save his son from the clutches of the Elf King, leading to a tragic outcome.
Step-by-step explanation:
Schubert’s "Der Erlkönig" (The Elf King) is a legendary example of a supernatural encounter in music, based on the poem written by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. It embodies themes popular during the Romantic era, such as the inclination towards nature, the supernatural, and deep, often tragic emotions. In "Der Erlkönig," a father rides frantically through the night with his son in his arms. The child is terrorized by visions of the Elf King, a supernatural being who is trying to lure him away. Despite the father's assurances that what the child sees is merely fog and natural phenomena, the son grows increasingly agitated and eventually succumbs to the unseen forces, tragically dying in his father's arms. The work showcases the Romantic fascination with the darker aspects of the human psyche and the supernatural, a stark contrast to the serene beauty of nature often depicted in other Romantic works.