Melodies or fragments that identify particular characters and ideas in Wagner's operas are known as A. bel canto. B. leitmotifs. C. endless melody. D. sprechsingen

The correct answer is (B) : melodies or fragments that identify particular characters and ideas in Wagner's operas are known as leitmotifs. Richard Wagner was the first composer to be specifically associated with the concept of leitmotif. In his music essay "Opera and Drama" (1851), Wagner raised an issue of how to best unite elements of the music drama. In "Der Ring des Nibelungen" he used hundreds of leitmotifs to relate to specific characters or situations and unite his cycle of four operas.