The Neapolitan Chord in Der Erlkonig

We first see the Neapolitan chord used in root position in m. 142, just before the realization of the death of the son. The chord is not used in its first inversion (N6) as it is most commonly found, but rather in root position. Again in m. 145, there is yet another Neapolitan chord in root position, followed by a N6 chord at a dramatic pause in the vocal line. After the death of the child is revealed, there is a PAC, ending the "minor" piece on a "happy" (or comfortable?) note. "Another unique aspect of Schubert's use of the Neapolitan chord in these measures is his voice leading. Typically le is in the bass of Neapolitan chord and it leads to sol. However, Schubert begins with a root position bII and instead of leading the e flat down to the d flat, in m. 144, he leads it up to the f flat. When he finally brings the listener to the actual N6 in measure 146 he leads us in abruptly by moving the ra from the previous measure straight into the first inversions le. Usually ra leads to ti in a Neapolitan chord, so this change allows the final line to be separated from the chaos of the previous line. It makes the last words, "in his arms, the child was dead" incredibly potent and tragic" (Rose 1).