Contemporary commentary, such as from Maurice Ravel, described "Fervaal" as strongly influenced by the operas of Richard Wagner, such as "Parsifal". Thus the opera can be described as an epic with Wagnerian allusion. Anya Suschitzky has published a lengthy analysis of the opera in the context of French nationalism and the influence of Wagner on French composers. James Ross has examined "Fervaal" in the context of French politics of the time, in addition to French nationalism. Manuela Schwartz has discussed in detail the connection between the story of "Axel" and the opera of "Fervaal".