Which best describes the opening idea of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5?

Do your own homework!

Karajan conducting the Berlin Philharmonic. Enjoy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c4x0yuKpeY

The obvious aside, I would say two of your options combined, plus what I feel was Beethoven's statement made by it, defines what it's all about:

b. + c. + "what I feel was Beethoven's statement":

"I'm mad as h*ll, and we the people want take it any longer; so you better watch out".

"You", being the upper echelon of the class-stratified society of his day; and the way the poor and down trodden were exploited by these, their aristocratic masters: "enough is enough".

Alberich

It is a 4-note motive consisting of short-short-short long

The motive reoccurs in every moment of the symphony. IT has appeared in other works of music and his been given the name "Fate motif"

Listen to it,you obviously don't know what your missing and the answer will become very plain indeed.

Clue: It's definitely not D

I agree with mephisto. If you actually LISTEN to the music (and that's what music is for, after all), you will be able to do your own homework. Marvellous, eh?

You only have to listen to the first bar to know the answer to this question.

Wasn't that that disco song or something. I would say d.

Hope this helped.