Ivanhoe
Published in 1819
It has three volumes
A historical Novel by Walter Scott
Set in England in the Middle Ages
Scott takes several liberties in Ivanhoe. For instance, Robin Hood belonged to a later century, while Cedric and Athelstane are also real characters from an earlier period. Edward the Confessor did not leave any descendants. Urfried was a character from several hundred years later. Since Scott was writing fiction rather than history, he used poetic license to blend different periods into the world of Ivanhoe.
Scott read the medieval historians and gained an accurate antiquarian knowledge of medieval warfare, heraldry, monastic institutions, and the dress and habits of the Middle Ages. Scott was also interested in old ballads, especially those that related the story of Robin Hood. He blended these things into his historical novel, Ivanhoe, and used as a background the story of Richard the Lion-Hearted and the evil Prince John. It is an attempt to interest nineteenth century readers in a twelfth century world.
Main characters
Rebecca
This dark-eyed Jewish woman with a gift of healing endures mistreatment, especially when the knight Brian de Bois-Guilbert kidnaps her and she is found guilty of witchcraft. Ivanhoe rescues her in trial by combat.
Lady Rowena
Tall and "exquisitely fair," Rowena, the ward of Cedric, descends from Alfred the Great, and is thus intended for a strategic alliance, though she and Ivanhoe want to marry.
King Richard I
A large powerful figure disguised as the Black Knight, Richard has returned from the Crusades to find his kingdom struggling under his brother John's treacherous leadership. He rescues Ivanhoe at John's tournament and then again when Cedric's party is taken captive.
Cedric the Saxon
the Saxon thane Cedric is proud, broad-shouldered, and commanding. With dreams of wrenching rule from the Normans back to the Saxons, Cedric seeks to marry his ward Rowena with a descendant of Edward the Confessor, though she loves Ivanhoe.
Wilfred of Ivanhoe
The novel's hero, though average in size and "more slender than strongly made," wins every conflict he undertakes. He returns to England from the Crusades in disguise, having been disowned by his father for joining the Norman king abroad. He loves his father's ward Rowena, defends the unjustly beset Rebecca, and faithfully serves King Richard
Prince John
Attractive and opulently attired, Prince John rules tyrannically in his brother's place with no intention of ceding control should Richard return
Brian de Bois-Guilbert
A valiant but arrogant and cruel knight of the Knights Templar, he supports Prince John and opposes Ivanhoe. Infatuated with the lovely Rebecca, de Bois-Guilbert captures her, subjects her to condemnation for witchcraft, and dies in trial by combat fighting against her champion Ivanhoe.
Themes
Dispossession
In Ivanhoe Sir Walter Scott examines dispossession, or the depriving of home, possession, or security, on several levels: national, individual, and cultural.
In Ivanhoe people on all levels of society abuse their power. Because chivalric practice allows knights to hold captured enemies for ransom, the Norman knights believe they can capture passersby and demand money for their release.
Identity
Scott approaches identity from two angles: individual identity and cultural identity. Many of the characters hide their identities, generally for their own protection. Ivanhoe has been disinherited by his father for following the Norman king, whom all believe is being held for ransom in Europe while his brother, John, holds the power in England; so Ivanhoe keeps a low profile.
Frustrated Love
In Ivanhoe no one really ends up with the person he or she wants or should be with. Perhaps the most poignant example of this is Rebecca and Ivanhoe. Rebecca loves Ivanhoe, but religion gets in the way. If it didn't, perhaps Ivanhoe could allow himself to reciprocate her feelings. She saves his life through her medical skills, and he is willing to die to save her life when the Templars accuse her of witchcraft. But Rebecca's Jewishness is simply too great a hurdle to overcome.
symbols
Sherwood Forest
Robin Hood's world is a microcosm of a successful society in which everyone is decent and industrious.
Lincoln Green
Lincoln green refers to green cloth made in the city of Lincoln in England. By the time Scott was writing Ivanhoe, this green cloth was already associated with the legend of Robin Hood the outlaw. Lincoln green is specifically mentioned by Scott only three times.
Rebecca
As a dark-skinned Jewish beauty with almost mystical powers of healing, Rebecca embodies the fascination Jerusalem still holds for the returned Crusaders. Her beauty, learning, and goodness captivate Ivanhoe, but two things hold him back
Fictional elements
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Historical Fiction - While "Ivanhoe" is a work of fiction, it is set
in a real historical period (late 12th century England) and
features historical figures such as King Richard the Lionheart.
Scott researched the period extensively and sought to
recreate its customs, clothing, architecture, and language as
accurately as possible.
Medievalism - The novel is also an example of medievalism,
a literary and cultural movement that romanticized the Middle
Ages and drew inspiration from its chivalric traditions,
legends, and aesthetics. "Ivanhoe" depicts the pageantry and
spectacle of medieval tournaments, the romance of courtly
love, and the heroic ideals of chivalry.
Adventure - "Ivanhoe" is an adventure story, filled with daring
escapes, thrilling battles, and treacherous villains. It follows
the exploits of its hero, Ivanhoe, as he fights for justice and
honor in a dangerous and unpredictable world.
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The historical period in which the novel is set was a time of
great change and conflict in England. The Normans had
conquered England in 1066 and established a feudal system
of government, in which the Norman nobility held power over
the Saxon common people. In the late 12th century, tensions
between the Normans and Saxons were still high, and there
were also conflicts between different religious and ethnic
groups in England, including Jews, who were often
persecuted and marginalized