Walter Scott's Ivanhoe is considered one of the first historical novels in the world. It was published in 1819 and immediately became a classic of adventure literature, reviving public interest in the romantic Middle Ages. The novel is based on the enmity of the Saxons, the former owners of the British land, and the Norman conquerors.
As befits a good adventure novel, Ivanhoe is distinguished by an energetic plot and unambiguous characters. All negative characters in Scott are Normans, all positive ones are Saxons.
The beginning of the novel: return from the war
The protagonist of the novel is the brave knight Wilfred Ivanhoe, the only son of Sir Cedric of Rottherwood. Cedric longs to clear his native land from the conquerors. He supports the last descendant of the Saxon king Alfred and plans to marry him to his pupil Lady Rowena. But Rowena and Ivanhoe love each other, and the father drives his son out of the house as a hindrance to his plans. Ivanhoe embarks on the Third Crusade with King Richard the Lionheart.
At the beginning of the novel, a young warrior returns to his homeland after a serious injury and is forced to hide his name. King Richard languishes in captivity, and England is ruled by Prince John, who supports the Norman nobility and oppresses the common people.
Development of events: tournament in Ashby
The big tournament in Ashby brings all the characters onto the stage. Yeoman Locksley wins the shooting competition. The dishonorable Templar Knight Briand de Boisguillebert and Baron Fron de Boeuf, who seized the Ivanhoe estate, summon everyone who wants to fight them.
Their challenge is accepted by the mysterious Knight Deprived of Inheritance, who is assisted at the last moment by an equally mysterious Black Knight. Announced as the winner of the tournament, the Uninherited Knight proclaims Lady Rowena the queen of love and beauty. Taking the award from her hands, the knight takes off his helmet and turns out to be her beloved Ivanhoe. He falls unconscious from a wound received in battle.
Highlight: the siege of the Fronne de Befa castle
After the tournament, the defeated knights attack Sir Cedric on their way home. Cedric and the wounded Ivanhoe are kept in the castle of Fron de Boeuf for ransom and revenge, while the baron is trying to win the love of the beautiful Rowena.
But the servants of Cedric, who escaped captivity, save the noble heroes. They find the Black Knight, who helped Ivanhoe in the tournament, and Locksley the shooter with a group of yeomen. The assembled team storms the castle and frees the prisoners, the villains are overtaken by a well-deserved punishment.
Happy ending
According to the laws of the genre, the last scenes reveal all the secrets to us and reward the good characters of the novel. The Black Knight turns out to be King Richard, who has returned from captivity, who immediately puts things in order in England. Shooter Locksley turns out to be Robin Hood: he goes on to protect the innocent victims. Ivanhoe marries Rowena with the blessing of his father.
In his novel, Walter Scott showed the reader the ideal knight, handsome, loyal and courageous. All conceivable virtues, collected in one person, made the image of Ivanhoe synonymous with impeccable chivalry.
