Ivanhoe

Walter ScottMar 2015

3.8

Word count: 237K words
Chapters: 68

Summary

First published in 1819 when Sir Walter Scott was at the height of his powers, Ivanhoe is a spellbinding tale of adventure, chivalry and romance set in a twelfth-century England where the Saxons are at loggerheads with the occupying Normans. Young Wilfred of Ivanhoe has been disinherited by his father because he has fallen in love with his father's ward Rowena and wishes to marry her. Wounded during a tournament, he is nursed back to health by the beautiful Rebecca. It takes the help of Richard the Lionheart and of Robin Hood and his Sherwood Forest outlaws to ensure that the gallant Ivanhoe can save Rebecca from being burnt as a witch, establish justice and peace between Norman and Saxon, and gain the hand of the fair Rowena.

Editor's review

Scott turns twelfth-century England's ethnic divide into sustained tension: the privileges of the Norman conquerors and the losses of the old Saxon nobility are embodied in specific people rather than left as background. The tournament is the liveliest part of the book—armor, banners, stands, and social maneuvering all crowded together, reading like live coverage. More enduring is Rebecca's storyline: she stands in a hostile position yet shows more judgment and compassion than many who call themselves knights, and the novel thereby turns "chivalry" from a slogan into something to be tested. This book suits discussions of identity, prejudice, and courage, and works as an introduction to historical fiction. As you read, notice who truly follows the rules and who merely exploits them.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Young adult readers who enjoy knights, tournaments, and adventure
Newcomers to historical fiction interested in medieval England and ethnic conflict
Language arts and history teachers who want to discuss prejudice and identity in class
Adult readers comfortable with longer length and older narrative pacing

Not a good fit for

Young readers who only like light modern stories and know nothing of the historical background
Readers expecting fast pacing, twists, and short dialogue
Readers unwilling to sort out the relationship between Saxons and Normans

Reading tips

Read the opening chapters first to grasp the two groups' opposition before entering the tournament section
Read Rebecca against Rowena, comparing their situations and choices
When names and places blur, keep a character-relationship chart at hand
After the tournament, pause and consider why the author made it so long

Copyright information
Part1
INTRODUCTION TO IVANHOE.
DEDICATORY EPISTLE
CHAPTER I
CHAPTER II
CHAPTER III
Part2
CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER V
CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER VIII
Part3
CHAPTER IX
CHAPTER X
CHAPTER XI
CHAPTER XII
CHAPTER XIII
Part4
CHAPTER XIV
CHAPTER XV
CHAPTER XVI
CHAPTER XVII
CHAPTER XVIII
Part5
CHAPTER XIX
CHAPTER XX
CHAPTER XXI
CHAPTER XXII
CHAPTER XXIII
Part6
CHAPTER XXIV
CHAPTER XXV
CHAPTER XXVI
CHAPTER XXVII
CHAPTER XXVIII
Part7
CHAPTER XXIX
CHAPTER XXX
CHAPTER XXXI
CHAPTER XXXII.
CHAPTER XXXIII
Part8
CHAPTER XXXIV
CHAPTER XXXV
CHAPTER XXXVI
CHAPTER XXXVII
CHAPTER XXXVIII
Part9
CHAPTER XXXIX
CHAPTER XL
CHAPTER XLI
CHAPTER XLII
CHAPTER XLIII
Part10
CHAPTER XLIV
NOTE TO CHAPTER I.
NOTE TO CHAPTER II.
NOTE TO CHAPTER XVII.
NOTE TO CHAPTER XXI.
Part11
NOTE TO CHAPTER XXII.
NOTE TO CHAPTER XXIX
NOTE TO CHAPTER XXXI
NOTE TO CHAPTER XXXII
NOTE TO CHAPTER XXXIII
NOTE TO CHAPTER XLI.

FAQ

What historical background does the story have?

Twelfth-century England, where the Normans hold power and the old Saxon nobility is at a disadvantage. Ivanhoe is disowned by his father over marriage, and his personal fate becomes entangled with the conflict between the two groups—the root of the book's conflict.

Can I read this without having read other Scott works?

Yes. It is a complete, independent story requiring no prior reading. The narrative pace and syntax carry the traits of early nineteenth-century fiction, though, so the opening chapters take a little patience.

Is Rebecca important in the book?

Very. Drawn into danger after treating Ivanhoe, she faces hardship without losing her dignity, and the author uses her to test the so-called chivalry of those around her. Watch especially how she contrasts with Rowena.

Comments

Find this book

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

Walter Scott Author · Scottish · 1771–1832

Sir Walter Scott (1771–1832) was a Scottish novelist, poet, and historian born in Edinburgh. He founded the Western tradition of the historical novel, and his representative works include Ivanhoe and The Bride of Lammermoor, as well as Waverley and Rob Roy. Drawing largely on Scottish and English history, his works often take major historical events as their backdrop, interweaving real figures with fictional characters; they combine romantic imagination with a realistic touch, and their unhurried narrative and strong sense of place have had a profound influence on European literature. This library holds two of his works, classified under inspirational growth; publicly available information on their Chinese translation and reception is limited.