Ivanhoe was published in 1819, a year before Walter Scott would receive his title from King George IV. Ivanhoe was to be his most famous and intriguing that he wrote in his lifetime. It is a tale of adventure, romance, comedy, and chivalry in the days of knights in shining armor. The first passage of Ivanhoe gives the setting for the entire novel. 'In that pleasant district of merry England which is watered by the river Don,' is where all of the action takes place. The first chapter gives an account of the present state of affairs in England. After the defeat of the Saxons by William the Conqueror of Normandy at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, the Norman French soon took over England. They reduced the proud, native Saxons into their servants and slaves. The action opens with the introduction of two men, Wamba and Gurth. Wamba is a bondsman who lives by his wits, and Gurth is a simple swineherd. Together they are discussing the state of Norman-Saxon relations while Gurth's dog, Fangs, is rounding up the swine. As this carries on, a storm is approaching the two men. As they begin to leave for their master's estate, Wamba and Gurth hear horsemen approaching on the path. While returning, Wamba makes a point to take his time on the path home in order to find out who the horsemen are.
When the horsemen do catch up to the two men in slave collars, they are introduced to the reader as Brian de Bois-Guilbert, the Knight Templar, his companion Prior Aymer, and Abbot of Jorvaulx. They also have about them their attendants. They are seeking the home of Cedric the Saxon and Wamba purposely misdirects them so that they will not find it. As the horsemen carry on, Wamba and Gurth continue to the home of their master, Cedric the Saxon, in the other direction. As the horsemen continue their journey, they have a discussion about the beauty of Rowena, who is the ward of Cedric the Saxon. After some time they arrive at a sunken cross where two paths meet and find a Palmer gives them the proper directions to Cedric's home and takes the men their himself. After a lengthy description of Rotherwood, home of Cedric the Saxon, the guests arrive at the estate and are welcomed and treated with respect and hospitality. They are in time for the evening's feast and just before the food is served, Wamba and Gurth make their entrance into the dining hall. Minutes later, the fair Lady Rowena also makes her way into the room. As the feast commences, the Jew, Isaac of York, makes his entrance into the dining hall. The Jews are victims of much prejudice in the novel and Isaac is treated as an 'unbelieving dog' would be. Isaac, however, does have much to share with the congregation at the dinner. He brings news of the Crusades in Palestine and of the courage of Ivanhoe. Cedric is very interested in news of Ivanhoe and listens carefully to what Isaac has to say. After Isaac's telling of the news from the Crusades, de Bois-Guilbert raises up and speaks against Ivanhoe, saying that he could conquer the brave knight. At this moment, the Palmer begins to speak angrily at de Bois-Guilbert and vows that them moment Ivanhoe returns from the Crusades that he will challenge de Bois-Guilbert immediately. The Templar accepts this challenge and the Palmer hands over a small token to the Prior Aymer to insure honesty in his challenge of the Knight. Thus the feast is ended and all the participants head towards their quarters. Along the way, the Palmer hears the two Moslem attendants of the Templar discussing their plan to rob Isaac. The Palmer, who understood their native tongue, rises early the next morning to wake Wamba to escort himself and Isaac our of Rotherwood to escape the robbery by the Moslems. In reward for his help, Isaac loans the Palmer a horse and a suit of armor to use at the tournament at Ashby-de-la-Zouche.
The tournament begins the next day and the colorful pageantry is described in detail. Isaac arrives with his daughter, Rebecca, whom we meet for the first time. The Normans and Saxons argue about where the Jews should sit, but this quarrel is solved by Wamba. At the tournament we are also introduced to Athelstane the Unready, a native Saxon who is also a suitor to Rowena, and Waldemar Fitzurse, a counselor to Prince John. At the tournament their arrives a competitor known as the Disinherited Knight who proceeds to overthrow the four strongest opponents in the tournament, including Brian de Bois-Guilbert. At the conclusion of the tournament, the Disinherited Knight chooses the Lady Rowena as the Queen of Beauty and Love. The knight and Lady Rowena decline an invitation to Prince John's banquet of that evening. The Disinherited Knight takes care not to have his face shown to anyone at the tournament.
After the tournament, the squires of the four vanquished knights arrive at the tent of the Disinherited Knight. As is custom, they offer their master's armor and horse, or an equal ransom, to their victor. The Disinherited Knight accepts a rather moderate ransom from three of the squires but will not accept either the horse and armor or ransom from the squire of Brian de Bois-Guilbert. Instead he relates his feelings of mortal defiance of the Templar and tells his squire to relate that to his master. Gurth is then sent to pay back the money to Isaac that would cover the use of the horse and armor used in the day's combat. Gurth does so and is repaid secretly by Rebecca as he is leaving the house of the Jew. On his return trip from Isaac's home, Gurth is set upon by a band of thieves who resolve to take his money. Only after combating one of the members of the gang of thieves and emerging victorious does Gurth retain his money. In addition to their leniency of not taking his money, Gurth receives protection from the thieves for the remainder of his journey home.
The second day of the tournament is surrounded by much excitement and the knights in combat assemble into two equal sides for the general tournament. The Disinherited Knight was leader of one side, The Knight Templar of the other. Joining the Templar is Athelstane and Reginald Front-de-Boeuf, a strong Norman knight. When the fighting commences, the Templar and the Disinherited Knight try to attack each other but cannot reach one another because of the surrounding fray. After the other knights are vanquished, only the Disinherited Knight, the Knight Templar, Front-de-Boeuf, Athelstane, and a knight whom was being called the Black Sluggard because of his slow movement, remained. At that moment the Disinherited Knight is surrounded by his three adversaries and would have been struck down had it not been for the heroics of the Black Sluggard. The Black Sluggard charges into the battle and took out both Athelstane and Front-de-Boeuf so that the Disinherited Knight and Brian de Bois-Guilbert can fight one-on-one. The next conflict is soon over as the Disinherited Knight emerges victorious for the second day. As he is being crowned by the Lady Rowena, his helmet was taken off against his will and he is revealed as Ivanhoe, the disinherited son of Cedric the Saxon. At this moment Ivanhoe faints to the ground and it is realized he is badly wounded in his side.
Once Ivanhoe is revealed, there is quite a fervor running through the crowd at the tournament. There is speculation on whether Front-de-Bouef will have to give up his castle that used to be occupied by Ivanhoe before his departure, and whether the proposed plan of Prince John for Lady Rowena to marry De Bracy, a Norman Knight, would follow through. This excitement and agonizing reaches its peak when Prince John receives a letter that states, 'Take heed to yourself, for the Devil is unchained.' After the main tournament is over, several smaller contests take place and one of these is the archery contest. Locksley takes part in this contest and, just as folklore persists, succeeds in splitting the arrow of his fellow competitor Hubert. Later on that evening Athelstane and Cedric attend the banquet of Prince John. Throughout the night they are continuously ridiculed by their Norman company because of their being Saxon. They are scoffed at because of their bad manners and because of their supposed inferiority. At the conclusion of the feast Cedric is asked by Prince John to make a toast. Prince John thought that Cedric would surely make it in honor of himself in order to appease his Norman monarch. Instead, Cedric dedicates the drink to the absent King Richard. The supporters of Prince John do not know what to do, and Prince John becomes enraged at his sudden loss of control over his Norman subjects. Later that night, De Bracy, who is infatuated with the idea of marrying Lady Rowena, dresses up in the clothing of a yeoman and decides that he will abduct the Saxon party as they return home from the tournament. Fitzurse tells De Bracy this is not a good idea, but De Bracy continues on.
The next chapters of the book take us to the Black Knight who is wandering aimlessly in the forest. He finally decides to loosen the reins and let his horse find the way they come upon the hut of the Clerk of Copmanhurst. After the Clerk is convinced of the Black Knight's honesty, he lets him into his home and they spend the night drinking and singing as loudly as possible. The Clerk is easily recognized as Friar Tuck, the jovial priest who loves his drink as much as his God.
After this brief interlude with the Friar and the Black Knight, we are sent back to Cedric and his party. Once Cedric gets word that Ivanhoe is being taken care of well, their party heads back to Rotherwood. As they are returning home Oswald, a servant of Cedric, recognizes Gurth as one who cared for Ivanhoe. Gurth is then held captive for helping Cedric's disinherited son. As they are riding however, Gurth breaks his bonds and slips away from his captives and into the forest, renouncing his service to Cedric. The other members are too frightened by the howling of Fangs, Gurth's dog, to notice that their prisoner has escaped. As they continue on they encounter Isaac and his daughter who are caring for a sick man. Rebecca begs Rowena for protection and Rowena fulfills her request. Moments later De Bracy and his gang descend on the travelers and take all of them prisoner except Wamba, who has managed to escape. Wamba finds Gurth in the forest and they both encounter Locksley, who wishes to punish the impostors who kidnapped the Saxon party. The three men head to the home of Friar Tuck and find the Friar and the Black Knight in a drunken revelry. They both vow to help rescue the prisoners after they sober up and the five men now are on their way to Torquilstone, the castle of Front-de-Boeuf, where the prisoners have been taken.
At Torquilstone, all the members of the party are taken to separate rooms and Isaac is the first one to be shown to the reader. Isaac is thrown into the dungeon and threatened by Front-de-Bouef with torture by fire unless he pays him a ransom of one thousand pounds of silver. Isaac asks Front-de-Boeuf if he may release his daughter to get the money for him, but learns that she has become the property of Brian de Bois-Guilbert. Just when Isaac is being prepared for torture, a bugle sounds and the preparations are stopped.
The next person shown in the castle is Lady Rowena, who is approached by De Bracy with a marriage proposal. She is told that Ivanhoe is also a prisoner in the castle and that both he and Cedric will die if she refuses him. Rowena then begins to cry, and shortly thereafter the bugle sounds and their conversation ends.
Rebecca is the last prisoner that is dealt with in the novel. She is being pressured by Brian de Bois-Guilbert. He, however, does not want marriage but rather the pleasures of the flesh. She responds to his advances by threatening to jump out of the tower. This threat also ends abruptly as the bugle sounds and de Bois-Guilbert must answer its call.
The party of Locksley and the Black Knight reach the castle and send in a letter stating their demand for the release of the prisoners. Front-de-Bouef replies that they will not be released and that a priest be sent inside to hear confessions of the doomed captives. Wamba enters the castle in Friar Tuck's robes and makes his way to Cedric. The two men exchange clothes and Cedric finds his way to Urfried, an old Saxon hag. He learns of her hatred for the Normans after witnessing the murder of her father and how she was once respected she was now considered worthless by her master. Front-de-Bouef then gives a message to the disguised Cedric to deliver to Philip Malvoisin, a Norman supporter of Prince John. In addition to the letter Cedric is given a gold piece as payment. Cedric throws the money at Front-de-Bouef and then joins Locksley and the Black Knight. After learning of the trickery attempted by the Saxons, the ransoms are rejected by the prisoners, and the storming of the castle becomes necessary.
After this action takes place, the novel takes a moment to tell of the fate of Ivanhoe after the tournament. We learn that after being taken in by the Jewess Rebecca, he was brought with her and Isaac as they traveled to York after the tournament. They were then joined with the party of Cedric and then all were taken captive by De Bracy. Ivanhoe was then taken prisoner just as the other members in the party were.
After we learn of how Ivanhoe arrived at Torquilstone, the fighting ensues. Rebecca is left to care for Ivanhoe during the battle, and describes all of the action to him. Front-de-Bouef is mortally wounded and is being berated by Urfried as he is dying. In a last ditch attempt at revenge, Urfried has set fire to the castle and both she and Front-de-Boeuf die in the flames. During the battle, the Black Knight saves Ivanhoe from the flames and captures De Bracy. All of the prisoners are now safe except for Rebecca, who has been carried off by Brian de Bois-Guilbert. Athelstane has been struck down as if he were dead by the Templar as he tried to save Rebecca.
After the fighting, the group assembles at Locksley's hiding place in the forest. Once there, Cedric frees Gurth. Also, Isaac learns of his daughter's abduction. The Prior of Aymer suggests he use his influence over the Templar to force him to release Rebecca. A letter is soon drawn up and the Saxon party departs to Coningsburgh castle where Athelstane is to be buried.
De Bracy, being freed by the Black Knight, returns to Prince John and tells him that King Richard, the Black Knight, is back in England. He also relates the news that Brian de Bois-Guilbert has fled and that Front-de-Bouef has been killed. Prince John then conceives a plot to imprison his brother and sends Fitzurse to capture him. Isaac soon arrives at Templestowe, where Rebecca is being held. He is brought to the Grand Master, Lucas Beaumanoir. He brings the letter from Prior Aymer and instead of the release of Rebecca, her healing powers are looked upon as those of a sorceress and is now looked upon as the 'second witch of Endor.' Brian de Bois-Guilbert is now exposed as loving a Jewess, and Albert Malvoisin, Preceptor of Templestowe, tries to keep up the Templar's good reputation. Brian de Bois-Guilbert is in love with Rebecca, but is reminded by Malvoisin that if he wants to ascend in the ranks of his order that he must end his desires for Rebecca. The Templar is torn between the two things that he truly desires. Meanwhile, Beaumanoir ordered an immediate trial to convict Rebecca as a witch. Brian de Bois-Guilbert tries to find a way for her to escape.
The attempt at escape fails and Rebecca is brought to trial. Brian de Bois-Guilbert is cleared of all charges because the jury believed that he was under the supernatural influence of Rebecca. Rebecca is soon convicted after many witnesses testify to her supernatural powers. Once convicted she gains a reprieve by being allowed to have a champion represent her against Brian de Bois-Guilbert. The Templar fears that a champion will not be found and wants Rebecca to elope with him.
While on the way to Castle Coningsburgh, King Richard and Wamba are attacked by Waldemar Fitzurse and his men. With the help of Robin Hood and his men, all of the men are slain except Fitzurse. He is banished from England. Ivanhoe and Gurth rejoin the group after the battle and are teamed up with the outlaws. As the party travels to Coningsburgh, the funeral feast has commenced. Athelstane, who had merely been knocked unconscious, appears and before he can relate his story of how he escaped his coffin, Ivanhoe is summoned to save Rebecca. The assembly at Templestowe is eagerly awaiting a champion to arrive to save Rebecca, and just when all hope is thought to be lost, Ivanhoe rides into the lists. Brian de Bois-Guilbert and Ivanhoe charge at each other and both are unseated. Ivanhoe survives and the Templar falls dead to the ground. Thus Rebecca is saved and Ivanhoe goes on to marry Lady Rowena. Rebecca pays a visit to Rowena to thank her for her freedom. King Richard is restored as the reigning monarch of England and Isaac and Rebecca leave England and travel to Granada.
The End
