"The ballad of the valiant knight Ivanhoe". The victory of nobility over deceit

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

The novel "The Ballad of the Valiant Knight Ivanhoe" has become a model of nobility and courage for many generations. Sir W alter Scott managed to solve the most important task in his most famous chivalric novel. He literally untwisted the British epic of the time of Richard the Lionheart, and from the resulting one he wove a new one, immersing it in the shell of a novel.

Historical disposition

XII century - not the best times for Britain, defeated a century ago by the Norman conquerors in the Battle of Hastings. The proud country was gathering strength to throw off the yoke.

The ruler capable of lifting England from its knees, Richard the Lionheart, has gone missing, captured by the Duke of Austria. Prince John is trying to seize the throne. The Ballad of the Knight Ivanhoe tells us about such a difficult historical situation.

Thane (Scottish lord) Cedric of Rotherwood pursues a noble goal - to expel the Norman conquerors from their homeland. But at the same time, he makes a tactical mistake, relying on the leadership qualities of Athelstan of Koningsburg, who simply does not have them. In order to artificially give more political weight to his protégé, he decides to marry him to his pupil Lady Rowena, heiress of King Alfred the Great (who liberated Britain from the Vikings two centuries before).

Storyline

Knowing about the political game of his father Cedric, the knight of Richard the Lionheart, Wilfred Ivanhoe, returns incognito from the crusade. He is in love with Rowena, as she is with him. Therefore, pretending to be a pilgrim, the knight strives for a tournament at Ashby, timed to coincide with the wedding. This is his only chance to make a difference. "The Ballad of Ivanhoe" plot gets its start here.

Bad weather forces him, unrecognized, to take refuge with other travelers in his father's guest house. A noble thane grants his shelter to anyone who asks him. Brian de Boisguillebert, once defeated by him in the tournament, is under the same roof with the main character. This is a powerful and mercantile monk, a warrior of the order of the templars. Humility and righteousness are not his forte. In just one evening, he manages to start a quarrel with Ivanhoe (slandering Richard the Lionheart), and give the order to seize the Jew Isaac, intending to get rich at his expense. "The Ballad of the Valiant Knight Ivanhoe" tells of a warning by a Jew knight, for which, out of gratitude, he provides him with patronage - a note to the merchant brother asking him to lend Ivanhoearmor and a warhorse with harness.

Ashby Tournament

When Brian de Boisguillebert seemed to win the tournament in honor of Lady Rowena, who is his brand - the queen of love and beauty, suddenly everything changes. Ivanhoe, arriving incognito, with the motto "Disinherited" inscribed on his shield, challenges the monk-knight to fight and defeats him. Individual fights with the instigators of the tournament are also in his favor. The next day, the rules of the action require a group fight. The Knights Templar are experienced warriors, and Boisguillebert is confident in the success of this duel. And so it happens, but suddenly the Black Knight comes to the aid of Ivanhoe. "The Ballad of the Valiant Knight Ivanhoe" introduces a new character into the plot. But is it really that new? Together they win.

When, according to custom, Lady Rowena, before laying a crown on the head of a victorious knight, removes his helmet from him, she sees Ivanhoe's bloodless face before her. His many wounds bleed and he falls unconscious. Prince John, who is present at the tournament, is informed that Richard the Lionheart is at large and is returning. The mortally frightened prince goes to great lengths to enlist the support of the vassals who are upset by the loss in the tournament. He promises De Bracy profit, hypocritically recommending that he attack Thane Cedric and seize his fortune.

Fighting the Normans

Tan Cedric and Athelstan of Koningsburg return from the tournament together with Isaac and his daughter who joined themRebekah. Grateful Jews on a stretcher take out the wounded Ivanhoe. They are captured on the road by the Normans - Brian de Boisguillebert and De Bracy. Moreover, as usual in romantic novels, de Boisguillebert falls in love with Rebecca, and De Bracy sympathizes with Lady Rowena. However, as they say, the earth is already burning under the feet of the Normans: the castle of the robber De Bracy is attacked by free yeomen led by the Black Knight and win. All have been released and are returning home.

"The Ballad of the Valiant Knight Ivanhoe" tells about the risk to the life of the rightful king of Britain. Released, de Bracy recognizes the Black Knight as Richard the Lionheart and informs Prince John of this. He, not distinguished by nobility, sends his satrap Fitz-Urs. In a critical situation, Richard blows a horn given by the leader of the yeomen, Loxley. He comes to the rescue. Richard the Lionheart reveals his incognito to Locksley, and he does not remain in debt by revealing his name - Robin Hood.

Boisguillebert, trying to take Rebekah away, kills Athelstan of Koningsburg who rushed to her aid with a sword. Then he does an obvious stupidity - he shelters a pagan girl in a monastery. But here everything is under control. The Church monitors the morality of the monasteries, periodically checking them. The Grand Master of the Order of Beaumanoir, who inspects the monastery of the monk-warrior, according to the legal practice of the XII century, orders Rebekah to be executed in a revealing manner. The principle is unoriginal: there is no person - there is no sin.

Happy End

Rebekah enjoys the right to prove her innocence by declaring a joust of herdefense counsel with the accuser (the timid and deceitful Boisguillebert). The request of the girl is reported to Ivanhoe, who has not yet recovered from his wounds. He rushes to help. In a duel with an opponent, the hero, exhausted by a long journey, miraculously, but wins. The Grandmaster declares that Rebekah is innocent.

The end of the novel is a classic happy ending. Ascended to the throne, Richard the Lionheart generously forgave the repentant Prince John. Tan Cedric marries the lovers Ivanhoe and Rowena.