Ivanhoe

"Ivanhoe" by Walter Scott is a historical novel written in the early 19th century. The story is set in England during the late 12th century, a time marked by the absence of King Richard the Lionheart and the unrest caused by the oppression of the Saxon population by the Norman nobility. The narrative centers around Wilfred of Ivanhoe, a Saxon knight, as he navigates the complexities of loyalty, love, and conflict in a divided society. At the start of "Ivanhoe," readers are introduced to the historical context of England after the Norman Conquest, the tensions between the Saxon and Norman classes, and the challenges faced by lesser nobility. The opening chapters present Cedric the Saxon, his concerns over his missing herd, and the presence of his ward, the beautiful Rowena. Two key characters, Gurth, a Saxon swineherd, and Wamba, a clown, engage in witty banter that underscores their subservient status while revealing their cleverness. As Cedric grows increasingly impatient for dinner and worried about his men, he expresses disdain towards the Normans, setting the stage for the forthcoming tensions and conflicts that will drive the plot forward. (This is an automatically generated summary.)