Ivanhoe

forgiven. Prepare the Castle-hall for the trial of the sorceress.

Tournament-at-Ashby → siege of Torquilstone → trial of Rebecca at Templestowe: a three-act chivalric architecture where the Disinherited Knight's identity, Bois-Guilbert's obsession, and Prince John's usurpation interlock, so plot scores 88.

"Remain where thou art, proud Templar, or at thy choice advance!—one foot nearer, and I plunge myself from the precipice; my body shall be crushed out of the very form of humanity upon the stones of that court-yard, ere it become the victim of thy brutality!"

Ivanhoe the wounded hero, Rebecca the Jewish healer whose virtue exceeds her reward, Wamba and Gurth the jester-swineherd pair—each typed but vividly individuated; Rebecca alone would carry a lesser novel, so cast scores 90.

Thus ended the memorable field of Ashby-de-la-Zouche, one of the most gallantly contested tournaments of that age; for although only four knights, including one who was smothered by the heat of his armour, had died upon the field, yet upwards of thirty were desperately wounded.

The tournament set-piece and Torquilstone siege are brisk; the long descriptive passages on heraldry and medieval custom dilate the middle before the final trial-and-combat sequence restores urgency, so pace scores 82.

In that pleasant district of merry England which is watered by the river Don, there extended in ancient times a large forest, covering the greater part of the beautiful hills and valleys which lie between Sheffield and the pleasant town of Doncaster.

Scott's third-person historical voice—archaisms, chivalric address, landscape painting—established the historical-romance paragraph; equally influential on the genre, so prose scores 88.

Here haunted of yore the fabulous Dragon of Wantley; here were fought many of the most desperate battles during the Civil Wars of the Roses; and here also flourished in ancient times those bands of gallant outlaws, whose deeds have been rendered so popular in English song.

Norman-Saxon England under Prince John: Sherwood Forest, Rotherwood Hall, Ashby tournament ground, Torquilstone Castle, Templar Preceptory—heraldry, feudal law, and chivalric code rendered as living backdrop, so world scores 94.

Beside the swine-herd, for such was Gurth's occupation, was seated, upon one of the fallen Druidical monuments, a person about ten years younger in appearance, and whose dress, though resembling his companion's in form, was of better materials, and of a more fantastic appearance.

Ch.I opens on Gurth and Wamba by their sty with a Pope epigraph—atmospheric but slow; the Disinherited Knight's appearance at Ashby is the true narrative ignition, so hook scores 84.

"Gramercy for thy courtesy," replied the Disinherited Knight, "and to requite it, I advise thee to take a fresh horse and a new lance, for by my honour you will need both."

Founding text of the historical romance: the Saxon-Norman national conflict as adventure framework, the tournament as set-piece—virtually every subsequent swashbuckler owes Scott a royalty, so innov scores 86.

"that thou do thy battle manfully, nothing doubting that the good cause shall triumph.—And do thou, Rebecca, attend, that we assign thee the third day from the present to find a champion."

Rebecca freed by combat, Ivanhoe's duty done, Richard revealed—but Rebecca departs for Spain rather than marrying Wilfred, a morally elevated ending that refuses the easy romantic reward, so ending scores 88.