Note the chief traits of Cedric, Athelstane, and Gurth. Remember that Scott was trying to portray Saxon character. What are the individual traits of each? What have they in common?
What, if anything, in Rowena compels your admiration of her? What, if anything, is lacking to make her truly a heroic figure?
How does Rebecca compare with Rowena in the latter particular?
Do the principal characters remain the same from beginning to end, or do they show development?
Do we become acquainted with these characters by what they say and do; by what the author says of them; or by what they say of one another?
Interpretation.—It is fair to suppose in every novel that the author has had a more or less distinct purpose in writing it. It may be to present in life-like pictures some dramatic events in history; or to paint vivid scenes that illustrate the spirit of an age; or to hold up ideals of bravery, patriotism, patience, devotion, or some other virtue; or to show the working out of some great truth or principle of life.
What seems to you the purpose of the author in Ivanhoe? What ideals of character does he hold up? What service has he done for the reader of history?
Method of Narration.—Who tells the story? Would it be difficult to rearrange the plan so that Ivanhoe or some other character should tell it? Why?
Does the narrator speak from the standpoint of one who somehow or other knows all that the characters do and think and feel, or of one who recounts merely his own feelings and what he sees and hears?
Compare Ivanhoe in this respect with The Vicar of Wakefield, or with some other novel.