Style.—Does Scott attempt to reproduce the language of a time other than his own? Does he introduce dialect? Do the characters talk naturally as we should expect persons of different birth and education to talk, or do they talk alike?
Note how Scott describes an outdoor scene (p. 6); a man (p. 7); a scene of action (pp. 300-306). Try to imitate his methods in descriptions of your own.
Note the parts of the story where the movement of events is very rapid (pp. 322-330), and others where the author introduces description or exposition (pp. 148-152) to retard the movement.
Do you find the sentences natural and easy, or formal and hard to read? Are there many unfamiliar words?
The Life and Character of the Author.—What are the main facts of Scott's boyhood? his education? his professional career? his success as a poet? his change from poetry to prose? his success as a novelist? his financial distress? his struggle to meet the demands of the law and of his own honor?
Would you judge from Ivanhoe that the author was a man of learning? a lover of nature? fond of social life? fond of animals? fond of children?
Write what you think we have reason to believe of Scott's character from reading this book.