Walter Scott. Information about the life and work of the English writer
195 years since the release of the novel
Walter Scott "Ivanhoe" (1819)
Walter Scott entered world literature as the creator of the historical novel. The main thing in his novels is not the depiction of life or customs, but a person in different eras of his existence. Scott differs from his predecessors in literature in his desire to explain the psychology and behavior of the heroes of that historical period, in which they live, by the extraction by the heroes of various lessons: moral, psychological, historical. "Ivanhoe" is undoubtedly one of the best novels Walter Scott.A deep connoisseur of "medieval antiquities" and, moreover, greatest artist, he knew how to revive the events, "covered with the dust of time." His literaryheritage -28 novels, several novellas and short stories. The writer had a great capacity for work. Every day he rose at dawn and, with the punctuality of heavenly bodies, sat down at desk to spend five or six hours with him.
History of the creation of the novel
Of the 28 historical novels written by Walter Scott, Ivanhoe stands out. Historicallytruthfully reflecting the reign of the English king Richard the First Plantagenet, nicknamed « Lion Heart”, sometimes retreating from the truth in portraits historical figures(King Richard I and his brother PrinceJohn) in order to affirm higher ideals, "Scottishsorcerer" portrayed in the fictitious image of Wilfred Ivanhoe a genuine "knight without fear and reproach", a symbolvictory of good over social and everyday evil. The image of Ivanhoe will remain for centuries. In the preface to the novel, Scott wrote: “It naturally occurred to me that the ancient traditions and noble spirit of a people who live in a civilized age and state, and retain so much of the customs and mores inherent in society at the dawn of its existence, should serve as a fertile theme for a novel, unless it comes out according to the saying: "The story is good, but the narrator is bad."
Story native land, native of Scotland, feelings and pain for her fate, echoes of folk ballads are present in Ivanhoe.In any case, Scott's novels have been read, read and will be read. And not only because they are truerecreate the past in all its historical flavor, but also because they show the connection of privatelife, the fate of ordinary people, ordinary people with the life of society, with the historical events of their time, withdestinies of the greats of this world and peoples. And if not always as an example to the current generation of historicalpersonalities of the past cannot be made better than they were, you can give good examples of those heroescreated by the author's imagination.Present in filmed form in novel and Walter Scott's knowledge of the history and culture of England and Scotland, the writer's knowledge of Scottish and English folk ballads, which Walter Scott collected long years. echoes of many of which we see in the novel Ivanhoe.
Quotes from Ivanhoe
Read with pleasure!
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The work of the Scottish writer, who worked at the beginning of the nineteenth century, is interesting to us today because Walter Scott improved the novel. Before him, in English literature there was the so-called "Gothic" novel and "antique". But the first from Scott's point of view was too full of mysticism, and the language of the second was complex and incomprehensible to the modern reader.
After a long search, he created an improved structure of the novel on historical theme. The writer redistributed facts and fiction so that it became clear that no one, even the most influential historical figure, can stop the eternal course of history.
Of all the novels that Walter Scott wrote, Ivanhoe is the most famous. Following Shakespeare, the writer fundamentally departed from his historical chronicles. Real personalities in his novels rather serve as a background, but on foreground events are on the fate of which is affected by the change of historical eras.
Walter Scott "Ivanhoe" (analysis)
A bright segment of the history of England was depicted in the novel by Walter Scott. "Ivanhoe" is a work about the beginning of feudalism. Created by Scott "Ivanhoe" in 1820. The events refer to the end of the long and bloody struggle between the Normans and the Saxons (12th century). The historical background is the struggle for power during the reign of Richard the First (Lionheart) - a historical figure.
Knight Wilfred and Lady Ravena are, although the main, but fictional characters created by Walter Scott. "Ivanhoe" is a close interweaving of love and political intrigues. The well-being of lovers is completely dependent on how they develop historical events.
In confirmation of the structure of the historical novel, which was created by Walter Scott, Ivanhoe acts against the backdrop of colorful historical events, speaking on the side of King Richard. The hero is characterized by devotion, a code of honor at the heart of all actions. Nothing can prevent him from behaving in accordance with a sense of duty and being faithful to his lady of the heart.
Keeping incognito under the cloak of a pilgrim, the knight Wilfred Ivanhoe is the only one who took pity on poor Isaac, a Jewish usurer. He gave him a place by the fire; interceded for the honor of Cedric Sax's heir (that is, for his own honor, but anonymously). Then he challenged Boisguillebert, the invincible knight of the Temple; saved the same Isaac from robbery and death; won several times on the lists; fought with King Richard; participated in the Crusade; saved the honor and life of the beautiful Rebekah (daughter of Isaac). Not once throughout the whole story did Ivanhoe change the knightly concept of honor.
The novel is built on an exciting guessing of the mysteries that arise in the course of the plot (the secret of the heir of Cedric Sax and the pilgrim, the Knight, the Disinherited, the Black Knight). In addition, the work combines intrigue, vivid spectacles and philosophical understanding of events.
In addition to Ivanhoe, there is another true knight in the plot, this time he is a historical figure. Of course, this is King Richard, who in the novel is most interested in the life of a wandering hero. For him, the glory that he receives on his own, with his own hand and sword, is more important than victory at the head of a large army. Of course, the author understood that he created a romantic image, and it far from corresponds to historical reality. But the framework of the idea of the work required just such an interpretation of the image.
Concerning philosophical reflection problems, then at the wedding of a couple in love (Ivanhoe and Lady Rowena), relatives from two warring parties - noble Saxons and Normans - gradually realize that peace negotiations could become more successful than an unreliable success in an intertribal war. As a result, the union of the two tribes gave their peoples years of peace and prosperity. As far as we all know, these tribes have merged so much that today they have lost all distinctions.
Although knightly times long gone, but the novels of Walter Scott are still interesting to the modern reader. They are loved for their lively intrigue, romantic adventurism and bright, lively images of heroes that have become world classics.
Sir Walter Scott's contribution to the creation of the historical novel cannot be overestimated. More than one generation of readers read his works for a hundred and fifty years. Ivanhoe is one of the most interesting things written by this author.
The historical setting of the novel
The Normans conquered the ancestral lands of the Saxons about 150 years ago in just one battle. The novel is set in the 12th century against the background of the struggle of two brothers for the throne. This is the legitimate king Richard I and his brother John, who, in fact, wants to usurp power in the kingdom. The Plantagenet dynasty completely established itself on the island and forced out its indigenous inhabitants to the worst lands. The Saxon nobility dreams of regaining their former position. And the country finds itself in three opposing camps. Such is the alignment of forces at the beginning of the novel, where the main thing should be the image of Ivanhoe, created by the writer's imagination. The plot of the novel begins with the return of Ivanhoe to his homeland, where he does not know what awaits him.
Characteristics of the image of Ivanhoe
Wilfred Ivanhoe is disinherited by his father Cedric, but is deeply in love with his ward Rowena, for whom Cedric is preparing a higher fate than marriage to his son. Ivanhoe is a Saxon knight who is loyal to Richard I, King of England, a representative of the Plantagenet dynasty that came from France. From his overlord, he received a desire to follow the courtly laws of honor. Valor, courage, loyalty for him is not an empty phrase. Such is the characteristic of the image of Ivanhoe as a whole.
Participating in Richard, he won great fame as a true defender of the faith and Christianity. There he covers himself with glory, but also arouses the hatred of the knight Boisguillebert, whom he defeated in a tournament in Palestine. This is one of the sides that characterizes the image of Ivanhoe. He is the perfect embodiment of the knightly code of honor and heroism. For him, Richard the Lionheart is an example. The brave knight spent a long time fighting for the Holy Land. He is not a youth, but a true one who will not act in haste - this is how the image of Ivanhoe appears before the reader. During a two-day tournament at Ashby, he was seriously injured, but, having gathered all his strength and endurance, he brought the tournament to victory. And then Ivanhoe, not fully recovered, will go to defend the honor of the Jewish girl Rebekah. This is another facet that enters the image of Ivanhoe. To his king, whose valor and courage are impeccable, the knight treats with a large share of criticism because of his love adventures. Himself main character the novel is monogamous, and he is not subject to any temptations. The image of Ivanhoe in the novel by Walter Scott is written rather monotonously. This character is positive, and it is quite difficult to draw it brightly.
Briand de Boisguillebert
This is a knight of the Knights Templar. The Knights Templar are representatives of a powerful international military religious organization that is supposedly dedicated to the conquest of the Holy Land. But in fact, they often interfere in European politics. Brian de Boisguillebert is a formidable fighter who has endured many trials, dangers and violent passions. He is stern and looks sinister. He does not recognize morality. He indulges his passions and temptations. So, knowing that the wealthy Jew Isaac is going to go to Sheffield, the knight does not disdain a simple attack on him for the purpose of robbery. Greed, a lustful attitude towards women, far from the lofty courtly notions of that time, characterize this character.
He does not hesitate to kidnap the daughter of old Isaac, Rebecca, and seek love from his captive. However, as the novel progresses, his persona undergoes a romantic change due to his love for Rebekah. He, realizing that the girl would not respond to his feelings, lost interest in life and died in a duel with Ivanhoe, but made his death conscious. Such is the image of the Knight of the Order of the Temple in Walter Scott's novel Ivanhoe. He is the opposite of the main character, but very interesting and bright.
Lady Rowena
It is difficult to analyze the image of the blond Lady Rowena, because in the novel it is given as a hint and without development. We learn a lot about her environment, but we can only judge indirectly about her. From the text we learn that she is fair and beautiful. It is also reported that the girl is a “soft, kind, gentle” creature, although due to her upbringing she is very proud and serious.
Lady Rowena only serves as a pawn in the hands of men who try to manipulate her. So, Maurice de Bracy immediately wanted to marry her when he found out what her dowry was. Cedric wishes to marry her to Athelstan so that they can give birth to a strong new royal Saxon generation. And no one cares about Lady Rowena's own feelings. She is not perceived by men as a person with own desires. Even Ivanhoe treats it like a subject. When he returns to his homeland, he is in no hurry to please Lady Rowena with his appearance, but keeps everything from her in deep secrecy. Winning the tournament, Ivanhoe calls Rowena the queen of love and beauty, although she might have preferred a simple warm welcome.
Even when, at the end of the novel, Ivanhoe finally gets Cedric's consent to the wedding, it turns out that the reader did not even see Ivanhoe courting his bride. One can only assume that there was once courtship, and Rowena had a feeling of love for Ivanhoe. This young man is a medieval romantic knight, and he needs a beautiful lady to express courtly love and fight for her. This makes Rowena something of a pawn for the writer himself to keep up the love affair, and therefore attracts little interest, love and sympathy from the readership. positive image the writer failed. It's too schematic.
Rebekah
It is not entirely fair to compare Rebekah and Rowena, because in the novel they play different roles. If the reader knows about the love of Rowena and Ivanhoe as a fait accompli and does not see any intrigue in it, then Rebekah's relationship with Ivanhoe is given in development. The love of a beautiful black-haired Jewish woman does not find a response in the soul of the protagonist. Rebekah is a proud, courageous, courageous and free person, since she does not belong to the highest nobility. She is a person despised because of her nationality. But a beautiful Jewish woman is almost always self-confident.
And whenever she is threatened with violence, she argues with the templar. Rebekah has the opportunity to choose her fate - to die with dignity at the Templars' trial, or to go to Spain and devote herself to working in a hospital. In the final scene, she gives Rowena a jewelry box and rejects an offer to convert to Christianity and stay in England.
These are the main female images in Walter Scott's Ivanhoe.
Conclusion
This novel, immediately after its writing, was read by the most famous writers all countries, not to mention the general reader. Then he moved into the category of children's literature. But the modern child is unlikely to be interested in the novel. This colorful era early medieval may arouse interest in an adult thoughtful person, who knows history and prone to analysis.
Social prerequisites for the emergence of historical genres in post-revolutionary Europe. Political and literary views of W. Scott. Mastering the experience of W. Shakespeare and D. Defoe. Characteristics of early work: Songs of the Scottish Border, historical poems Lochinvar, Battle of Sempach and Nora's Oath.
The material and spiritual culture of the Middle Ages as a living background for the action of the novel. Detailed characteristics of life and customs: Anglo-Saxons and Normans. The concept of "local color".
Features of the figurative structure. The role and place of historical figures. New possibilities for realistic typing of fictional characters. The masses as the driving force of history. Image of social relations.
The place and role of the image of Ivanhoe as a "hero of the middle line". Personal relationships and historical events, their connection and mutual influence. The role of love intrigue in the novel.
Functions of the "faceless" narrator. An up-to-date connection with modernity. Genre originality: elements of the gothic and adventure novel, the role of folklore and documentary information. The language of the novel.
W. Scott is a romantic writer who significantly influenced the development of world realistic prose. W. Scott and O. de Balzac.
Rrecommended literature
Scott W. Lyrics // Reader on Romanticism. M., 1976. S. 283-294. Ivanhoe (any edition).
Ladygin M. V. Scott's historical novel "Ivanhoe" // Practical exercises in foreign literature. M., 1981. S. 122-127.
Pinsky L. Historical novel by V. Scott // Pinsky L. Main plot. M., 1989. S. 297-320.
4. Khrapovitskaya G. N. Romantic historical novel by Walter Scott "Ivanhoe" // Khrapovitskaya G.N. Romanticism in foreign literature(Germany, England, France, USA): Workshop. M., 2003. S. 158-179.
5. Sidorchenko L. V. Walter Scott // History of Western European Literature. XIX century. England. St. Petersburg, 2004. S. 189-206.
General help
Ivanhoe is one of the first historical novels. Published in 1819 as a work by the author of Waverley (later found to be Walter Scott). In the 19th century it was recognized as a classic of adventure literature. The success of the novel contributed to the awakening of romantic interest in the Middle Ages (see Neo-Gothic).
Ivanhoe is Scott's first novel set outside of Scotland. The events are dated to 1194 - 130 years after the Battle of Hastings, as a result of which the Saxons were conquered by the Normans.
Ivanhoe is the first novel in which Scott refers to a purely English culture, depicting the feud between the Saxons and the Normans during the reign of Richard I. J. G. Lockhart in his Life of Sir Walter Scott (eng. Life of Sir Walter Scott; 1837 -1838) suggests that the decision to turn to medieval England was prompted by the writer's "afternoon conversation" with his friend William Clerk, which drew Scott's attention to the enmity between the two peoples of England. The clerk noted that the words used to name the breeds of livestock in English have Anglo-Saxon roots (for example, sheep - "sheep", pig - "pig", cow - "cow"), and to refer to dishes prepared from them terms borrowed from French are used (mutton - "mutton", pork - "pork", beef - "beef"). This illustration of the subordination of the Saxons to the Norman landowners is mentioned in Ivanhoe.
Scott wanted the novel to be published without attribution. He was curious to see if the public would recognize "the author of Waverley", and besides, he hoped to publish "Ivanhoe" and the next novel "The Monastery" one by one in order to compete in the literary field with himself. He was persuaded to abandon this plan by the publisher Archibald Constable, who feared that the two novels would harm each other's sales.
(There is an opinion that the name "Ivanhoe" is a distorted "Ivanko". Given the long-standing contacts of Kievan Rus with the Varangians, it can be assumed that this name came to England along with the Normans during the conquest of England or during earlier invasions. The reliability of this hypothesis is rather low .)
Characters:
Wilfred Ivanhoe- knight, protagonist
Briand de Boisguillebert- templar, main enemy Ivanhoe
Rebekah- the daughter of a Jewish moneylender
Isaac of York- Rebekah's father, a Jewish usurer
"Black Knight", "Black Lazy" (fr. Le Noir Fainéant)- Richard I the Lionheart
Loxley- leader of the free yeomen, Robin Hood
Hermit- Brother Took
Rowena- beloved Ivanhoe, Cedric's niece
Cedric Saks- Ivanhoe's father
Athelstan- descendant last king Saxon dynasty
prince John- Crown Prince and brother of King Richard
Reginald Fron de Boeuf- baron who owns the Ivanhoe estate
Waldemar Fitz-Urs- an influential nobleman in the retinue of Prince John, who wants to become chancellor; his daughter Alicia is considered the first beauty in the court of Prince John.
Prior Aimer- Prior of the Abbey of Saint Mary in Jorva
Maurice de Bracy- ioannite knight
Luca Beaumanoir- fictional Grand Master of the Knights Templar
Conrad Mont-Fitchet- Beaumanoir's confidante
Albert Malvoisin- Rector of the Templestow Preceptory
Philippe Malvoisin- local baron, brother of Albert
edge- Cedric Sax's swineherd
wamba- Cedric Sax's court jester
Ulrika- captive Fron de Boeuf
Details Category: Historical prose Published on 05/05/2017 14:25 Views: 1112Walter Scott is considered the founder of the historical novel genre in European literature and a classic of the genre.
But it would be more correct to say that he was one of the first creators of the historical novel genre, because. he already had predecessors - for example, Maria Edgeworth.
John Downman. Portrait of Mary Edgeworth
Maria Edgeworth(1767-1849) - English (Irish) writer, essayist, publicist. She knew W. Scott and visited Abbotsford at his Scottish estate. Her novel Castle Rakrent (1800) became the first historical novel in Europe and Great Britain.
But first classic historical novel was, of course, Walter Scott.
Walter Scott: from a biography
Henry Raburn. Portrait of Sir Walter Scott (1822)
Born in Edinburgh (capital of Scotland) big family lawyer and daughter of a professor of medicine at the University of Edinburgh. Despite suffering from childhood polio, future writer was fond of mountaineering, read a lot, was active and inquisitive. He graduated from Edinburgh College and became a lawyer. He had his own legal practice.
In connection with his profession, he traveled a lot around the country and along the way collected Scottish folk legends and ballads. Translated from German.
He created his own family, had 4 children and was a great family man. He built a castle on the Abbotsford estate, where his museum is now located.
Abbotsford
Creation
Creativity began with poetry and translations from German. Already becoming famous poet, W. Scott turned to prose. Scott's first historical novel was "Waverley, or Sixty Years Ago"(1814). It was published anonymously but was a great success. Scott acknowledged authorship only in 1827. All his subsequent novels until 1827 were published as works by the author of Waverley.
The novel takes place during the Jacobite rising of 1745. This uprising was raised in Scotland by the "young pretender" Charles Edward Stuart in the hope of seizing the throne of the kingdom of Scotland, despite the fact that his father James ("the old pretender") was still alive.
After the first success, V. Scott began to work in the genre of the historical novel. Yes, he had predecessors, but he was looking for his own path and his own universal structure of the historical novel. He believed that no one could stop the course of history. prominent personalities and the driving force of history is always the people. Scott's perspective on development human society called "providentialist" (from the Latin. Providentia - God's will). Here Scott is close to Shakespeare.
It is also considered a merit of the writer that in his novels he accurately described the realities of the depicted time, he never showed “history for the sake of history”. In addition, he had a phenomenal memory and knowledge, which he acquired mainly as a result of self-education, which helped him enrich his readers. All these factors make it possible to call him the creator of the historical novel genre.
W. Scott "Ivanhoe"
The novel was published in 1819. Its subject is the medieval enmity between the Anglo-Saxons and the Normans during the reign of Richard I the Lionheart (1157-1199).
Ended third crusade, which was attended by four of the most powerful European monarchs: the German emperor Frederick I Barbarossa, the French king Philip II Augustus, the Austrian Duke Leopold V and English king Richard I the Lionheart. Knights return to Europe. King Richard the Lionheart is captured by the Austrian Duke Leopold. There are intrigues against the king. Preparing to seize power. To revive the former power of the Saxons, Cedric of Rotherwood, a wealthy landowner, nominates the apathetic Athelstan, but his personality does not inspire confidence in anyone. Then they decide to marry him lovely lady Rowena. But Cedric's son, Wilfred Ivanhoe, also fell in love with Rowena. Cedric expelled him from his father's house and disinherited him. This is how the intrigue of the novel begins.
E. Delacroix. Illustration for W. Scott's novel "Ivanhoe" (1858)
After many adventures, which each reader must get to know on their own, Cedric gives up and reluctantly agrees to Rowena's marriage to Ivanhoe. Ivanhoe is married to Rowena.
General characteristics of historical novels by W. Scott
In Scott's novels there is a special peculiar world of events and feelings. Readers are presented with a panorama of the life of England, Scotland and France for several centuries (the end of the 11th-beginning of the 19th century).
The realistic basis of his novels is complemented by features of romanticism, which is especially true for the novel "Ivanhoe". The satire of the nobility, the nobility, which is gradually transforming into a bourgeois, is not alien to his novels.
In his novels, Scott shows people from a wide variety of social strata in Scotland, but especially often in his work there are characters from the petty bourgeoisie, the peasantry and the declassed poor. They are depicted brightly, colorfully; so colorful is their language. The writer felt the described era very much, for which he was called " the greatest master historical divination of all times. Scott's historicism amazed his contemporaries, who were not accustomed to such a scale of knowledge. His novels preceded the work of many historians of his day.
For the Scots, Walter Scott is a significant figure, for them he is more than just a writer. He revived historical memory this people and opened Scotland to the rest of the world and, above all, to England.
Scott's writings helped change Britain's attitude towards this poor but proud country.
The novel "Ivanhoe" is one of the the best works Walter Scott. Despite the fact that it was created almost 200 years ago, readers' interest in it does not fade away. The novel helps us understand the peculiarities of life and customs of people in a time far from us.
