Sir Walter Scott’s classic novel, Ivanhoe, is well-known for its examples of chivalry. Chivalry is a code of conduct derived from the medieval knightly class, emphasizing honor, bravery, and courtesy. It’s an important theme in the book, and it is often embodied by one of the main protagonists, Ivanhoe.

One passage from the book that stands out as an example of chivalry is when Ivanhoe is defending a peasant woman who has been unjustly arrested. As he is about to ride away after securing her release, Ivanhoe stops and turns to her:

“Bethink thee, good widow,” said Ivanhoe, “to whose courtesy thou owest thy rescue from injustice and violence. Disabuse thy mind of any fear; it is but a knight of England, whose trade is to protect the weak and defenseless.”

This is a perfect example of chivalry. Despite being in a rush to leave, Ivanhoe takes the time to reassure the woman of his intent to protect her. He acknowledges his position as a knight and his responsibility for helping those who cannot help themselves. These are all classic examples of the chivalric values that Ivanhoe follows throughout the book.

In Ivanhoe, Sir Walter Scott creates a classic example of the chivalric code in action. This passage is a perfect illustration of what chivalry looked like in the medieval era, and it is easy to see why Ivanhoe was seen as the epitome of knightly behavior.