ring this time period. They are mercilessly mistreated and abused and not even considered human. All the men who gaze upon the stunningly beautiful Rebecca look away ashamed to have noticed a Jewish girl. Even the slaves of servants gaze condescendingly upon the Jews. They were given less respect than animals.
             Before encountering this novel, I knew little about this time period. I knew about the legends of Robin Hood of course, whom Ivanhoe later encounters in the novel and by whom Ivanhoe is assisted, and I knew from popular stories that Richard the Lion-Hearted was a good king, while his brother who ruled in his absence was corrupt. I knew a little about the crusades of twelfth century Europe, but Sir Walter Scott truly brought to life the honor and splendour that accompanied knighthood, the chivalry, the traditions of that time, and the injustices through his very
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