Point of View

The point of view of Ivanhoe is told through a limited, third person perspective. The novel is written as a summarized narrative and is highly dramatic. There is a fairly equal distribution of exposition and dialogue throughout the novel. A lot of background information is provided concerning the social atmosphere which the action of the novel takes place in. The point of view is very important to the novel because it allows the narrator to shift between scenes that occur in different places with different people. This gives the reader the chances to see all of the characters as well as the environment in which they are participating.

Large portions of the novel are expository and followed by large portions of action and dialogue. The tournaments and battles that occur throughout the novel display the exciting and dangerous mood of the Middle Ages, the time at...