Exercises

 

I. Choose the right item:

1. The novel describes the events of the 12th century during the reign of …

king John

Richard I the lion-hearted

William the Conqueror

2. Gurth and Wamba were the slaves of …

Prior Aymer.

Brian de Bois-Guilbert.

Cedric Rotherwood.

3. Lady Rowena was …. To Cedric the saxon.

the niece

the distant relation

the daughter

4. The disinherited knight was …..

Ivanhoe.

Richard the lion-hearted.

Robin Hood.

5. Cedric Rotherwood …. the marriage of Rowena and Ivanhoe.

didn’t care about

was against

gave his consent to

6. Finally the Normans and the Saxons began ….. more and more.

to quarrel with each other

to mix together

to separate from each other

 

II. Put the sentences in the right order:

1.    Cedric the Saxon was invited to the court of King Richard and spent seven days there.

2.    The Disinherited Knight was proclaimed the winner of the first day of the tournament.

3.    The Prior Aymer and Brian de Bois-Guilbert were  welcomed and placed at the upper table near Cedric the Saxon.

4.    Then the Queen of Love and Beauty gave the prize to the winner of the second day.

5.    It was the home of the brave outlaws, who were so popular.

6.    When he raised his eyes, the doors at the end of the hall opened and the guests entered.

7.    Two days later a tournament was held at the town of Ashby.

8.    It seemed that nobody else wished to combat.

9.    King Richard himself asked Cedric to forgive his son Ivanhoe and to allow him and Rowena to marry.

10.          Then he mentioned the names of four other knights.

 

III. Say “true” or “false”:

1.    Gurth and Wamba helped the horsemen to find the way to the house of Cedric Rotherwood.

2.    Cedric the Saxon wasn’t interested in the news from Palestine.

3.    Lady Rowena liked the compliments (made by) of Brian de Bois-Guilbert.

4.    Ivanhoe was turned out of the house by his father because he fell in love with Rowena.

5.    The mystery of the Disinherited Knight had never been found out.

6.    The mixed language of the Saxons and the Normans is called English now.

 

IV. Answer the questions:

1.    During what period of English history do the events described in the book take place?

2.    Why did Wamba's clothes differ from Gurth's?

3.    The existence of pairs of words like "swine - pork", "ox - beef" is very significant because it shows the relations between the Saxons and the Normans. Explain it.

4.    Find in the text and read the description of Prior Aymer and his companion.

5.    What do you know about Cedric of Rotherwood? Why was he called Cedric the Saxon?

6.    Describe the hall in Cedric's house.

7.    Find in the text and read the description of Cedric the Saxon.

8.    Why wasn't Cedric glad when Prior Aymer and Brian de Bois-Guilbert came to his house? Why did he tell the servant to welcome them?

9.    Did you understand why Rowena always wanted to hear news from Palestine? What was Cedric's reaction to it?

10.   Do you believe that the young man had really forgotten the name of the sixth knight?

11.   What were the laws of the tournament?

12.   Who were the five challengers? What proves that they were very strong  and skilful?

13.   Describe the fight of the Disinherited Knight and Brian de Bois-Guilbert.

14.   What words show that Prince John was afraid of his brother King Richard the Lion-Hearted? Why was he afraid of him?

15.   How did it happen that Cedric the Saxon gave his consent to the marriage of Ivanhoe and Rowena? Walter Scott says that this marriage was very useful for the development of peaceful relations between the Normans and the Saxons. How does he explain it?

 

V. Guess the meaning of the following words and phrases:

swine herd; the born slave; sunburnt face; high-born; guardian; challenger; disinherited; faithful; the outlaws; courtier

 

VI. Choose a synonymous expression:

1. to seize the throne

to capture the throne

to let have the throne

2. Disinherited knight

profit seeking person

deprived of the property

3. the outlaws

highwaymen (robbers)

law-abiding men

4. They were soon overtaken by a group of the horsemen.

were followed

were reached

 

Discussing the text

I.  Prove that:

1.    The Normans and Anglo-Saxons were not yet united and remained enemies.

2.    Cedris wasn’t glad when Prior Aymer and Brian de Bois Guilbert came to his house.

3.    The English knights were second to none in Palestine.

4.    Cedric the Saxon gave his consent to the marriage of Ivanhoe and Rowena.

 

II. Say what you like/dislike in the story and why.

Example: I like the relations between Cedric Rotherwood and his slaves.

                I dislike Brian de Bois Guilbert because he was a wicked and    

                unworthy  man.

 

III. Act out the talks between:

a)    Gurth and Wamba

b)   Prior Aymer and the reverend brother of the order of Knights Templars

c)    Cedric the Saxon and the knight Brian de Bois Guilbert

d)   Rowena and Brian