The Revenge of Ivanhoe

A disguised knight rescues a wounded prisoner held by Cedric's men. They escape and the knight hides the prisoner while he goes for help during a thunderstorm. The rescue sets the stage for the knight's true identity to be revealed later as Ivanhoe.

The knight meets the hermit Ethlebald, who immediately recognizes him. Ethlebald's recognition connects him to the hero and foreshadows Ivanhoe's role with the outlaws. This encounter signals the knight's true identity lingering behind the disguise.

Returning to the prisoner, they learn he has been taken by Saxon outlaws led by Lockheel. Arthur explains that Rowena is being held captive by Cedric and was on her way to rescue her. The information ties Rowena's fate to Cedric's schemes.

At Rowena's trial for treason, Wilfred Cox lies under oath to convict her. Rowena asserts the right to defend herself with a champion in battle, and a disguised Ivanhoe appears, defeating Bertrand but sparing him. He leaves before his true identity is revealed.

The disguised knight departs without revealing his identity, and Cox follows him to the outlaw camp. When the outlaws leave to attack Cedric's men, Cox enters the camp and discovers Arthur.

The outlaws defeat Cedric's men at the village and return to the camp. They discover that Arthur has disappeared, likely amid the ongoing intrigues around Rowena's fate. The village attack intensifies the looming rescue mission.

The next morning, Cedric shows Rowena her brother in the dungeon and explains that the torture will continue unless she agrees to marry Brian. To save her brother from further torment, Rowena yields and consents to the marriage.

On the way to the wedding, Brian is captured by the outlaws and brought to Ivanhoe, who convinces him that Rowena was forced into the marriage. Brian agrees not to proceed with the wedding and to help stop it.

Ivanhoe goes to the castle in Brian's disguise and is introduced to Rowena. She recognizes him as Ivanhoe but pretends not to acknowledge the identity in order to maintain secrecy.

That night Ivanhoe secretly visits Rowena in her room, while Ethlebald frees Arthur. Arthur then rouses the villagers, joining with the outlaws to plan an assault on the castle at dawn.

The attackers strike during the wedding ceremony and win the fight. Ivanhoe kills Bertrand in a climactic duel, and Cedric is apparently killed in the chaos. The castle falls to the combined force of villagers and outlaws.

As the victors depart, a messenger from King John arrives with a proclamation ending feudalism in England. The banner of social change accompanies the triumph of justice over oppression.