29+ Robin Hood English Folklore

If there were a historical robin hood he would have lived in medieval england perhaps in the late 12th or the 13th century.

Robin hood english folklore. Robin hood is a character of legend although it is quite possible that there is a historical figure at the root of these legends. Traditionally depicted as being dressed in lincoln green he is often portrayed as robbing from the rich and giving to the poor alongside his band of merry men. Robin hood is a legendary heroic outlaw originally depicted in english folklore and subsequently featured in literature and film. Stealing from the rich to give to the poor robin hood and his merry men are a permanent part of popular culture. The subject of ballads books and films robin hood has proven to be one of popular culture s most enduring folk heroes. The sheriff of nottingham was real and the locals formed the band of merry men. But did robin hood really exist.

The legends of robin hood arose in medieval times and were carried forth in the renaissance and modernized by hollywood. However the first known literary reference to robin hood and his men was in 1377 and the sloane manuscripts in the british museum have an account of robin s life which states that he was born around 1160 in lockersley most likely modern day loxley in south yorkshire. Robin hood legendary outlaw hero of a series of english ballads some of which date from at least as early as the 14th century. Robin hood is a heroic outlaw in english folklore who according to legend was a highly skilled archer and swordsman. Set in england during the reign of king richard the lionheart the adventures of. Robin hood was a rebel and many of the most striking episodes in the tales about him show him and his companions robbing and killing representatives of authority and giving the gains to the poor. According to legend he was a highly skilled archer and swordsman in some versions of the legend he is depicted as being of noble birth and in modern retellings he is sometimes depicted as having fought in the crusades before returning to england to find his lands.

This book takes us back to the earliest stories of robin hood the changes the tales underwent in the renaissance and the enduring traits that have survived into modern retellings. The first robin hood was often a brutal and selfish yet also honorable figure an anti hero loved perhaps paradoxically by many social classes and loathed by authorities. For me growing up and when my kids were little robin hood was just folklore and fairytale.