Robin Hood (literary and cultural figure)
Robin Hood is a renowned figure from English folklore, celebrated for his legendary exploits of robbing the rich to benefit the poor. Emerging in literary references since the late fourteenth century, Robin Hood's character became widely popular in various forms of media, particularly in film and television from the twentieth century onward. The historical existence of Robin Hood is debated, with English court records from the thirteenth century suggesting several possible inspirations for the legend, yet no definitive evidence confirms his real-life counterpart.
The earliest known mention of Robin Hood appears in the 1377 poem "Piers Plowman," but he gained prominence in the fifteenth century as the noble outlaw leading a band of followers, including Little John and Will Scarlett, against the Sheriff of Nottingham. Over time, interpretations of Robin Hood have evolved, portraying him first as a violent vigilante and later as a heroic aristocrat involved in romantic escapades, particularly with Maid Marian.
Modern adaptations, starting from Howard Pyle's 1883 "The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood," have solidified his image as a morally righteous hero. The character has been depicted in numerous films and television shows, ranging from serious portrayals to comedic interpretations, making Robin Hood a lasting cultural symbol of resistance against tyranny and social injustice.
On this Page
Robin Hood (literary and cultural figure)
Robin Hood is a heroic figure from English folklore, who was said to have robbed from the rich to give to the poor. The character of Robin Hood has appeared in literary works since the late fourteenth century, and he became a popular subject for film and television in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. There is considerable uncertainty as to whether Robin Hood was a historical figure. English court records from the thirteenth century contain several possible inspirations for the legend. Other evidence suggests the name and the figure may have come from French customs or evolved from medieval myths.
History
The first recorded reference to Robin Hood was in a 1377 narrative poem called "Piers Plowman" by William Langland. A passing mention is made of a character knowing the "rymes of Robyn Hood," suggesting that the figure of Robin Hood was well known at the time. Robin became the central figure of his own tales and ballads in the fifteenth century. In works such as The Lyttle Geste of Robyn Hode, Robin is portrayed as a noble outlaw, who along with his merry band of Little John and Will Scarlett defied the Sheriff of Nottingham. Merry in the context of the era did not mean "happy" but was a term used to refer to an outlaw gang.
The Robin Hood of these early tales was a commoner who acted like a true outlaw, stealing from, and at times, murdering government officials and wealthy landowners. In fifteenth-century England, this vigilante version of Robin would have appealed to the audiences of the day. Later versions of the legend toned down the violence, painting Robin as a young aristocrat forced into banditry by corrupt officials. These tales also give him a romantic interest in Maid Marian, a new companion in Friar Tuck, and introduce his iconic mission to rob from the rich and give to the poor.
While historians of the period believed Robin Hood was based on a real figure, modern researchers have found little evidence to confirm his existence. English criminal court records mention a Robert Hod, who supposedly had his assets seized by the Archbishop of York and became an outlaw in 1226. Other records from 1261 mention that the possessions of William son of Robert le Fevere were seized unjustly by a religious order. A year later, William's name was listed as William Robehod in different records. Historians believe the name was intentionally changed by a clerk who was familiar with the legend of Robin Hood and equated the two figures. Several other legal records from the time also refer to Robehods or Robynhods, though those names may have been a descriptive term referring to outlaws in general. One problem with attaching any of these figures to the legend is that the name Robert Hood, from which Robin is derived, was a very common English name in the thirteenth century and is found in many sources.
In 1521, English historian John Major wrote his History of Greater Britain, in which he places Robin Hood as living during the time of King Richard I and his brother, John—two figures who would play roles in later tales of Robin Hood. Two historical outlaws from the same period, Fulk FitzWarin and Eustace the Monk, could also have been the inspiration for Robin, though there is no definitive evidence connecting either one to the legend. FitzWarin was a lord who became an outlaw after getting involved in a land dispute with King John. Eustace was a pirate who was made an outlaw and later pardoned by John. Both men were the subject of stories that bear some similarities to later tales of Robin Hood. Another possible source of the legend was Roger Godberd, leader of an outlaw gang that targeted wealthy travelers in the late thirteenth century in the forests of Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, and Wiltshire.
Other theories about Robin's origins suggest that his stories may have been based more in mythology than history. The green-clad Robin des Bois, or Robin of the Woods, was a character associated with May Day festivals held in ancient France. May Day is a pagan celebration of spring, and Robin was considered the King of May. His partner, the Queen of May, may have been the inspiration for Maid Marian. The legend of Robin has also been associated with the mythical English wood sprite Robin Goodfellow, the forest-elf Hödekin from German folklore, and even the Norse god Odin.
In Popular Culture
While tales, ballads, and plays about Robin Hood have been popular since the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, many modern incarnations of the legendary outlaw come from the 1883 children's book The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by American author Howard Pyle. Pyle's version of Robin was a morally righteous figure who was as equally skilled with a bow and arrow as he was at fighting injustice. The first portrayal of the character on film was in Robin Hood and his Merry Men, produced in England in 1908. In 1922, silent film star Douglas Fairbanks played the outlaw in Robin Hood, the first big-budget production to have a Hollywood premiere.
Another Hollywood icon, Errol Flynn, took on the role in 1938's The Adventures of Robin Hood. The film, which was shot in color, was highly successful, winning three Academy Awards. Robin Hood was the subject of dozens of films throughout the twentieth century. Some notable versions were 1952's Ivanhoe, which starred Elizabeth Taylor and was nominated for best picture at the Academy Awards; 1976's Robin and Marian, which starred Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn; Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, a 1991 film with Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman; and 2010's Robin Hood, starring Russell Crowe.
Robin Hood first appeared on television in two British series during the 1950s. In addition, the character has appeared on numerous other televisions shows, from The Muppet Show in the 1970s to Doctor Who in 2014. Robin Hood has also been played for laughs, showing up in the 1981 fantasy comedy Time Bandits and the 1993 musical parody Robin Hood: Men in Tights.
Bibliography
Cawthorne, Nigel. A Brief History of Robin Hood. Running Press, 2010.
Gardiner, Philip, and Brian Allan. Robin Hood: From Darkwood to Hollywood. Mayfair Book Promotion Inc., 2010.
Ibeji, Mike. "Robin Hood and His Historical Context." BBC, 17 Feb. 2001, www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/middle‗ages/robin‗01.shtml. Accessed 31 Oct. 2016.
Johnson, Ben. "Robin Hood." Historic UK, 2003, historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Robin-Hood/. Accessed 31 Oct. 2016.
Knight, Stephen. Robin Hood: A Mythic Biography. Cornell University Press, 2003.
Knight, Stephen, editor. Robin Hood: An Anthology of Scholarship and Criticism. D.S. Brewer, 1999.
Parsons, Chris. "Is This the Grave of Robin Hood? Historian Claims Farmer Buried in an Unmarked Tomb Is the Outlaw behind the Legend." The Daily Mail, 2 April 2011, www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1372334/Has-mystery-Robin-Hoods-identity-finally-solved-Historians-claim-farmer-led-band-highwaymen.html. Accessed 31 Oct. 2016.
"The Real Robin Hood." History.com, 2010, www.history.com/topics/british-history/robin-hood. Accessed 1 Nov. 2016.