Download The tale of Robin Hood is one of the oldest legends - USHistory8-1

The tale of Robin Hood is one of the oldest legends. Robin Hood
is over 600 years old so it was created around the 15 th century.
Many books, poems, ballads, and plays have tried to retell the
story of Robin Hood. One of them is The Adventure’s of Robin
Hood by Paul Creswick. There are many reasons I chose to read
this. I had never actually read the original tale and there were
many things I did not know about Robin Hood. Also, as a child I
heard about this tale and always loved Robin Hood. Most of all
the book has illustrations that help interpret the hard to read old
English type of writing.
The book begins with young Robin Fitzooth (Robin Hood’s
original name). As you might have guessed he is very skilled
with a bow and arrow. Robin’s uncle, George Montfichet, asks
Robin’s father, Hugh Fizooth if he can take him to the
Nottingham Fair. Robin’s father agrees and Robin’s mother
goes with him. During the fair, a medieval wrestling was going
on.
The crowd was cheering for one of the wrestlers and said “A
Nottingham, a Nottingham!” Montfichet and Squire (who they
meet at the fair) know that this match is corrupt. Bottom line is
that they get into a fight with the people who were chanting.
They both get hurt but they recover. Robin meets Will Stutley
who is going to be his comrade throughout the book.
Basically what happens is Robin hears a tale about his father
being killed by a stag. Robin finds out this is true when finding
his father’s body on the ground. The Nottingham Fair is a three
day fair. Robin decided to join one of these tournaments. There
he meets a woman named Marian Fitzwalter who he falls in love
with. The tournament was an archery tournament and Robin split
one of the opponent’s arrows. He would have won if he had
given his name when he entered the tournament. One of the
people watching this was Simeon Carfax. Carfax wanted to do
away with him because The Prince thought he was special.
Carfax decides to trick Robin by having one deer appear before
him and on page 108, he asks him “Fly a [arrow] at [that] mark”.
Carfax did not mention a specific spot to shoot, so Robin
thought he should hit the deer but that’s exactly what Carfax
wanted him to do. When someone kills a deer in the Royal
Forest of Sherwood they are to be hung. (Since this area was
ruled by the king they are “his” deer.). Robin did not know this
and shot the deer. Then Carfax said “ I [told] you shoot at [that]
birch tree”. Clearly that dose not sound like what he said before.
Eventually, Carfax announces this “treason” and Robin runs
away and becomes an outlaw.
Robin’s Uncle George Montfichet disappears and doesn’t turn
up. His mother is so depressed she kills herself and now Robin
Fitzooth is a orphan, outlaw, and only has his friends. Robin
Fitzooth dose not become Robin Hood until a page called him
“Robin o th Hood” and Robin and his group of outlaws christens
the name to be Robin Hood.
My favorite part would have to be when Robin becomes Robin
Hood because it’s a happy and joyous moment. Everyone’s
cheering “Robin Hood” and on page 178 it says “Huzza, Robin
o th Hood” At this moment Robin Fitzooth is christened Robin
Hood.
Culture, Identity, and Values all exist in the character of Robin
Hood. Robin Hood has always lived as an outlaw. On page 143
this quote shows how Robin Hood had to live as an outlaw,
“Then all went back nosily into that hiding place in Barnsdale
which had defied both the ferret eyes of lean-faced Simeon
Carfax and the Norman archer Hubert” As outlaws they always
had to hide. That was the way Robin Hood lived. That was his
culture. The old English type of writing is very noticeable. It
shows from the way that they speak they are obviously from
England. This is part of a persons identity. It is part of Robin
Hood’s identity. For example, on page 158 Robin Hood says
“”Tis the most and the least that we can do for him,” said Robin,
gleefully. “Give you good night, lording!”” The way he is
speaking is much different from the way we speak. It signifies
where he comes from.
Robin Hood also has many values. He values his friends, family,
and Marian. On page 139, the former leader of the band of
outlaws or “merry men” was killed by one of Carfax’s men. This
is how they responded “They took him up reverently and buried
him in a secret place- so that none to this day can say where he
lies. And the outlaws swore an oath of vengeance against him
who had so foully slain their chief.” That shows the respect he
has for his fellow comrades. When his father was found dead he
showed emotion for his father on page 81. “"Mother!" cried
Robin, in anguished voice, running to her; and there was no need
for further speech. In that one cry and in the expression of her
mute, answering face, the truth was told and understood. No use
to fight for Broadweald now; were it his a hundred times over,
Robin could never do that with it which he in all his boyhood
had planned. Hugh Fitzooth, Ranger of the Forest of Locksley,
was dead.”” Marian is Robin Hood’s true love and he greatly
values her. On page 274 his love and worry for her is shown
“Marian," breathed he, overcome with terror for her, "oh, my
dearest”