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Robin Hood
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It seems as though every schoolchild knows who Robin Hood is: a noble outlaw in Sherwood Forest who fights the oppressive evil of Prince (or King) John by robbing from the rich and giving to the poor. The earliest appearances of Robin are at odds with this romantic notion, as Robin is a violent yeoman who steals from the dishonest and helps those whom he pleases. Perhaps the one constant feature of the legend is his placement in the center of England, in the Sherwood and Barnsdale area. This first case presents some of the venues in which Robin Hood appears. The earliest tales of Robin Hood largely focus on Robin encountering someone in the forest, and either fighting with them or inviting them to dine, after which they would be asked to pay for their dinner. These tales were often collected in books called “garlands” (see the first text in this case).
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The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) is one of the greatest, most colorful costume dramas, swashbucklers, and romantically-tinged adventure films in film history. After the icy restrictions placed on the film industry following the establishment of the Production Code Administration (Breen Office) in the mid 1930s, Warner Bros. Studios decided to find relief from censorship by bringing about a renaissance of the historical-costume adventure film, with swordplay, sweeping action, and romantic charm.
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This debate is hardly surprising, given the considerable value that the Robin Hood legend has for local tourism. One of Nottinghamshire's biggest tourist attractions is the Major Oak, a tree that local folklore claims was the home of the legendary outlaw. There is debate as to whether the tree is old enough: some think its age has been exaggerated, especially as it may be two or more trees fused together, which may have been caused by coppicing. The Sheriff of Nottingham ... had jurisdiction in Derbyshire that was known as the "Shire of the Deer", and this is where the Royal Forest of the Peak is found, which roughly corresponds to today's Peak District National Park. The Royal Forest included Bakewell, Tideswell, Castleton, Ladybower and the Derwent Valley near Loxley. The Sheriff of Nottingham possessed property near Loxley, including Hazlebadge Hall, Peveril Castle and Haddon Hall.
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The adventures of Robin Hood have captivated writers for centuries. The earliest accounts have been traced to ballads penned in the 14th century. In the following two centuries, dozens of long poems, ballads, and dramas fleshed out the story and elevated Robin Hood to mythical status. Perhaps the most famous is a 15th-century ballad series called A Gest of Robyn Hode.
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In the May Games of the 15th and 16th centuries, Robin Hood clearly became an archetypal personification of summertime. These games were celebrated at various times throughout the early summer season. Some towns held their games as early as April, while others waited until as late as July. The most common time for the Robin Hood games... seems to have been Whitsuntide, a moveable feast that took place 7 weeks after Easter, and could fall in May or early June. However, there is also compelling evidence to suggest that Robin Hood was, also strongly associated with the summer solstice, or Midsummer Day.
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While not all the outlaws who inspired the Robin Hood legend took refuge in forests, the woods were often controlled by medieval royalty who wanted to keep their hunting grounds secure. Thus the peasants of the era would have taken great delight in the exploits of an outlaw who operated right under the nose of the King. Like Robin himself, Maid Marian and the band of Merry Men never existed: they were added piece-meal by storytellers who needed a supporting cast to help flesh out the increasingly complicated tales.
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Robin Hood