by Roger Green
When he found his courtiers once more the King told them of his strange adventure, and all marvelled to hear of it. But, though he and they sought long and eagerly, they could never again find their way to that hidden cell in Sherwood Forest.
PUFFIN CLASSICS
The Adventures of
Robin Hood
With Puffin Classics, the adventure isn’t over when you reach the final page.
Want to discover more about your favourite characters, their creators and their worlds?
Read on…
CONTENTS
AUTHOR FILE
WHO’S WHO IN ROBIN HOOD
SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT…
SOME THINGS TO DO…
FAMOUS HEROES AND OUTLAWS
GLOSSARY
AUTHOR FILE
NAME: Roger Lancelyn Green
BORN: 2 November 1918 in Norwich, England
DIED: 8 October 1987 in Poulton, Cheshire
NATIONALITY: English
LIVED: in Oxford and his family home in Cheshire, which the Greens had owned for over 900 years
MARRIED: to June Green
CHILDREN: three children: Richard, Priscilla and Scirard
What was he like?
Roger was a man who loved storytelling and was fascinated by traditional fairy tales, myths and legends from around the world.
Where did he grow up?
He was born in Norwich and went to boarding school in Surrey. Roger was often ill, though, and couldn’t go to school – so he spent lots of time at the family’s manor house in the county of Cheshire. His family were wealthy, and there was a huge library in their house. He spent many hours reading the old books there, and this is probably where his love of myths and legends started.
What did he do apart from writing books?
In the course of his life Roger was a professional actor, a librarian and a teacher. He was also a member of the Inklings Club in Oxford, a group of friends who read, and commented on, each other’s work. Its members included C. S. Lewis (author of The Chronicles of Narnia) and J. R. R. Tolkien (author of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit).
If it hadn’t been for Roger, The Chronicles of Narnia might never have been published. In 1949 Roger went to dinner with C. S. Lewis. Lewis read Roger two chapters of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. He also informed Roger that he’d read them to Tolkien a few weeks before, who had told Lewis that he didn’t think they were very good. Roger disagreed. He thought they were great, and he encouraged Lewis to get them published. Roger even thought of the series title, The Chronicles of Narnia, and he went on to become the very first reader of all of the rest of the Narnia stories.
Where did Roger get the idea for The Adventures of Robin Hood?
The oldest known mention of Robin Hood can be found in 1377 in the writings of William Langland. Since then, many people have written songs, ballads and stories which retell the old legends. Roger’s own introduction to the book tells of how he used many sources when writing his version, both old and new, from medieval ballads to the author Grahame Greene’s writing.
What did people think of The Adventures of Robin Hood when it was first published in the 1950s?
The story of Robin Hood and his Merry Men had always been a very popular tale and was well received when it was first published.
What other books did he write?
Roger was best known for his retellings of the Egyptian, Greek and Norse myths, including his bestselling version of Tales of the Greek Heroes. He also wrote many books for adults, including a biography of his friend C. S. Lewis.
WHO’S WHO IN THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD
THE MERRY BAND
Robin Hood (Robert of Locksley) – leader of the outlaws and the greatest fighter in the land. Robin Hood is handsome, clever and charming and has a determined spirit.
Friar Tuck (Brother Michael) – a hermit priest who, after a skirmish with Robin Hood, is invited to join him and his Merry Men in Sherwood Forest.
Will Scarlet (William Scathlock) – Robin Hood’s right-hand man.
Much, the Miller’s son – an orphan looked after by Robin and Will after his father was killed by Worman.
Maid Marian (Lady Marian Fitzwalter, also known as the shepherdess Clorinda) – the beautiful daughter of Lord Fitzwalter who becomes known as Maid Marian, the Queen of Sherwood Forest, engaged to Robin Hood. She is independent, headstrong and brave, and an excellent fighter.
Little John (John Little) – a skilled archer and one of Robin Hood’s most faithful companions. He is a given the nickname of Little John in fun, because he is so tall.
The Butcher (Gilbert-of-the-White-Hand) – a tradesman selling fresh meat who, after a fight with Robin Hood, gives up his trade to become one of the Merry Men.
Reynolde Greenleafe – later commander of the castle guard.
Arthur-a-Bland – a tanner by trade and Little John’s cousin.
George-a-Greene – a rescuer of stray sheep, and a man of great strength.
Bettris – the beautiful wife of George-a-Greene.
AND THEIR FRIENDS…
King Richard (Richard the Lion Heart) – the absent King of England.
Sir Richard of Legh – ardent follower of the King who always helps the Merry Men if they need it.
Ranulph, Earl of Chester – marches on Nottingham to release Sir Richard from prison.
Allin-a-Dale – a poor wandering minstrel. Robin Hood and his men rescue Allin’s sweetheart from marrying a man she does not love.
The Black Knight – always comes to the rescue, though no one knows who he is.
AND ENEMIES…
Prince John – the greedy, evil younger brother of King Richard.
Sheriff of Nottingham – Robin Hood’s arch enemy and a friend of Prince John. He hates Robin Hood for making him look a fool.
Sir Guy of Gisborne – sworn enemy and rival of Robin Hood, who wants to marry Marian.
Steward Worman – Robin Hood’s butler who betrays him to work for the Sheriff.
Lord Fitzwalter – Marian’s father who wants to marry her off to a rich knight, or lock her in the tower away from Robin Hood.
Mother Maudlin (Witch of Paplewick) – an evil enchantress who can make herself look like anything or anyone.
SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT…
Robin Hood and his band of followers weren’t just about having a merry time. They held a very rigid political stance which went against the government of the time, aiming to help the vulnerable by exploiting the rich. In what ways do you think they would help the vulnerable in England nowadays?
Robin Hood and his friends often call upon the names of St George, King Richard and Our Lady. What ideals do you think these three represent in the minds of these characters?
The legend of Robin Hood has been written about for hundreds of years, but it is still as exciting today as it was when it was first told. Why do you think this is?
The story of Robin Hood is not just a story; like the legend of King Arthur, many people believe that it is all true even though there is little proof. (The earliest evidence of his name is in a 1226 court ledger from York, which lists one ‘Robin Hood, fugitive’. But we will probably never know if he was the original Robin Hood.) Why do you think people like to believe the adventures of Robin Hood and his friends really happened?
Which is your favourite episode in the book, and who is your favourite character?
SOME THINGS TO DO…
The stories of Robin Hood are entrenched in the countryside around Sherwood Forest. Draw a map of the forest, using your imagination to locate the different castles, woods and homes.
Write your own new adventure for Robin Hood and his Merry Men.
Although the adventures of Robin Hood are considered to be legends, they are located in a real place: Sherwood Forest, which lies just north of the city of Nottingham, in the Midlands in England. Research Sherwood Forest in the library or on the internet and discover how famous
‘Robin Hood Country’ has become!
Building a home and community in a wood would be pretty difficult. Work out how you would use trees and stones to build a house. What food would you eat? How would you wash? What would you wear? What would you do in the evenings?
Living in a forest with your friends would mean you would have no electricity, running water or computer games! Write a list of ten things you would want to take with you.
Imagine you are a computer-game developer who has been commissioned to design a new game based on The Adventures of Robin Hood.
How would the game look? Design some screens and the packaging for the game.
Who would your heroes and villains be?
What different levels would you have?
What would your weapons and pickups be?
FAMOUS HEROES AND OUTLAWS
Robin Hood is England’s best-loved outlaw, an expert with the bow and arrow and a champion of the poor. Here are some other fictional and semi-fictional heroes and outlaws made famous in literature and on film:
BILLY THE KID
Billy the Kid was one of the most famous outlaws in American history. He worked as a cowherd in New Mexico as a teenager, and later turned to cattle rustling. Billy was very quick with his gun and an expert at escaping from small-town jails. He was involved in a turf war (called the Lincoln County War) between land and cattle barons, during which he shot the Sheriff. ‘The Kid’ was arrested in 1881, tried and convicted of murder. He escaped, killing two deputies in the process, but was hunted down three months later and shot dead.
JESSE JAMES
Jesse James was one of the most famous outlaws of the American West. Young Jesse learned a lot about fighting during the American Civil War, sabotaging the Union army in the cause of the Confederacy. After the war, Jesse formed a gang of outlaws, which included his brother Frank James and the brothers Cole and James Younger. In 1866 he began a crime spree that lasted for over fifteen years, during which he gained a heroic reputation. But his fame turned sour as the gang turned to more violent crimes. James was finally betrayed by one of his own gang, Robert Ford, who shot him dead in Missouri in 1882.
THE LONE RANGER
The Lone Ranger was a fictional hero whose adventures were first heard on radio in the USA during the 1930s, and then seen on television in the late 1940s. Always in a mask to hide his identity and riding his wild horse Silver, the Lone Ranger saved cowboys in peril, defeated crooks and rescued the hapless from hundreds of predicaments. In the course of his exploits he met many famous men, including General Custer.
NED KELLY
Edward ‘Ned’ Kelly is known as the Robin Hood of Australia. He was a bushranger and became a folk hero for his defiance of the colonial authorities. He was hanged for murder in 1880, but his daring deeds made him an iconic figure in Australian history, folklore and movies.
GLOSSARY
arrant –complete, downright; often used as an insult, for example, ‘an arrant fool’
dastard –a sneaky, malicious coward
liege –lord, master
Lincoln green –a dyed woollen cloth originally made in Lincoln, England
malaison –ill-will, judgement of sickness
palfrey –a saddle horse, often used by ladies
palsy –a weak and feeble condition where the sufferer trembles uncontrollably
runagate –a rascal, vagabond
Saracens –people who were at war with England at the time of the story
seneschal –head servant in a noble household
tanner –a person who tans animal hides
verderer –a person in charge of the royal forests
‘Waes hael’ –an old Saxon greeting meaning ‘Be of good health’
Whitsuntide –a week-long Christian festival beginning on the seventh Sunday after Easter, it commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit
yeoman –a local villager who works on the land