Robin Hood's Character

Through ballads and books to blockbuster films, the tale of Robin Hood has survived centuries, and much of this is owed to the character of Robin himself. The exploits of this noble outlaw and his band of Merry Men touch upon timeless themes of justice, brotherhood, altruism, and a good dash of social rebellion, and these characteristics are what have kept Robin Hood in the hearts and minds of the people. 

Film and television have taken a number of approaches when depicting Robin Hood’s character, from the jaunty 1993 comedy Men in Tights to 2010’s gritty portrayal by Russell Crowe. But it was in the first Robin Hood tales, originating in mythology and folklore and circulated via word of mouth in lyrical ballads, that give us the groundwork of this immortal character.

One of the oldest surviving tales, A Little Gest of Robyn Hode, dates back to the 15th century. Written in middle English, it is likely to have been performed by minstrals, and sets out to highlight corruption of the authorities by romanticising our outlaw Robin. Below you can find some references which shed light on how Robin's character was formed and developed. 

Outlaw - First and foremost Robin is known as an outlaw:

‘Robyn was a prude outlaw, Whyles he walked on grounde'

‘Robin was a proud outlaw, While he walked on the earth’

Free spirit of the forest - Robin's place of refuge from the law was always Sherwood Forest. He is sometimes seen as the real person behind the Green Man, the spirit of life in the woodland.

‘Robyn dwelled in grene wode Twenty yere and two’

‘Robin dwelt in the green wood Twenty-two years’

 

Thief - Robin was an enemy of both the law and the church.

“He is a strong thefe”, said the monke, “of hym herd I never good”

‘"He is a great thief", said the monk, “I never heard any good of him"'

 
Rebel - Robin was a thorn in the side of the establishment.

‘These bishoppes and these archbishoppes, Ye shall them bete and bynde’

‘These bishops and these archbishops You shall beat and bind’

 
Champion - Robin was always on the side of the poor and oppressed.

‘For he was a good outlawe And dyd pore men moch god’

‘For he was a good outlaw And did poor men much good’

 
Great archer - Since the beginning of the tales, Robin has been known as the greatest archer of his time. Although he could sometimes be beaten when fighting with a sword or a staff, he was always the best with a longbow.

'I was compted the best archere That was in mery Englande’

‘I was counted the best archer In merry England’

 
Yeoman -  Yeomen were not the farmers of the land that we think of today, but had a specific position in a very rigid social structure. Ranked just below that of knight, they could rarely expect to rise to a higher position and become part of the great tradition of chivalry. This is likely to have led to much resentment against those above them, and explains much about why there was rebellion against the establishment - particularly against the wealth and power of the church. Incidentally, a yeoman did not fight with the sword which was a knight's privilege - instead the longbow became their weapon of choice.

‘I shall tel you of a gode yeman His name was Robin Hode’

‘I shall tell you of a good yeoman His name was Robin Hood’