Co Robin des Bois

In his text, Ben Johnson who might be a historian tell us about the Robin Hood legend(s). I put an “s” since as we can read it, there are only few elements we are sure about in all stories. I think it could be an extract of an article published in a newspaper.

Indeed, the text mentions several stories which took place at different locations and various time. From a man who was born around 1160 in Lockersley, to a Wakefield man who fought next to Thomas of Lancaster’s during his rebellion in 1322.

However, in the well-known versions which are paradoxically not based on writings we found, Robin Hood lived either during the reign of Edward II, or during Richard I, the Lionheart one. According to another version, Robin Hood and Little John lived in Whitby, Yorkshire, and were extremely skilled at archery they shotted an arrow one mile away and gave their names to fields.

Even though there are numerous versions of Robin Hood story, some facts are undeniable. First, Robin Hood was a North Country man and hid in Sherwood Forest and a coastal refuge at Robin Hood’s Bay in Yorkshire as an outlaw. Moreover, Robin was a hero fighting for the rights of the oppressed and according to the legend we know today, stealing money from the Sheriff and give it back to poor people.

All versions give also the same point of view of Robin’s death. He became ill and went to Kirklees priory where his aunt, the Prioress should treat him. Unfortunately, sir Roger de Doncaster asked the prioress to kill Robin and she did it. Just before he died, he blew his horn one last time but his friends came too late. He lost a last arrow and asked John to bury him where it landed. We can still see a little mound in Kirklees park. Robin was betrayed by his own family.

        To conclude, I would say that even though Robin truly existed, his story is way less epic as we can see in the Hollywood’s movie. But it is so important? We still have many things to discover about him for example his love with Marion which isn’t mentioned anywhere. Meanwhile, we are free to imagine anything we want.

THE DOCTOR AND ROBIN - CO EXTRACT 1:

 - Watch the extract once and describe the situation as much as you can.

This extract probably comes from a movie or a TV series.

After watching the extract once, I spotted two different moment and universe. Firstly, the situation takes places in a vast room, a kind of laboratory. There is a man, who may be a scientist since he is doing tough calculation on a black board. He is called “doctor” by the other character, a girl who look younger than him. Both characters look closely. I guess they might be father and daughter or just friends.

The doctor offers the girl to go whenever and wherever she wants. She would like to meet Robin Hood. After a wavy conversation, the doctor appears in the nature, in the middle of vegetation. We see a new character, wearing green clothes and hat. He must be Robin Hood.

I think the doctor and the girl are time travelers.

 - How does the man describe Robin Hood?

The doctor describes ironically Robin Hood as a heroic outlaw who robs the rich and gives to the poor. According to the man, Robin Hood and his story are totally made up. He thinks that he has never existed. I quote: “fairytale heroes only exist in fairy tales”

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