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Robin Hood Facts & Worksheets

A legendary outlaw from English folklore, literature, and film, Robin Hood is known as a rebel against tyranny. He is known to steal from the rich and give to the poor.

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A legendary outlaw from English folklore, literature, and film, Robin Hood is known as a rebel against tyranny. He is known to steal from the rich and give to the poor. The many versions of his story became a significant part of literature.

See the fact file below for more information on Robin Hood, or you can download our 25-page Robin Hood worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

INTRODUCTION

  • A lot of people wonder if a real Robin Hood existed.
  • Today, there are still debates on the origins and history of the legend, and there are many references to historical figures with similar names that may prove he existed.
  • The story of Robin Hood has long been part of popular culture.
  • Despite doubts about his existence, Robin Hood’s story has always been featured on different channels, such as television, films, and literature.
  • He became a famous folk figure during the Late Middle Ages and appeared in the earliest known ballads of the century.
  • As England evolved, the story of Robin Hood also changed.
  • Due to several story adaptations, the present image of Robin Hood that we know today is somewhat different from the old Robin Hood.
  • Important details remain, but there are versions with many changes.
  • Additional characters, settings, and traits are the product of the Robin Hood version familiar today.

THE HISTORY

  • The legendary story of Robin Hood linked him to the ancient trees found in Sherwood Forest.
  • The adventures of Robin Hood happened in England during the reign of King Richard the Lionheart.
  • Robin Hood was an outlaw from the Sherwood Forest.
  • The Sloane manuscripts stated that Robin Hood was born in South Yorkshire in 1160.
  • In the story, he is dressed in forest green from head to toe and always carries his bow and arrow.
  • He lived with his group, known as the Merry Men.
  • Legend says that he was a proficient archer and swordsman.
  • Robin Hood was known as a thief who stole from the rich and generously gave to the poor.
  • It also tells the story of how he foiled the evil deeds of the Sheriff of Nottingham as he fought for the rights of the people he abused.
  • Some versions believed that Robin Hood came from a noble family or came from the middle-rank servants of England.
  • Others stated that before he returned to England, he fought in the Crusades.
  • Some story adaptations added information that he had a love interest named Maid Marian.
  • The earlier versions did not mention Maid Marian.
  • However, in 1600, she was included in the story and became the protagonist of at least two plays.
  • She was highly respected in Robin Hood’s circle, not only due to her beauty and loyalty but also her bravery and independence.
  • Another character added was Little John.
  • Robin Hood and his men roved in the forest.
  • While on duty, Robin Hood met Little John on a bridge over a brook.
  • Little John did not let Robin Hood pass over the bridge.
  • They challenged each other using their weapons, a staff for Little John and a bow and arrow for Robin Hood.
  • However, it seemed unfair to Little John, so Robin Hood dropped his bow and arrow and picked up a staff.
  • They fought until one of them fell.
  • Robin Hood fell off into the brook, and when he came out, he blew his horn to call for his men.
  • Rather than punishing Little John, Robin Hood decided to recruit him as one of his members and train him to use a bow and arrow, to which Little John agreed.
  • There was also a famous story about Robin Hood’s friendly archery contest with Little John.
  • When Robin Hood became older and got ill, he asked Little John to take him to his cousin, the Prioress, to get checked.
  • However, instead of healing Robin Hood, the Prioress betrayed him and killed him with instructions from her lover, Sir Roger de Doncaster.
  • Bleeding was often used as a medieval practice.
  • However, the Prioress bled Robin Hood so much that it led to his death.
  • There were also claims that Sir Roger de Doncaster stabbed Robin Hood while he was weak.
  • The motive was that Robin Hood’s family inherited the land and title that was believed to be for Sir Roger de Doncaster.
  • It was too late when Little John came to help Robin Hood.
  • Robin Hood was able to wound Sir Roger de Doncaster before his death.
  • Little John was about to avenge his friend, but Robin Hood stopped him because he said he had never harmed a woman.
  • Robin Hood had one request to Little John: to help him shoot an arrow from the window and bury him where it landed.

THE WRITTEN STORIES

  • The earliest copies of the ballads that tell Robin Hood’s story can be traced to the last half of the 15th century or the first decade of the 16th century.
  • His compassion for the poor, devotion to the Virgin Mary and respect for women, his exceptional skills in archery, his opposition to clericalism, and his dispute with the Sheriff of Nottingham, were already mentioned in the said copies.
  • However, they did not mention other characters, such as Maid Marian and Little John.
  • Modern popular culture claimed him as a supporter of the late King Richard the Lionheart.
  • The earliest ballads did not prove this claim.
  • When Robin Hood was a rising story, there were already several crises in the English government.
  • The 15th-century Robin Hood and the Monk was the earliest surviving script of his story.
  • More ballads about Robin Hood spread across England, and among these is A Gest of Robyn Hode.
  • It mentioned the status of Robin Hood as lower class and called a yeoman, a term used by medieval English ballads to describe someone higher than a peasant but lower than a knight.
  • In the story A Gest of Robyn Hode, Robin Hood was described as a Yeoman of the King.
  • Despite his position, he abandoned the court and returned to the forest.
  • He promoted justice for the underclass.
  • The list of whom to beat, rob, and kill that he provided to Little John had a code divided between the rich and poor.
  • In the story, Robin killed the sheriff by shooting him with an arrow and slitting his throat.
  • A more brutal version of the killings of Robin Hood came from the 15th-century manuscript Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne.
  • He did not just kill Guy, his enemy, but he also cut his corpse into pieces.
  • After this came the manuscript entitled Robin Hood and the Potter.
  • Dramatic pieces included Robyn Hod and the Shryff off Notyngham.
  • Robin Hood also became popular in plays performed for the upper class.
  • His character was employed by many playwrights, including William Shakespeare.
  • Two popular plays were written by Anthony Munday in 1598.
  • In the 19th century, Walter Scott repackaged Robin Hood as Ivanhoe.
  • Howard Pyle recreated the story in a children’s book entitled The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood of Great Renown in Nottinghamshire.
  • Colored renditions and versions of the children’s book surfaced in 1973.
  • The film industry also adapted the story of Robin Hood. 
  • In the 20th century, several actors, including Douglas Fairbanks, Errol Flynn, Sean Connery, and Daffy Duck, portrayed the character of Robin Hood.

FESTIVALS

  • Robin Hood was also associated with May Day celebrations during the early 16th century.
  • People dress up as Robin or as members of his group and participate in the activities and games.
  • According to a story, Henry VIII of England also enjoyed dressing up as Robin Hood.
  • It was uncommon throughout England, but the tradition lasted until Elizabethan times in older regions.
  • Robin Hood’s romantic interest in Maid Marian or Marion was believed to have started with the May Games.
  • Friar Tuck also entered the legendary story at the same time.
  • From then, both characters were already included in the succeeding versions.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE

  • The folk hero, Robin Hood, represented the poor, especially those who experienced tyranny and injustice.
  • He was always a symbol of hope.
  • Despite the different versions, the same idea can be learned from the story.
  • He will always be a hero and a reflection of society. 

Robin Hood Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Robin Hood across 25 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching kids about Robin Hood. A legendary outlaw from English folklore, literature, and film, Robin Hood is known as a rebel against tyranny. He is known to steal from the rich and give to the poor.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Robin Hood Facts
  2. Shoot The Arrow
  3. Picture Perfect
  4. One Truth, Two Lies
  5. Modern Robin Hood
  6. Robin Hood
  7. Wanted!
  8. Word Association
  9. Word Association II
  10. Significant Lessons
  11. I Think…

Frequently Asked Questions

What was Robin Hood’s real name?

Robert Hod was indebted to St Peter’s in York and became known as “Hobbehod” and “Robert Hood.” He is the only early personage of Robin Hood fame who was considered an outlaw.

What is Robin Hood famous for?

Robin Hood, the renowned outlaw of Nottinghamshire, is most famous for redistributing wealth from the wealthy to those suffering. In addition to being a skilled archer and an innovative strategist in battle, Robin Hood’s heroic deeds made him a champion for justice, fighting against oppression by the local sheriff.

What is the basic story of Robin Hood?

Touted as a heroic figure, Robin Hood and his trusty crew of Merry Men have become deeply entrenched in popular culture. This legendary outlaw is set to steal from the wealthy and redistribute their wealth amongst those less fortunate during King Richard the Lionheart’s reign in England. The adventures of this noble thief detail how he wins Maid Marian’s heart while continuously going head-to-head with the wicked Sheriff of Nottingham.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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