Robin Hood Worksheet

Name: ……………………………………... Class: ……………………………………….

Pre-reading phase: Exercise 1: Why is the story of Robin Hood still such a great story to listen to? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Lesson goals: In today’s lesson you will:

● Improve your reading skills. ● Improve your social skills. ● Understand what legends are. ● Know more about the legend of Robin Hood ● How to try to distinguish fact or fiction in myths and legends.

While-reading phase: Robin Hood poem

Pin back your ears and listen To this famous tale of a brave outlaw Who loved stealing gold from England’s rich, And giving it out to England’s poor. The famous legend of Robin Hood! Fabulous tales, passed through the ages. Here are some of the stories Set down for you now in these pages. One day Robin was in the woods With his bow and quiver. He shot a bird to cook for his lunch Then headed home across the river. On the old bridge stood a huge man “Little John” was his name. He would not let Robin cross He wanted to play a game. They fought each other with big sticks And Robin fell into the stream. John helped him out of the water And said with a smile “We’d make a great team!” Robin Hood gladly agreed And they went off as a pair, Robin Hood with his bow and arrow And Little John, strong as a bear. Over the years others joined them, In the forest they made their den. Will Scarlett, Much, Alan A’Dale, Robin called them his merry men. One day a coach came through the forest And the men saw a chance for some fun! They shouted “We’re outlaws - give us your gold!” And a boy jumped out and started to run!

Robin gave chase and caught him Pulling off the boy’s hat. Robin realized it wasn’t a boy, But a GIRL, and a pretty one at that! Her name was Maid Marion She put up quite a fight. Robin thought she was great It was love at first sight. “I like your attitude” said Robin, “You’ve got style and sass. I want you to join me and my men And be my merry lass!” Marian and Robin went to get married But the Bishop said “not on your nelly! A ratbag like you can’t come to my church You’re common and dirty and smelly.” On the way home they met a monk Standing by a stream. He said “You shall not pass!” Another challenge it would seem. His name was Friar Tuck And he asked them a riddle or two. Of course Robin got the answers right He laughed, “I’m smarter than you!” So Tuck carried Robin across the stream But dropped him, and Robin got wet. Marion laughed and said that the monk Was the merriest man yet. And Robin had had a good idea While he was being carried. This monk could perform the wedding So Robin and Marian were married. And though it’s now time to leave our new friends Fear not, it's not the end of their story As long as folk love to read a good tale The name “Robin Hood” shall echo in glory!

Exercise 2 Do you think Robin Hood is a hero or a villain? Write down why. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Exercise 3

- Mark the the facts that you already knew about Robin Hood. - Mark the facts that you didn’t know about Robin Hood. (use another colour).

Exercise 4 Answer the following questions individually.

- Do you like the story about Robin Hood? Why? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

- Do you think the story about Robin Hood really happened? _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________

- What parts of the story could have really happened according to you? Why? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

- What parts of the story could have been made up according to you? Why? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Exercise 5: Discuss in groups of four your findings. Write down anything interesting: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Robin Hood: Fact or Fiction? What we know about Robin Hood comes from films, television programmes, books and cartoons. Most say that he lived in Sherwood Forest, during the reign of King Richard (1189–99). He fought with the Sheriff of Nottingham, accompanied by Maid Marian and a band of followers known as his ‘merry men’. Most films say that he was a Saxon nobleman, who stole from the rich and gave to the poor. Records of Robin Hood exist, but it is hard to separate the truth from the legends. He may have been a real person, if so his adventures have probably been exaggerated. He appears in many popular ballads from the 13th century, but his first datable appearance is in William Langland's Piers Plowman in the late 14th century. Until then few songs or ballads were written down so it is hard to be certain of the truth. Exercise 6: Read the following extracts and fill in the facts:

Extract A: Andrew de Wyntoun, 1420 Then Little John and Robin Hood as forest outlaws were well known. In Inglewood and Barnsdale all this time they carried out their trade.

Extract B: From the records of the King’s Judges at York 1225: Thirty two shillings and six pence from the sale of the belongings of Robert Hoode, peasant tenant of the archbishopric of York, reported as fleeing from the King’s justice. 1228: Robert Hod, known as ‘Robin’, declared an outlaw in West Yorkshire 1230: Report from West Yorkshire: ‘The Sheriff of Yorkshire owes 32s 6d. for goods stolen by Robin Hood, fugitive.’

Extract C: From a collection of English and Scottish Popular Ballads by Francis James Child, 1888. Some they will talk of bold Robin Hood, And some of barons bold, But I'll tell you how he served the Bishop of Hereford, When he robbed him of his gold. As it befell in merry Barnsdale, And under the green-wood tree,

Extract F: The statue of Robin Hood in Nottingham, 2006. A statue of Robin Hood stands in the grounds of Nottingham castle. It was given to Nottingham by EF Clay Esquire on 28th June 1949 to celebrate the cities most famous hero.

Extract G: Robin Hood’s Gravestone at Kirklees Here underneath dis laitl stean Laz robert earl of Huntintun Ne'er arcir ver as hie sa geud An pipl kauld im robin heud Sick utlawz as his as iz men Vil england nivr si agen Obiit 24 Kal. Dekembris 1247.

Extract H: Robin Hood’s Grave at Kirklees Priory, Yorkshire. According to the legend, Robin Hood was murdered by the prioress of Kirklees Priory. This fact was backed up amongst the papers of the Dean of York. Robin Hood was 87 years old when he was murdered and the legend say that as he lay dying he fired an arrow out of the window and aged Little John to bury him where it landed. Little John is supposed to be buried in Little John's grave in St Michael's Church graveyard, Hathersage, near Sheffield.

Extract I: In Search of Robin Hood, written by Patrick Middleton in 1989. Only one of the five earliest ballads puts Robin in Sherwood Forest. Until the Peasants Revolt in 1381, there is no mention of Robin Hood stealing from the rich to give to the poor. After this revolt over high taxes, the number of songs about Robin Hood increased, and most say that he was a peasant who fought wicked sheriffs to give money back to the poor.

Extract D: From the Gest of Robyn Hood, first written down in 1400s Robin lived in Barnsdale with the good yeoman Little John, Will Scarlock and Much the Miller’s son.

Extract E: From the Gest of Robyn Hood, first written down in 1400s Robyn hod in scherewod stod hodud and hathud and hosut and schod four and thuynti arows he bar in hits hondus

Extract J: Source D: A true tale of Robin Hood, written by Martin Parker in 1687. ‘A brief touch on life and death of that renowned outlaw, Robert Earl of Huntingdon, commonly known as Robin Hood. He died in Sherwood Forest, AD.1198, being in the reign of King Richard the First.’

Extract K: St. Mary Magdalene in Campsall, Doncaster According to the churches records Robin Hood married Maid Marian at St Mary Magdalene . To the west of the Church was Barnsdale Forest, which was also associated with Robin Hood and various outlaws and bandits who preyed upon travelers on the Great North Road.

extract: Facts (names, places, actions) date Trustworthy?

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

Post-reading phase Exercise 7 Records from Robin Hood exist, but as you have seen it’s hard to separate the truth from the legends. Most of what we know about Robin Hood comes from films and books. According to everything you have read. Are the following statements true or false? Robin hood:

● Was an outlaw. True / False/ Not sure ● Took from the rich and gave to the poor True / False/ Not sure ● Wanted to become sheriff True / False/ Not sure ● Is befriended to Big John True / False/ Not sure ● Lived in Nottingham True / False/ Not sure ● Was good with a bow True / False/ Not sure ● Fell in love with Marion True / False/ Not sure ● Lived in medieval times True / False/ Not sure

Exercise 8 As you have seen, there are a lot of recordings through history about Robin Hood. It is very hard to say what happened for real and what is made up. But nevertheless the story works. Even today people find it a great story to read. What do you think are the key elements for making this story a success? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Exercise 9 Knowing the key elements to success, now it’s your turn. Create a news bulletin about a ‘Robin Hood’ of the present.

You now know more about who Robin Hood was and what he did. Is he a good guy, or is he a bad guy? Now, make a newsvideo together with your group. How would media respond to the actions of Robin Hood nowadays? Would they cheer him on or condemn him? You can deside for yourselves.

1. make an English newsitem of a couple of minutes (video) 2. describe an incident: what has happened? When did it happen? Who did it

concern? 3. describe the reaction of the police. 4. create a short interview with a witness.

Be creative!

NEWSFLASH!!

All done? Now make a drawing of Robin Hood in this wanted poster. As you can see he’s worth quite a lot of money, so pay attention to detials:

1. his signature head with feather 2. his bow and arrow 3. his clothes

(Don’t like to draw? Write a description.)