In the 1700s and 1800s, English writers began searching through their ancient history in order to find folk heroes (probably a sign of the growth of nationalism or love of one's country). English historians have also tried to find out RH's true roots as well, and this website concludes:
"Despite the efforts of authors like P. Valentine Harris, no verifiable Robin Hood emerged from the historical record. Today, most scholars accept Robin as a literary invention, based in part on other figures like Gamelyn and Fouke fitz Waryn, as well as real-life outlaws. Any search for the ideal Robin Hood, a dispossessed noble who robs from the rich to give to the poor, is doomed to failure. That Robin is a modern figure whose individual characteristics were added in different stages, which are roughly represented in this exhibit" (http://www.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/rh/RH%20Exhibit/pref.htm)
In
the 1800s, he appeared in plays, songs, and operas as well as novels.
Because of the lack of solid facts on RH, it appears that artists have
fit him into almost any context that they have wanted to, placing him
within the Anglo-Saxon invasion or in today's movie version, a returning
archer from the Crusades. An author named Pierce Egan in 1838 wrote a
series of adventures that added Robin's Merry Men to the myth. Sir
Walter Scott also included RH in his classic, Ivanhoe (1820). The two most recent American movies Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) with Kevin Costner in the lead role along w/ Morgan Freeman and Alan Rickman. The other was Mel Brooks' farce, RH: Men in Tights (1993) which had its best moment when Cary Elwes, as Robin Hood, cracked, "unlike other Robin Hoods, I can speak with an English accent." Costner's portrayal of RH was criticized for losing his lame British accent half way through the movie. The first movie goes for serious drama and action and includes a Moor from the Crusades (Morgan Freeman's character), while the other movie shreds the Robin Hood convention with tons of jokes.
Your questions:
1. Why do you think a country like Britain that had a strong tradition of law and loyalty to the monarch would honor such a popular rebel hero who stole from the rich and gave to the poor?
2. King John pledges to a charter of law and liberty after being convinced by Robin Longstride (Robin Hood) to reward all English men by giving them rights. Chances are, it wasn't Robin Hood who did this. Historically, this isn't accurate, but it makes for a good movie. Comment on which is more important in movie making: historical accuracy or dramatic action and why.
Due Monday, Nov. 3 by class. 250 words total for both questions.
