![]() Sloth, the lazy priest, says: "I kan not parfitly my Paternoster as the preest it singeth,/ But I kan rymes of Robyn Hood and Randolf Erl of Chestre." The first reference occurs in the English poet William Langland's book Piers Plowman written between 13. Yes, well… I'm afraid you are wrong, Neil. Now, remember my question from earlier? I asked: When do we find the first reference to Robin Hood in English literature? Was it in the… And masculinity means the qualities typical of a man. Well, Neil, it means to do what you want according to your own rules. What does it mean to operate on your own terms, Alice? What he represents I think is a kind of strong and forceful masculinity that operates on its own terms and for its own interests and that's I think what we admire in these stories. So what's so appealing about this man with a bow? Let's listen to Professor Hahn again. ![]() You certainly know your medieval ballads. But Robin is always a trickster, and a man with a bow in a wood.Ī trickster is someone who deceives or cheats people. She appears in later versions along with other characters we know well today. Well, actually, in the early ballads there is no Maid Marian. Now do you remember you mentioned Maid Marion at the start of the show? You know, like martial arts movies these days. It sounds like medieval entertainment for guys. And dismembered bodies are bodies that have been cut or torn into pieces. Assassinations are the murder of important people, often for political reasons. Yes, I don’t think you'd find it disturbing – disturbing means making you feel upset or shocked. Maybe I should get The Monk on audiobook. Really? And how about the comparison between the Robin Hood ballads and the Sopranos? Now The Sopranos is a popular US TV series about gangsters. People were telling the stories of Robin Hood for a long time before they were written down – and performing them too. Well, It's a song or poem that tells a story. In terms of trying to make some comparisons with popular culture it seems to me that it's really at the level of Sopranos in terms of things like dismembered bodies and actual violence and assassinations. The Monk is, I think for most modern audiences who've either seen movies or read children's stories or whatever, quite disturbing in terms of its levels of violence. Thomas Hahn, Professor of English Literature at the University of Rochester, New York Let's listen to Professor Thomas Hahn talk about one of the ballads called The Monk. Actually the early versions of Robin Hood were very violent. And of course, romance, like I said before. Well, I suppose it's got appeal on lots of levels – action, adventure – there's some comedy stuff there with the merry men. Now, why do you think the stories of Robin Hood have lasted from the Middle Ages through to the modern day? Well, we'll find out if you're right or wrong later on. Well, I'm going to go for the middle one – and that's b) 10th century. You're right! So here's a question for you, Neil: When do we find the first reference to Robin Hood in English literature? Was it in the… And I'm guessing that Robin Hood is the subject of today's show?Ībsolutely. ![]() The Middle Ages or medieval period lasted in Europe from the 5th to the 15th century. I studied English at university and one of my specialist subjects was medieval literature. Oh, come on, Alice! Have you read the literature? ![]() OK, it sounds like you've watched a lot of TV and film versions but haven't read the literature. Yes, yeah… he lived in Sherwood Forest with a band of merry men. Oh yeah, there's all that stuff as well – robbing the rich and giving to the poor. Robin and Maid Marion were foxes.Īnything else? What about being an outlaw or criminal? Heroically fighting against injustice and corruption? There was a great Disney cartoon series using animal characters. He was English – although he sometimes he has an American accent in Hollywood films. He was good at archery… he had a girlfriend called Maid Marion. Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript The qualities typical of a man Transcript The murder of important people, often for political reasonsīodies that have been cut or torn into piecesĭo what you want according to your own rules The period in Europe from the 5th to the 15th century You can hear the right answer at the end of the programme. When do we find the first reference to Robin Hood in English literature? Was it in the… Neil and Alice discuss the long-lasting appeal of this man with a bow and how he has changed over the centuries. In the early stories of Robin Hood there is no Maid Marian, no Friar Tuck, Robin doesn't live in the time of bad Prince John, or the crusades, doesn't lead a large and merry gang, and never robs the rich to give to the poor.
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