The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

What empire fell, marking the beginning of the period historians call the “Middle Ages”? What was daily life like during this time? Who were the Anglo-Saxons? Who were the Normans?

Teaching Suggestion: Depending on their background with the medieval period, it may be beneficial for students to view the first video or consult resources online before discussion. The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood takes place during the reigns of English monarch Henry II and his sons. Some of the conflicts between Normans and Anglo-Saxons that students will come across in researching this time period can be seen in the novel when reading for detail. The video introduces lifestyle details and images that appear in the novel such as archery as a pastime and the illegal hunting on noble lands (which initially makes Robin Hood an outlaw).

• This 13-minute video describes what life was like in Medieval England.
• This article provides a brief overview of Medieval England and the political upheaval surrounding that time.

Short Activity

Pyle’s The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood is based on several ballads written during the Medieval period. Explore medieval English ballads to identify their elements and characteristics.

Teaching Suggestion: Students might listen to and analyze the ballads below or other ballads online while taking notes on the similarities between them. It might be beneficial to investigate the article below to discuss the characteristics of a ballad; then revisit the videos for further analysis.

• This video includes audio and printed lyrics for the ballad “Lord Randal.”
• This video includes audio, animations, and printed lyrics for the ballad “The Willow Maid.”
• This video includes images and audio for the ballad “Robin Hood and the Tanner.”
• This article describes the characteristics of a ballad.

Differentiation Suggestion: For students who would benefit from an additional challenge, consider allowing them to analyze the rhyme scheme of the ballads to determine the pattern used by the writers. Students can share their results with the class if they would benefit from an opportunity to practice presentation skills.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the novel.

What kind of laws, in your opinion, can be broken for a sufficient moral reason? What laws, if any, should not be broken under any circumstance? What are some of the complications that may arise if many people thought breaking the law was an acceptable practice? Why do we have moral laws we obey, and what is the danger of thwarting moral societal standards?

Teaching Suggestion: Many students may know Robin Hood as a famous outlaw who considers it his moral duty to steal from those who obtained wealth through evil means. While the stories in The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood will introduce students to additional character traits and conflicts for this iconic figure, it may be beneficial to make connections in this prompt with existing knowledge. You might consider discussing the consequences of vigilante justice in society and corruption that occurs in positions of power.