Robin Hood is a man from old English stories. He lived in a forest called Sherwood. He helped poor people.

 

Robin Hood took money from rich people and gave it to the poor. Many people say he was a hero.

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Robin had friends called the Merry Men. They helped him fight a bad man, the Sheriff of Nottingham. The Sheriff took too much money from poor people.

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Robin Hood was good with a bow and arrow. He used it to stop the Sheriff and to run away when in danger.

 

We don’t know if Robin Hood was a real person. But his story is in many books and movies today.

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Vocabulary

• Forest – a place with lots of trees
   

• Rich – having a lot of money
   

• Poor – not having much money
   

• Hero – a person who helps others and is brave
   

• Friend – someone you like and trust
   

• Fight – to try to stop or beat someone using strength
   

• Sheriff – a man who makes people follow the law
   

• Bow – a tool used to shoot arrows
   

• Arrow – a long, thin stick with a point, shot from a bow
   

• Run away – to leave quickly to get away from danger

 

Questions

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1. Who did Robin Hood help?
    

2. Who was the bad man?
    

3. Is Robin Hood a real person?
    

Robin Hood is one of England’s most famous folk heroes. According to legend, he lived in Sherwood Forest near Nottingham during the Middle Ages. Robin was once a nobleman, but after being wronged by powerful people, he became an outlaw. He is famous for stealing from the rich and giving to the poor.

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Robin and his group of loyal followers, known as the Merry Men, fought against the Sheriff of Nottingham. The Sheriff represented the unfair laws and taxes of the time. Robin used clever tricks and expert archery to defeat his enemies and escape trouble.

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Many stories tell how Robin helped the poor and stood up for justice. Although it is unclear whether Robin Hood was a real person, some historians believe the tales may be based on several real outlaws from history.

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Over time, Robin Hood has become a symbol of fighting for fairness. His story appears in books, movies, and TV, often changing to fit modern ideas of justice and rebellion.

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Vocabulary

• Outlaw – a criminal who lives outside the law
   

• Nobleman – a man from a high social class, often with a title or land
   

• Loyal – always supporting someone or something
   

• Archery – the sport or skill of shooting arrows with a bow
   

• Escape – to get away from danger or capture
   

• Represented – acted or spoke for something or someone
   

• Justice – fairness; doing what is morally or legally right
   

• Historian – a person who studies or writes about history
   

• Symbol – something that stands for an idea or quality
   

• Rebellion – an attempt to fight against authority or rules

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Questions

1. Why did Robin Hood become an outlaw?
    

2. What made Robin Hood popular among the poor?
    

3. Why is Robin Hood still important today?
    

Robin Hood is a well-known character from English stories. He is famous for living in Sherwood Forest and fighting against the rich and powerful. Robin Hood stole money from rich people and gave it to the poor. Many people saw him as a hero.

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Robin Hood had a group of friends called the Merry Men. They helped him in his fights against the Sheriff of Nottingham. The Sheriff was a bad man who made poor people pay too much money in taxes. Robin used his bow and arrow to fight and to escape when he was in danger.

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Some people think Robin Hood was a real man, but others say he is just a story. The first stories about him are very old. Today, people still tell new versions of Robin Hood in books and movies.

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The story is popular because it shows someone brave enough to fight for what is right. Even if he broke the law, he did it to help people.

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Vocabulary

• Famous – well known by many people
   

• Forest – a large area with many trees
   

• Hero – a person who is admired for being brave or good
   

• Sheriff – an official who enforces the law in an area
   

• Taxes – money people must pay to the government
   

• Bow and arrow – a weapon for shooting arrows
   

• Escape – to get away from something dangerous
   

• Brave – showing no fear in dangerous situations
   

• Fight – to use physical force to try to hurt or defeat someone
   

• Right – something that is fair or morally good

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Questions

1. Why is Robin Hood called a hero?
    

2. What does the Sheriff of Nottingham do?
    

3. Is Robin Hood real?
    

The legend of Robin Hood is a quintessential English folktale, rooted in medieval myth but infused with enduring themes of justice, rebellion, and social equity. Set primarily in Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire, it follows the exploits of Robin, a dispossessed nobleman turned outlaw. He is best known for his daring raids against corrupt officials and his redistribution of wealth—stealing from the rich to give to the poor.

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Robin’s nemesis, the Sheriff of Nottingham, embodies the oppressive regime Robin defies. Alongside a band of loyal followers—Little John, Friar Tuck, and Maid Marian—Robin orchestrates ambushes and eludes capture with cunning and valor. Over time, Robin becomes a symbol of resistance, his archery skills and clever disguises turning him into a folk hero.

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While historians debate Robin’s historical existence, some suggest the character may be an amalgam of real outlaws and dissidents. Literary references date back to the 14th century, evolving from ballads into complex narratives. These stories have been continuously reimagined in books, films, and TV series, each reflecting contemporary ideals of heroism and justice.

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The legend endures because it grapples with timeless questions: Is it ever right to break the law for a moral cause? Can one person truly challenge a corrupt system? In Robin Hood, we find both fantasy and critique—a myth that entertains, provokes thought, and inspires.

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Vocabulary

• Quintessential – the perfect example of something
   

• Dispossessed – having lost property or rights; made poor or homeless
   

• Ambush – a surprise attack
   

• Nemesis – a long-standing rival or enemy
   

• Dissidents – people who disagree with official policies or authority
   

• Amalgam – a mixture or combination of different things
   

• Reimagined – presented in a new or different way
   

• Endures – continues to exist for a long time
   

• Cunning – clever in a tricky or deceitful way
   

• Valor – great courage in the face of danger
   

Questions

1. What is the main theme of the Robin Hood legend?
    

2. Why does the legend persist in modern culture?
    

3. What does the term “amalgam” suggest about Robin Hood’s origins?