The Geste of Robin Hood
Elizabeth Miller
Disney Robin Hood
https://youtu.be/QLhYSw67pdg?t=41s
Medieval Robin Hood– Story cast in a darker light than the Disney version
– Robin steals and kills
– Looking at the contradicting behaviors of Robin Hood,
readers see he is not a hero but rather a villain.
Stealing from the Sheriff– Little John steals “cups, goblets and spoons--nothing did they forget (Fit 3)
– Robin Hood does not commit the crime
– Leader?
– Then decides to teach the sheriff “an outlaw how to be” (Fit 3)
– Hood showing living conditions of the poor
– Removes his clothes
Sheriff’s Role– Robin Hood and Sheriff of Nottingham have a strong enmity towards each other.
– Power difference
– Lack of identity
– Not given a name
– Put a heavier focus on Robin Hood’s actions
Structure of Medieval European Government
– Politicians full of deceit and nepotism
– Those with money could buy out their jail time
– Committing crimes of theft could lead to death
– Results in lack of faith in government
– Thrill of Robin Hood story comes from stealing from authority figures
Stealing from the Monk– Monk lies about the money he has, so Robin steals from him
– Uses Mother Mary to justify actions
– “For Our Lady, by Her high steward” (Fit 1)
Killing the Sheriff of Nottingham
– Kills with brutality
– “An arrow… at will… and cut[s] off the sheriff’s head” (Fit 6).
– Lack of morals and no respect for government
– Sixth commandment
– Acting as a leader for the oppressed through this?
Conclusion– Stealing from the monk
– Stealing from the sheriff
– Killing the sheriff
Works Cited– Animatedwonders. Animated Wonders. Digital image. Tumblr. Animatedwonders, 6 Oct. 2013. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.
<http://animatedwonders.tumblr.com/post/63276746225/thank-you-to-disneyscreencapscom-for-the-screen>.
– Bermudez, Jose Alberto. Social Pyramid of Medieval Ages. Digital image. Wikispaces. Claret Science, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2015. <http://claretscience4.wikispaces.com/file/view/Middle%20Ages%20Social%20Structure.jpg>.
– Bewick, Thomas. Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne. Digital image. University of Rochester. University of Rochester, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2015. <http://d.lib.rochester.edu/robin-hood/image/bewick-guy-of-gisborne>.
– Collins, Hannah. Wicked Wiles:Robin Hood(1973). Digital image. I Wanted Wings. Hannah Collins, 12 Sept. 2015. Web. 30 Nov. 2015. <https://iwantedwings.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/movies-disney-film-feature-13.jpg>.
– Fairholt, F. W. Robin and the Tinker Carousing, Headpiece to "Robin Hood and the Tinker" Digital image. University of Rochester. University of Rochester, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2015. <http://d.lib.rochester.edu/robin-hood/image/fairholt-headpiece-robin-hood-and-the-tinker>.
– Frank, Robert Landis. "The Geste of Robin Hood." The Geste of Robin Hood. Painted Arrow Publishing, 30 Nov. 1999. Web. 30 Nov. 2015. <http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~ohlgren/gesttrans.html>.
– Rhead, Louis. Robin Hood. Digital image. University of Rochester. University of Rochester, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2015. <http://d.lib.rochester.edu/robin-hood/image/rhead-robin-hood>.
– Rhead, Louis. The Sheriff of Nottingham. Digital image. University of Rochester. University of Rochester, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2015. <http://d.lib.rochester.edu/robin-hood/image/rhead-sheriff-of-nottingham>.
– Riddick, Don. "Classic Disney's Robin Hood (Sing Along Song) - Robin & Little John Running Through The Forrest.mov." YouTube. YouTube, 18 Sept. 2010. Web. 30 Nov. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLhYSw67pdg&feature=youtu.be&t=22s>.