Summary
Summary of Stories of Robin Hood
Key ideas
Key idea 1
An outlaw answers a harsh world
A boy hears that a good neighbor has been hanged for feeding his hungry children. That injustice opens the way into Robin Hood's world, where Norman lords grind down the Saxon poor. Robin grows up to take from the greedy and help those in need.
Across the tales, a golden arrow, a giant on a narrow bridge, a singing friar and a disguised king bring adventure and laughter. Yet the suffering behind Robin's choices remains part of the story.
Key idea 2
Robin makes a promise to the poor
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Key idea 3
A disguise defeats the sheriff's trap
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Key idea 4
Fairness turns a rival into a friend
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Key idea 5
Robin stands beside the unhappy lovers
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Key idea 6
Generosity follows need rather than rank
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Key idea 7
Robin's faults sit beside his kindness
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The rest of the summary, written and spoken, and the whole book: free to start.
Read the rest freeWho it’s for
You will love this book if you enjoy bright adventure, clever disguises, archery contests and loyal friends, or want a first meeting with Robin Hood that is warm, quick and full of fun.
What this book is
Imagine a boy who hears that a good neighbor has been hanged for feeding his hungry children. Stories of Robin Hood, retold for young readers by Bertha E. Bush, begins just there. Six short tales follow the outlaw of Sherwood Forest, who grows up to take from the greedy and help the poor. You meet a golden arrow, a giant on a narrow bridge, a singing friar and a king in disguise. Behind the laughter stands a harsh England, ruled by Norman lords who grind down the Saxon poor.
In this summary
- 1A boy's vow to help the poorFree
- 2Robin outwits the sheriff in disguise
- 3A fair fight makes Little John
- 4A friar, a minstrel and a wedding
- 5Feasts for the rich and a visit from the king
Key point 1 of 5
A boy's vow to help the poor
Young Robin learns that Peter the Ploughman has been hanged for shooting a deer in the king's forest. Peter did it to feed his hungry children. The Normans rule the Saxon common people with cruelty, and Robin calls such laws wicked.
He promises that when he is a man, the rich will share their wealth with the poor. He keeps that promise. He gathers a band in the forest, and the common people love them as the merry men of greenwood.
The author admits that robbing is wrong. Yet Robin believes he is returning what was stolen from the poor. His men spare women, farmers and village priests, and that code is the backbone of every tale.
That’s 1 of 5 key points.
The rest of the summary, written and spoken, and the whole book: free to start.
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Check yourself
What promise guides Robin as he grows up?
Right. “He promises that when he is a man, the rich will share their wealth with the poor.”Not quite. “He promises that when he is a man, the rich will share their wealth with the poor.”
Why does Robin stop his men from dunking the stranger?
Right. “He forbids his men to dunk the stranger, because the fight was fair.”Not quite. “He forbids his men to dunk the stranger, because the fight was fair.”
How does Robin respond to the knight whose debt has left him without friends?
Right. “Robin answers that people in trouble always have friends in Sherwood Forest, and he gives the knight the poor man's share.”Not quite. “Robin answers that people in trouble always have friends in Sherwood Forest, and he gives the knight the poor man's share.”
Questions about Stories of Robin Hood
What is Stories of Robin Hood about?
It tells several short tales of Robin Hood and his merry men in Sherwood Forest, including the golden arrow contest, how Little John joined, Friar Tuck, a sorrowful knight, and a king in disguise, ending with an old ballad.
Who are the merry men in Robin Hood?
They are the band of more than a hundred outlaws who follow Robin in Sherwood Forest. Little John, Will Stutely, Will Scarlet, Friar Tuck and Allen-a-Dale are among those named in these stories.
Why does Robin Hood rob the rich?
After hearing of the hanging of Peter the Ploughman as a boy, Robin vows to make the rich share with the poor. He takes from greedy nobles and churchmen who have taken unjustly, and gives to those in need.
Is Stories of Robin Hood a true story?
No, the tales come from old English legend and ballads, and the author closes the book with an old ballad about a wedding. The stories are set in the time of King Richard.
Is Stories of Robin Hood easy to read?
Yes, the book is approachable. The tales are short, the language is plain, and the stories include disguises, contests and jokes, so readers can enjoy one story at a time.
