The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood

The story

Young Robin of Locksley kills a royal forester in self-defence and becomes an outlaw in Sherwood Forest. There he gathers a band of merry men — Little John, Will Scarlet, Friar Tuck — who take from rich travellers and give to the poor.

Each chapter is a new adventure: a fight on a log bridge, an archery contest for a golden arrow, a disguise as a butcher, and endless tricks played on the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Themes: justice, friendship, outlaws and authority, merry England.

Why it's a good book for language learners

Howard Pyle wrote in a deliberately old-fashioned style (full of “thee”, “thou” and “quoth he”), which makes the book a fun introduction to older English forms like thee and thou. Every chapter is a complete episode, so it is easy to read in short sessions.

What you'll practise

• Archaic forms: thou, thee, thy, hath, doth
• Medieval vocabulary: forest, archery, feasts
• Tricks, disguises and dialogue
• Ballad-like storytelling

Did you know?

Pyle illustrated the book himself, and his drawings shaped how Robin Hood has been pictured ever since.

The PageWalker adventure

In the adventure you live in Sherwood, and your choices decide whether the Sheriff finally catches you. The first page is free to play in your browser, and the adventure is available in 13 languages with click-to-translate.

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood in other languages

• EnglishThe Merry Adventures of Robin Hood
• العربيةمغامرات روبن هود المرحة
• DeutschDie lustigen Abenteuer des Robin Hood
• EspañolLas Alegres Aventuras de Robin Hood
• FrançaisLes Joyeuses Aventures de Robin des Bois
• हिन्दीरॉबिन हुड के रोमांच कारनामे
• ItalianoLe allegre avventure di Robin Hood
• 日本語ロビン・フッドの愉快な冒険
• 한국어로빈 후드의 모험
• PortuguêsAs Aventuras de Robin Hood
• РусскийВеселые приключения Робин Гуда
• TürkçeRobin Hood'un Neşeli Maceraları
• 简体中文罗宾汉的快乐冒险