Robin Hood 🔒 Members

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Age and build

Shoulders notably broader than some men

“Robin's shoulders, I ween, are three inches broader than his” (Robin Hood, part 3)

Face and hair

Yellow beard like gold

“Robin's beard is as yellow as gold, while yon tattered beggar in scarlet hath a beard of brown, besides being blind of one eye” (Robin Hood, part 3)

Long yellow curled hair

“His hair was long and yellow and curled upon his shoulders, and in his hand he bore an early rose, which he smelled at daintily now and then” (Robin Hood, part 10)

Walnut stain on yellow hair from disguise

“Easy come these things away, but walnut stain cometh not so speedily from yellow hair” (Robin Hood, part 3)

Dress

Fair Lincoln green as his typical garb

“showed himself all clothed in fair Lincoln green; and quoth he, "Easy come these things away, but walnut stain cometh not so speedily from yellow hair” (Robin Hood, part 3)

Steel coat of chain mail with light jacket of Lincoln green

“Then straightway Robin Hood donned a fine steel coat of chain mail, over which he put on a light jacket of Lincoln green. Upon his head he clapped a steel cap, and this he covered by one of soft white leather, in which stood a nodding cock's plume” (Robin Hood, part 14)

Blue doublet and stockings when disguised

“Then, turning his steps once more to the eastward, he stepped out right foot foremost toward Nottinghamshire and Sherwood Forest” (Robin Hood, part 29)

Voice and speech

Merry and laughing manner of speech

“With all my heart," cried merry Robin. "Rattle my bones, an thou canst” (Robin Hood, part 2)

Uses quotations from Gaffer Swanthold as wisdom

“But what sayeth our good gossip Swanthold? Is it not 'A hasty man burneth his mouth, and the fool that keepeth his eyes shut falleth into the pit” (Robin Hood, part 2)

Speaks with courtesy and gentle persuasion

“Nay, good Little John," said Robin hastily, "I do bethink me I have said full enough on that score” (Robin Hood, part 11)

Signature words

Addresses men as 'bully' or 'good fellow'

“Now I love thee as my brother, my bully blade," said the Tinker” (Robin Hood, part 1)

Uses 'merry' to describe himself and his band

“Brave and true are ye all, my merry men, and a right stout band of good fellows are ye” (Robin Hood, part 4)

Calls himself and others 'jolly'

“Drink, man, drink," cried Robin, only wetting his own lips meanwhile” (Robin Hood, part 1)

Frequently invokes 'by my faith' or 'by my troth'

“By my troth," said he, "I did reckon full roundly that that knave Robin Hood would be at the game today” (Robin Hood, part 3)

Gait and mannerisms

Walks whistling through the forest

“As thus he walked up a forest path, whistling, down another path came the Tinker, muttering to himself and shaking his head like an angry bull” (Robin Hood, part 2)

Skips and leaps with joy and merriment

“Ever and anon he would skip and leap or sing a snatch of song, for pure joyousness of the day” (Robin Hood, part 22)

Laughs readily and often

“Then Robin Hood laughed again. "So be it," he said, smiting his palm upon the Sheriff's hand” (Robin Hood, part 5)

Stands with hands on hips in confrontation

“So saying, Robin Hood stepped forth from the shade of the beech tree, crossed the stile, and stood in the middle of the road, with his hands on his hips, in the stranger's path” (Robin Hood, part 10)

Strengths

Masterful archer and bowman

“I would rather lose my right hand than have such ill befall young David of Doncaster as seemed like to come upon him at Denby” (Robin Hood, part 20)

Skilled with quarterstaff and sword

“At this Robin laughed aloud, and the Tinker grew more angry than ever, and smote again with all his might and main. Again Robin warded two of the strokes, but at the third, his staff broke beneath the mighty blows of the Tinker” (Robin Hood, part 2)

Quick thinking and strategic planning

“Now some of you clothe yourselves as curtal friars, and some as rustic peasants, and some as tinkers, or as beggars, but see that each man taketh a good bow or broadsword, in case need should arise” (Robin Hood, part 2)

Compassionate toward the poor and wronged

“I take my tithes from fat priests and lordly squires, to help those that they despoil and to raise up those that they bow down” (Robin Hood, part 8)

Flaws

Vexed and angered when called a coward

“Truly am I vexed in my blood, for I heard the Sheriff say today, 'Thou shootest better than that coward knave Robin Hood, that dared not show his face here this day” (Robin Hood, part 3)

Can be vexed and frustrated by failure

“Now, out upon it!" cried he. "That shaft had an ill feather to it, for I felt it as it left my fingers” (Robin Hood, part 33)

Traits

Generous and merciful to those in need

“Nay, my Lord Bishop," said Robin, "we are rough fellows, but I trust not such ill men as thou thinkest, after all. There is not a man here that would harm a hair of thy reverence's head” (Robin Hood, part 18)

Loyal to his band and protective of them

“Now hark you all!" cried Robin. "Our dear companion Will Stutely hath been taken by that vile Sheriff's men, therefore doth it behoove us to take bow and brand in hand to bring him off again” (Robin Hood, part 4)

Loves the greenwood and nature

“Now, I swear that never again will I leave these dear woodlands. I have been away from them and from you too long” (Robin Hood, part 34)

Proud of his skill and reputation

“Then Robin Hood's heart was proud when he looked around on his stout, brave fellows, and he said, "Brave and true are ye all, my merry men” (Robin Hood, part 4)

Lines in their own words

Confident challenge to the Tinker

“With all my heart," cried merry Robin. "Rattle my bones, an thou canst” (Robin Hood, part 2)

Merciful judgment of the Sheriff

“I take my tithes from fat priests and lordly squires, to help those that they despoil and to raise up those that they bow down; but I know not that thou hast tenants of thine own whom thou hast wronged in any way” (Robin Hood, part 8)

Rallying his men to rescue Will Stutely

“Now hark you all!" cried Robin. "Our dear companion Will Stutely hath been taken by that vile Sheriff's men, therefore doth it behoove us to take bow and brand in hand to bring him off again” (Robin Hood, part 4)

Renouncing his earldom for the greenwood

“Now, I swear that never again will I leave these dear woodlands. I have been away from them and from you too long. Now do I lay by the name of Robert, Earl of Huntingdon, and take upon me once again that nobler title, Robin Hood, the Yeoman” (Robin Hood, part 34)

Final instruction to Little John

“Little John, mine own dear friend, and him I love better than all others in the world, mark, I prythee, where this arrow lodges, and there let my grave be digged” (Robin Hood, part 35)