2015-08-21
1040
Our famous writer Maxim Gorky greatly admired folklore. He was particularly fond of the Robin Hood ballads and when they appeared in Russian he wrote a preface to the translation. Gorky explains to the reader how it came about, in former times, that outlaws and robbers were so often idealized by the common people in all countries. 1)He says that when a people live under the foot of a higher class or under foreign masters with their cruel laws, they never benefit by their toil, and cannot get rid of the exploiters. Such a people look up to the outlaw as to hero: he the outlaw, does not fear men of power and despises their laws. It is he, the outlaw, who eventually breaks all those cruel laws and bring justice and freedom to everyone. And the people wish is to live as the outlaws in the forest; their life is a bit wild, perhaps, but it is free. 2)The second reason for being fond of robbers and outlaws, Gorky thought, was the poetical desire for beauty, which is natural to any people. And who does not know that the common people always see kindness as part of poetical beauty, and freedom as part of justice? A life of hardships offers neither kindness nor beauty. The people long for them. So they endow the outlaw with the best human qualities: Robin Hood is brave in fighting, loyal in friendship, jolly, witty and always fair to everyone. He is generous and kind to the poor.
Today it is not important to prove whether Robin Hood really possessed those qualities. What is important, is to see in the image of Robin the soul of the common people themselves.
Up to the 19th century there was celebration in the month of May in some parts of England, called Robin Hood's Day. The people's favourite hero was commemorated by competitions in archery, by the singing of ballads, and by dancing.
Exercises
Questions:
1. How many original Robin Hood ballads are there in English literature and when were they written down?
2. Where and when did Robin Hood live? Describe him as a character.
3. What were the merry men of Robin Hood? Who were his close friends?
4. What is the chief idea expressed in the Robin Hood ballads?
Compositions"
1. Trace the following in any of the Robin Hood ballads you have read"
a) In what environment does the story told in the ballad take place?
b) To what classes of society do the characters in the ballad belong?
c) What is the conflict in the plot of the ballad?
d) Who are the heroes and who are the villains in the ballad?
e) Who wins?
2. Make up a story in prose based on any ballad you like.
