Robin Hood and Maid Marian
Encyclopedia
"Robin Hood and Maid Marian" is an English folk ballad
, collected as Child Ballad
150. The ballad depicts Maid Marian
as a skillful fighter. This contrasts with the common perception that portrayals of Marian as a rugged and capable woman are solely a modern feminist development. It is also one of the few ballads to describe Robin Hood
as the Earl of Huntington.
and the entire group feasts on venison in celebration.
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
, collected as Child Ballad
Child Ballads
The Child Ballads are a collection of 305 ballads from England and Scotland, and their American variants, collected by Francis James Child in the late nineteenth century...
150. The ballad depicts Maid Marian
Maid Marian
Maid Marian is the wife of the legendary English outlaw Robin Hood. Stemming from another, older tradition, she became associated with Robin Hood only in the 16th century.-History:The earliest medieval Robin Hood stories gave him no female companion...
as a skillful fighter. This contrasts with the common perception that portrayals of Marian as a rugged and capable woman are solely a modern feminist development. It is also one of the few ballads to describe Robin Hood
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
as the Earl of Huntington.
Synopsis
Robin and Marian share a tender moment but are soon forced to part. After some time, Marian decides to search the woods for him while disguised as a page. When she meets Robin, who is also in disguise, they fight. She does not recognize him until he asks her to stop. At the sound of Robin's voice, Marian kisses him and they are joyously reunited. She joins the Merry MenMerry Men
The Merry Men are the group of outlaws who followed Robin Hood, according to English folklore. An early use of the phrase "merry men" occurs in the oldest known Robin Hood ballad, "Robin Hood and the Monk", which survives in a manuscript completed around 1450. The word "merry" in this and other...
and the entire group feasts on venison in celebration.