Matter of the Greenwood: Will Scarlet
A look at the most shadowy Merry Man. Image: Patric Knowles as Will in The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938). Perhaps the least well...
Matter of the Greenwood: Guy of Gisburne
Content note: violence including mutilation. Image: Paul Dickey as Sir Guy in the 1922 film Robin Hood. In modern times, Guy of Gisborne...
Matter of the Greenwood: The Silver Arrow
One of the most famous stories about Robin Hood, featured in almost every adaptation (at least, until recently), is that his enemies...
Matter of the Greenwood: Little John: Evolution
An examination of how the character of Robin Hood's devoted lieutenant has developed over the centuries. N.B. this post has been updated...
Matter of the Greenwood: The Sheriff of Nottingham - Evolution
We’ve looked at the possible historical origins of Robin Hood’s archenemy. What about his evolution in fiction? N.B. this post has been...
Matter of the Greenwood: The Sheriff of Nottingham - Origins
Content note: murder of hostages. Robin Hood’s most famous enemy has always been the Sheriff of Nottingham. In early sources, he is never...
Matter of the Greenwood: Friar Tuck - Evolution
I examine how the character of Tuck has evolved over the centuries. Image: Woodcut by F. W. Fairholt for an 1847 ballad collection....
Matter of the Greenwood: Friar Tuck - Origins
I examine the literary, folkloric, and perhaps historical origins of one of the most iconic characters in the Robin Hood mythos. Image: a...
Matter of the Greenwood: The Saracen outlaw
Since the 1980s, most major new Robin Hood stories have included a Muslim Merry Man – but how much further back does the character go?...
Matter of the Greenwood: Maid Marian - Evolution
In the second part of my piece on Marian, I investigate how her legend has evolved down to the present day. Image: Bernadette O'Farrell...
