There are many famous children’s tales here in the UK. From the epic of Arthurian legend to
the iconic Goldilocks and the Three Bears; British children have long since been told tales of
magic, adventure and above all, bravery. My own childhood was no different, filled with tales
that to this day inspire me to write my own. I remember having a pink notebook that I took
everywhere with me and within its pages I re-wrote tales such as Jack and The Beanstalk and
The Three Little Pigs, all in my own words. Yet for me and all the other children around me,
no tale was quite as important and as real as the tale of Robin Hood.
I was born and raised in North Nottinghamshire — within Sherwood County — and if you are
even remotely familiar with Robin Hood then you will recognise the significance of the area.
My home is littered with the tale, from pub names to statues, the mythical figure has become
a point of county pride and a symbol of home. To many he is not an imaginary figure but a
real, tangible piece of history. When I walk my dog through the Sherwood’s ancient
woodland, it is often a thought that I could be tracing the steps of the famous outlaw. I hear
stories from those older than me about playing in the now rapidly aging Major Oak, the
supposed hideout of Robin as he hid from the Sheriff of Nottingham.
The tale of Robin Hood is one that needs no introduction. For those somehow unfamiliar with
it, it is a legend about a common thief that stole from the rich to give to those less fortunate.
He wielded a bow and arrow and one of his greatest allies was that of Little John (a rather
large bloke, contrary to his name). His tale serves as a story about fighting for fairness in the
face of those who are greedy and apathetic, a very relevant lesson no matter the point in
history.
Such a universal and important lesson is probably one of the reasons this tale seems to have a
prolific market for retellings and adaptations. There have been many live action films and
shows such as the film ‘The Adventures of Robin Hood’ from 1938 and the BBC series
‘Robin Hood’ which ran from 2006 to 2009. When it comes to introducing younger audiences
to the legend, no film quite serves such a purpose as Disney’s animated film ‘Robin Hood’
from 1973. The film takes place in an alternative anthropomorphic world where Robin is a
fox with other characters also being played by animals such as the Sheriff of Nottingham
being a wolf.
It is not just film and television reimagining Robin’s story; many authors have drawn
inspiration or wrote retellings for a long time now. Some authors have paid homage to the
original story in their retellings, such as Robin McKinley’s ‘The Outlaws of Sherwood’ novel,
which honours the more human aspect to the legendary figure with all the worries and trials
that comes with being an outlaw, rather than having him being an untouchable figure. Others
take whole new approaches such as Lex Croucher’s ‘Not for the Faint of Heart’, which has a
queer take on the legend, following Robin Hood’s granddaughter who is captain of the Merry
Men (Robin Hood’s fellow band of thieves).
For a tale said to be over 650 years old, it is still so relevant in our modern culture. It is still
easily identified and recalled by many not just from my home in Nottinghamshire, not even
just within Great Britain, but by people all over the globe. With countless injustices being
committed all over the world, a tale like that of Robin Hood is so important, as a symbol of
fighting against those injustices. The lesson Robin’s tale gives to us is one that should be
spread whether that be through the original or retelling, what matters is the message; you
should always fight for fairness.
– YSJ Folklore Anthology 2026