Running Head: ROBIN HOOD: THE REAL MAN BEHIND THE MASK

Robin Hood: The Real Man Behind the Mask

An Inquiry of the Myth
Bailey Farley
South Newton High School

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Abstract
In this research paper the author discusses the possibility of a Robin Hood and gives the many
examples on whom or what he may have been. According to the paper Robin Hood may have
went by multiple aliases and may have been multiple people. Robin could also have been a man
known as Robert Hood as well as a man known as William of Kensham. Both men share similar
stories to that of Robin Hood and have common characteristics as well. The paper directs us
towards the fact that Robin Hood may have also served as nothing but a symbol or may have
been a title passed down through generations. Sources for the paper include ebooks and two
reliable websites found on certain databases. Robin has played his part in much of the literature
found today and it is very unlikely for such a man to have ever been only a myth. The author
provides insights and historical facts over the great outlaw and goes in depth into the possibility
of an actual Robin Hood.

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Robin Hood: The Real Man Behind the Mask

An Inquiry of the Myth
Robin Hood is an enthralling story about a legendary character known by many. The
great outlaw was never truly stated as fact or fiction as far anyone has known. But, the infamous
bandit was said to have lived in times where the greatest myths and legends had been born. This
encourages many to find the truth behind the myth and find out if this fictional character wasnt
so fictional after all.
The story that many have written about this famed character portrays a young outlaw
robbing the wealthy in order to give to the poor. This story behind Robin Hood could very well
have happened, and it leaves no implications on why it shouldnt have. Robin was depicted as
one soul and could very well have just been one man. But, many do not delve very deeply if they
search here. Robin as one persona is an idea that could have happened, but it is very unlikely that
the outlaw will ever be found if he was in fact just one soul.
If Robin Hood was in fact one man, there are some instances in history which may lead
one back to the roots of the outlaw as well as several records of criminals with other names who
are called robin Hood in reference to the legend (Wright, 2003). Around AD 1600 a manuscript
was obtained stating Robin had been born in Loxley, but he had later moved to Nottinghamshire
where his more current stories are set (Wright, 2013). Many later writers have moved
Locksley to Nottinghamshire where most modern Robin Hood stories are set (Wright,
2004).Along with this information Robin Hood was said to have been discovered on
November 17, 1992, the American supermarket tabloid the Sun reported the discovery in
Sherwood Forest of a body wearing green tights and carrying a medallion in the name of Robert

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of Locksley (Knight, 2003). A fictional name for Robin was discovered to be Robert Fitzooth.
During this time a knight by the name of Robert Fitz Odo who had happened to live in Loxley
had been said to commit outlaw-like crimes (Wright, 2013). These instances seem to be mere
coincidences though, as many people may share a name and birthplace as Hood is not an
uncommon last name, but there have been many other examples of the famed man throughout
history (Wright, 2004).
Robin Hood had also been hinted to being another man by the name of William of
Kensham. William was mentioned with high regard in contemporary writings, an unusual
acknowledgement for the time as he was a lowly figure on the social scale and a reflection of the
fame that he earned (McGlynn, 2013). The man had been a servant to the British crown during
the 13th century and was a prestigious leader in the British War. He had many exploits in the War
and led an army of what is said to be 1,000 archers (McGlynn, 2013). These very same archers
inflicted great damage upon the French army that caused the French army to retreat. His heroism
and skill with bow and arrows resembled the stories of the famed Robin and hinted to William of
Kensham having a history of being the outlaw. He was acknowledged as a lowly figure but had
great feats, an indication of the likeliness of him being Robin.
Although the man had achieved these great feats during the war it does not quite point to
him being an actual Robin Hood. He had served as a leader in the war around the same time
Robin was said to have had been an outlaw located in a forest on the outskirts of the kingdom in
around 1223 (McGlynn, 2013). But, as many understand Robin was said to be a forest dweller
and did not partake in any war. There were no indications throughout the old Robin Hood
stories of a war of any type. Even though some similarities are given, there are very distinct

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differences among the two. They share some of the same qualities, but it is very unlikely that
William of Kensham and the actual Robin Hood were ever once the same man.
Another man by the name of Robert Hood had been discovered in the past as a real and
actual figure in British society. The man was prosecuted by a sheriff of Yorkshire and was
allegedly named a forest outlaw after obtaining 32 shillings and 6 pence illegally while dwelling
mostly in the forest to escape the law (Wright, 2013). The young man was said to have been
given a bounty, and anyone who had found him and turned him in would receive a great lump
sum of shillings. The young outlaw met his demise at the hands of the Yorkshire sheriff after a
chase through the forest, which resembled what many stories have stated. This record had been
found scribbled in a manuscript that now is in Lincoln Cathedral and is a historical artifact
(Knight, 2003). This is one of many examples of people who had existed and may have called
themselves Robin Hoods but it is possible Robin Hood was merely a nickname for criminals
(Wright, 2004). But, Robin Hood of Sherwood Forest most likely did not exist as one man
alone, and the examples given could have been anyone because Robin was a name associated
with rebellion (Wright, 2004).
One popular idea on the prospect of Robin being real is the chance that this figure was
not only one man, but many. The title Robin Hood may have been given to a man that had
protected the poor by stealing from the rich, or just had represented hope and was a hero to the
poor citizens of the time. The man with this title represented the many things life had to offer for
the poor and was therefore written about and fabled as a great good bandit. This fact along
with evidence being found that there had been many maybe Robin Hoods over a period of time
hints to the idea that he may have really only been a title given to many people. This title was
given to those that fit the image of Robin and who had helped others in times of need and

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specialized in certain skills that may have resembled each other. The examples of the different
Robin Hoods share usually share similar characteristics such as usually using bow and arrows
and leading a band of loyal followers who help the outlaw. This prospect is a very real and
reliable aspect of who Robin Hood really was.
Robin was also said to be a symbol of nature. Many depict him as a man covered in
leaves and portray the young outlaw to have always been dressed in nature-like colors (green)
and made his home the actual forest. Professor Lorraine Stock notes that Exeter Cathedral is
filled with Green Man imagery, the human head with foliage growing out of his mouth
(Wright, 2004). Robin could have represented the wealth of the forest that provided many of the
poor with food and shelter that had also repented the wealthy because it had been seen as
dangerous and useless. This may have given them the motivation to tell of the forest and its
riches through a way in which it could be understood better. The forest was a symbol of hope for
the repressed poor and may have been made into a childs story in order to pass on the
knowledge of the wealth of the forest to the next generations as well. Attempts to explain Robin
as a mythological figure, whether derived from Woden, or a wood spirit, or some other ritual
figure of old religion are now less popular than attempts to find a historical prototype for him
(Knight, 1999). Although Robin depicted as a symbol for the forest was a popular idea at one
time it is no longer a sought after idea due to the further advancement of science and evidence of
others as being Robin Hood.
The most likely way in which Robin existed was as multiple people. Even though the
outlaw was portrayed as one man it was most likely written that way in order to inspire and tell
others of how he had existed to them and to spread the story to others. Robin had existed in many
different times as well as locations and was told in different aspects with a wide variation of

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concepts of how he had existed. Many people were said to have been Robin Hood and all of
them could have been true if Robin was just not one man but multiple people. These people of
old all had similar stories and these same stories had been written around the same time periods.
This indicates a very high likelihood of the actual existence of him as multiple men. Robin was
overall an important symbol to the people and very important factor. The people of that time had
written about him as a generalized idea to pass on his idealistic heroism to inspire others who
had lost hope in their own poverty. Records have been found over Robin Hood in manuscripts
detailing the man as a loyal follower to the crown and as a dedicated leader. Many times he is an
outlaw who had been a simple, courageous man or was a do-gooder type outlaw but had been
misread or caught at the wrong time.
After extensive research Robin actually existed back in Old English times not as one
person but as multiple. The aliases of other Hoods all resembled the fabled name of the mythic
character and portrayed heroism throughout their existence in previous times. This points only to
the fact that this man was many. The poverty-stricken people at the time saw these Hoods as
wondrous do-gooders who had made their lives better. They were then inspired to go on and
write the legacy of these men in order to let others know the great feats the outlaws had done for
them. These Robin Hoods actually existed back in old times and gave new meaning to the term
hero. The research behind finding Robin is a hard prospect, as many people shared names back
in old times and many names had separate meanings in themselves. But, one thing is certain,
Robin was truly alive at one point in time and he was not alone in holding the title Robin
Hood.