Peasants on Picnic in the Forest

Contrast outlaw legends with chivalric literature. How did chivalric literature and outlaw legends differ in their depiction of forests? How did the audiences of these two genres differ?

Why did Arthur and Robin Hood belong “to opposite poles of society?” What did Keen mean when he referred to “the infinite credulity of the middle ages?” Was “class violence” “the most striking feature” of the outlaw legends? What is the historical value of popular legends?

What does Keen mean when he states that Robin Hood was a “full blooded medieval brigand?” That the original Robin of legend was often ruthless. That the original Robin of legend had no followers. That the original Robin of legend was not actually a hero. That the original Robin of legend was not a champion of the common people.

How does Keen depict the High and Late Middle Ages? As a violent period with weak government As very conservative in terms of attitudes topward social hierarchy As having great respect for the law As a period about which we know very little

If these people respected laws, why did they revere outlaws?

The English Peasantry 1000-1400

Improved Production Moldboard plow

Draft Horse

Draining swamps in East Anglia

The Hanseatic League c. 1300

How was wealth transferred from peasants to lords? What was the likely impact of economic growth during the High Middle Ages? How was wealth transferred from peasants to lords?

October Planting

The November Slaughter

February: Sitting by the Fire

July Harvest

August Grain Threshing

Women’s work often centered around the household

Women used distaffs (often much larger than the ones pictured at left) to create thread from wool Bridegrooms often gave a distaff as a symbolic present to their wife around the time of marriage The distaff was a symbol for women throughout Europe

The Miller’s Wife

The Baker and the Butcher

Village Justice

How does Keen depict the Robin Hood of the medieval ballads? As a desperate medieval brigand As a courteous knight, bent on adventure As a pagan magician who attracted sprites and fairies As a hopeless romantic who could do nothing without Marion

What s the earliest known unambiguous reference to “Rymes of Robin Hood?” An account of two outlaw bands, the Folvilles and Coterels, from the 1330s Piers Plowman, a poem from 1377, references a priest who knew Rhymes of Robin Hood A 1250 coroner’s inquest performed under the direction of the Sheriff of Nottingham A 1330 letter found in the jacket of an outlaw whom the authorities hung for violence against men of law

Why does Keen emphasize the violence of outlaws, such as Gamelyn and Much the Miller? To contrast them to the less violent actions of Robin To contrast them to the chivalric heroes and to emphasize the class based anger that they represent To liken them to war heroes To indicate that medieval people seemed to revel in violent acts against the injust