In merry England in the time of old...
An 1883 novel by the American illustrator and writer Howard Pyle. Drawing on traditional medieval ballads, Pyle compiled stories of the famous outlaw Robin Hood and his friends into an episodic, coherent narrative. The novel's characterization of Robin Hood as unambiguously heroic influenced later depictions of the character.
The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood provides examples of:
- Accidental Murder: Sir Richard's son accidentally killed a knight during a joust. The incident was such a fluke, the joust managing to perfectly slip through the visor and through the eye socket into his brain, that it was considered intentional. Which leads to Sir Richard in danger of losing his land.
- Adaptational Expansion: Howard Pyle expands on characters that were mentioned only once in early ballads, like David of Doncaster or Arthur a Bland.
- Adaptational Heroism:
- As the book is the Trope Codifier for a lot of modern Robin Hood Tropes, the Sheriff of Nottingham is almost reasonable. He only pursues Robin with such tenacity due to the bounty on his head, and the fact that Robin killed someone he was related to. The worst the Sheriff does is obey legal orders and laws with malicious glee. At one point Robin actually returns the Sheriff's silverware that Little John stole as the Sheriff hasn't actually wronged any of his subjects. If anything his Nemesis is actually Little John from how often the man steals or otherwise messes with the Sheriff.
- Robin Hood himself as the first chapter is adapted from a 17th century story where Robin killed 14 men for not honoring a bet to killing one man in the heat of the moment in self defense.
- Back for the Finale: Richard the knight, a Dude in Distress saved by Robin's band, reappears in the final stories to save Robin from pursuers.
- Batman Grabs a Gun: Robin Hood swore to never kill another person after he killed one of the King's Foresters after the man shot an arrow at him in anger. He deeply regretted killing a man in the heat and anger of his youth. When faced against Guy of Gisbourne, Robin goes for the kill with little jesting or bantering. Robin even notes that he feels nothing like when he killed the Forester and feels more like he killed a boar that was destroying the forest.
- The Big Guy: Little John is "seven feet in height" and "at least an ell around the waist." There's a scene where he batters down a barred oak door.
- Corrupt Church: Robin Hood and his men bear a special enmity towards "overgaudy" bishops and other rich clergymen. At the novel's end, Robin Hood is bled to death by a prioress.
- The Dandy: Will Scarlet is described as such. He's introduced sporting long hair and gaudy red clothes (hence the "Scarlet" alias the Merry Men would give him), trotting daintily down a road while smelling a rose. Robin is quick to deride his apparent lack of manliness, though Little John and Arthur A Bland notice that he's actually strongly-built under the dandy appearance (and they're right — Robin picks a fight with Will and loses).
- Defeat Means Friendship: A very frequently used trope. Little John, Friar Tuck, the Sheriff's Cook, and more all join Robin Hood after fighting either Robin himself or one of his men.
- Dramatic Unmask: Robin Hood throws back his cowl while saving Little John from execution, revealing his identity to the Sheriff.
- A Handful for an Eye: When Robin and his men try to fake-rob him as a prank, Midge the Miller takes the sack of flour he's carrying and repeatedly throws the stuff in their faces to incapacitate them and beat the tar out of them.
- Impoverished Patrician: Sir Richard as he had to pay a ransom for his son after he accidentally killed a Knight far higher on the pecking order during a jousting tournament.
- It Amused Me: The reason Little John entered into the Sheriff's service. He was going to do it for a bit as a laugh, but got distracted by the sheer quality and quantity of food and drink the Sheriff had.
- King Incognito: King Richard disguises himself as a friar, knowing the habit will make him an ideal victim for Robin Hood. The disguise allows him to spend time with the outlaws in Sherwood Forest (though he reveals his true identity at the end of his visit).
- Master Archer: Robin Hood is, naturally, the very best archer in all merry England.
- Real Men Don't Cry: When Will Stutely is about to be executed, he tries to hold back from crying "lest the folk should think him unmanly when they saw the tears in his eyes." Then again, once he's rescued, both he and Little John openly weep Manly Tears of relief.
- Ridiculous Repossession: Sir Richard was in danger of losing his castle, his possessions, and all of his land for want of 400 Pounds. While a significant amount of money, everything he would lose would be worth an order of magnitude more.
- Scenery Porn: The book is a patriotic work that often details the beauty of the English countryside.
- Tap on the Head: A lot of people get knocked out, sometimes repeatedly, with no harm coming to them. Though the Author does detail how hard of a blow it takes to knock someone out.
