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Robin Hood

Literary Character
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Legendary English folk hero famed for robbing the wealthy to aid the poor, symbolizing resistance to tyranny and social justice.

Detailed Definition
Robin Hood, set in Sherwood Forest, embodies resistance to tyranny and social justice. In poetry, he symbolizes rebellion, equity, and the folk hero as champion of the oppressed.
Example
Example in poetry:
In Howard Pyle’s poetic retellings, Robin Hood embodies justice for the poor against corrupt authority; In W.H. Auden’s “The Quest,” Robin Hood symbolizes folk resistance to tyranny; In modern protest poetry, Robin Hood often represents wealth redistribution and moral rebellion; In Derek Walcott’s “Omeros,” Robin Hood appears as Caribbean outlaw-hero; In Tracy K. Smith’s “Watershed,” Robin Hood’s greenwood echoes in environmental justice; In Sylvia Plath’s “Daddy,” Robin Hood imagery contrasts with oppressive paternal figures.
Additional Notes
Robin Hood, legendary outlaw who “stole from the rich to give to the poor,” symbolizes resistance to tyranny, social justice, and folk heroism; poets use him to explore class struggle, the romance of rebellion, or the myth of the noble bandit—his greenwood setting evokes pastoral freedom versus feudal constraint, influencing ballad traditions and political verse.
Also Known As
Outlaw of Sherwood Prince of Thieves Champion of the Poor
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