HIST 105-03, Topics in History- Robin Hood: Myth and Reality, Spring 2007

Abstract

Everyone has heard of Robin Hood, who lived in the greenwood with his merry men. Was he real, or was he just a legend? This class will explore his myth and his reality, examining the earliest sources for his existence, historians’ arguments on the question, and the legacy that he has left behind – an enduring image popular throughout the centuries. We will also discuss the different ways that his image has evolved over time and why he continues to intrigue people in the twenty‐first century. As part of examining the popular image of Robin Hood, this course will require viewing approximately four films outside of the regularly‐scheduled class meeting.This course is designed to introduce you to the study of history as a scholarly discipline. It is also designated F2: Develop excellence in written communication and therefore also focuses on improving your writing skills. At the end of this semester, you should be able to: • understand and describe the main points of the Robin Hood legend, the historical context in which the legend develops, and how and why it changes over time • analyze and critically evaluate historical ideas, arguments, and points of view • develop skill in expressing yourself in writing and orally, specifically: o planning, organizing, and supporting a coherent, well‐supported argument with a clear thesis o distinguishing between kinds of evidence and selecting evidence that is relevant, sufficiently detailed, and substantial o summarizing, extrapolating, and synthesizing material from a variety of sources, giving adequate and accurate documentation o assessing your own drafts and reconceiving, restructuring, or significantly modifying your own arguments • better understand the goals and methods of history as an academic discipline