Robin Hood - Fact or Fiction?

Have you ever wondered if some famous heroes like Robin Hood, Sherlock Holmes and Indiana Jones were real, or were they just invented characters? There is no doubt that Sherlock Holmes and Indiana Jones are definitely invented characters. However, the question has not been answered clearly for Robin Hood. It certainly depends on what we mean by a “real person”. If the question is: “Was there a man called Robin Hood, who did all the things we read about?”, then the answer is no. But if the question is: (1).....................then the answer is yes. The legend of Robin Hood is a very old one; and it is certainly based on reality. According to one story, Robin was really an Anglo-Saxon nobleman and he was a rebel against England’s Norman rulers. After William the Conqueror conquered England in 1066, England was ruled by Norman kings and Norman barons. (2) .............. They became enemies of the Norman barons and the people who worked for them. The legend tells us that Robin Hood took money from the rich, and gave it to the poor. In fact, he probably took money from the Normans and gave it to poor Anglo-Saxons. This is why he soon became a legendary hero among Anglo-Saxons. Other stories claim that Robin was not an Anglo-Saxon nobleman, but a common fugitive. (3).......... . He didn’t fight against the Normans. (4).............However, other stories say he lived in Sherwood Forest, near Nottingham. And today, Robin’s name is definitely attached to the city of Nottingham, and to Sherwood Forest. In Nottingham, Robin is a very popular character. Visitors to the city can learn all about him at the “Tales of Robin Hood” exhibition, where Robin and his adventures are brought to life; and in Sherwood Forest, “the Major Oak”, a massive old tree, is said to be Robin Hood’s tree. Maybe Robin never lived at all in the past but his spirit is certainly alive today. (Adapted from Linguapress website)