Chapter OneRob becomes an outlaw
In the days of good King Harry the Second of England, there were certain forests in the north country used by the King to hunt.1These forests were cared for and guarded by the King’s Foresters.
One of these royal forests was Sherwood, near the town of Nottingham. In this forest lived Hugh Fitzooth, Sherwood’s head forester. He lived there with his wife and son Robert. The boy had been born in Lockesley town, so he was called Rob of Lockesley.
He was a handsome and strong boy. As soon as he could walk, he delighted in going into the forest with his father.2 From his father, he learned to use the longbow. His loving mother, who was from a noble family, taught him to read and write. Rob learned these lessons well, but he was happiest walking in the forest with his bow in hand.3
Check up
What is not true about the story?
a. Sherwood was the king's hunting forest.
b. Rob's parents were commoners.
c. Rob learned to use the longbow from his father.
Key Words & Sentences
certain (adj): nhất định
forest (n): khu rừng
country (n): đất nước
care for (v): trông nom
guard (v): canh gác
forester (n): người giữ rừng
royal (adj): hoàng gia
be called: được gọi là
delight in (v): thích thú
longbow (n): cung lớn
noble (adj): quý tộc, đáng kính
1 In the days of good King Harry the Second of England, there were certain forests in the north country used by the King to hunt.
2 As soon as he could walk, he delighted in going into the forest with his father.
3 Rob learned these lessons well, but he was happiest walking in the forest with his bow in hand.
Rob’s happiness soon ended because his father had enemies. One of these enemies was the Sheriff of Nottingham.
One day, the Sheriff convinced King Harry that Rob’s father had criticized the King in public. Hugh was arrested for treason and sent to jail.
Rob and his mother were kicked out of their house. Rob’s mother died of shock, and Rob went to live with his uncle, Sir Gamwell.1 Soon after, Rob got the news that his father had died in prison.
Sir Gamwell was a kind man who gladly took care of Rob.2 Many years later, he said, “Rob, there is a chance for you to use that bow for a good purpose.3 There is an archery contest at a fair in Nottingham. The first prize is a golden arrow.”
Key Words
convince (v): thuyết phục
(hướng đến niềm tin)
criticize (v): phê phán, chỉ trích
in public: công khai
arrest (v): bắt giữ
treason (n): tội mưu phản
jail (n): nhà ngục
kich out of (v): tống cổ ra khỏi
shock (n): cú sốc
soon after: không lâu sau
prison (n): nhà tù
purpose (n): mục đích
archery (n): sự bắn cung
fair (n): hội chợ
prize (n): giải thưởng
arrow (n): mũi tên
Key Sentences
1 Rob’s mother died of shock, and Rob went to live with his uncle, Sir Gamwell.
2 Sir Gamwell was a kind man who gladly took care of Rob.
3 Rob, there is a chance for you to use that bow for a good purpose.
Rob’s eyes lit up. “I would like a chance to compete,” he said. “And perhaps I could win a place as a forester even if I don’t win first prize.”1
“Now I can see that you are more suited to spend your days walking under the trees,”2 said Sir Gamwell. “Good luck to you, lad.”
The next day, Rob set off. It was midmorning when he came across a group of men. Immediately, he saw the man who had replaced his father as head forester.3He was a good friend of the Sheriff of Nottingham. Rob decided not to say anything and kept walking. But the head forester, who did not recognize Rob, spoke up.
“Where are you going, boy, with your cheap bow and toy arrows?4 Do you think you have a chance at the fair? Ha ha ha!”
Rob felt a sudden rage. “My bow is as good as yours,” he said to the head forester.
Key Words
light up (v): sáng lên, bừng sáng (light - lit - lit)
compete (v): cạnh tranh, tranh đua
suited (adj): thích hợp
spend (v): trải qua
lad (n): chàng trai, chú bé
set off (v): bắt đầu lên đường
(set - set - set)
come across (v): tình cờ gặp
immediately (adv): ngay lập tức
replace (v): thay thế, thế chỗ
decide to (v): quyết định làm gì
recognize (v): nhận ra
sudden (adj): đột ngột, thình lình
rage (n): cơn thịnh nộ, cơn giận dữ
Key Sentences
1 And perhaps I could win a place as a forester even if I don’t win first prize.
2 Now I can see that you are more suited to spend your days walking under the trees.
3 Immediately, he saw the man who had replaced his father as head forester.
4 Where are you going, boy, with your cheap bow and toy arrows?
The head forester replied, “Then show us some of your skill, boy. I’ll bet you twenty silver coins that you cannot hit the mark I choose.”1
“Name your mark,” said Rob. “I accept your challenge.”
The head forester pointed to a group of deer far away.
Quicker than a flash, Rob took the bow from his back and let an arrow fly.2
It pierced the heart of the leading deer. Then the head forester grew angry and yelled, “Foolish boy! Do you know you have killed one of the King’s deer? The penalty is death! Get out of here, and do not show me your face again!”
Rob replied angrily, “Fine, for I have seen your face too often.3 You are the one who wrongly took my father’s job!”4
With that, Rob turned and walked away.
Key Words
skill (n): kỹ năng, kỹ thuật
bet (v): đánh cuộc
(bet - bet - bet)
coin (n): đồng tiền
hit (v): bắn trúng
(hit - hit - hit)
mark (n): điểm, mục tiêu
choose (v): lựa chọn
(choose - chose - chosen)
name (v): nói rõ
accept (v): chấp nhận
challenge (n): sự thách thức
point to (v): chỉ vào
deer (n): con hươu
flash (n): chớp lóe
pierce (v): đâm vào
grow (v): trở nên
(grow - grew - grown)
penalty (n): hình phạt
death (n): cái chết
get out of (v): cút khỏi
wrongly (adv): một cách sai trái,
bất công
with that: ngay sau đó, vì thế
Key Sentences
1 I’ll bet you twenty silver coins that you cannot hit the mark I choose.
2 Quicker than a flash, Rob took the bow from his back and let an arrow fly.
3 Fine, for I have seen your face too often.
4 You are the one who wrongly took my father’s job!
The head forester suddenly realized who Rob was and knew he was an enemy.1 He picked up his bow and shot an arrow at Rob’s back. Rob heard the twang of the bow and escaped from it.
Quickly, Rob sent an arrow back. The head forester fell forward, dead as he hit the ground. In that second, Rob disappeared into the forest.
For several hours Rob ran, until, tired and hungry, he came to a small house.2 When he was younger, he had visited the kind widow who lived in this house.3 So this time, he boldly opened the door and entered. The old widow was happy to see him and gave him some bread. Rob told her his story, and she sighed.
Check up
Based on the story, write down “T” if true or “F” if false.
a. Rob was shot in the back. ____
b. The old woman welcomed Rob. ____
Key Words
realize (v): nhận ra
pick up (v): cầm lên
shoot (v): bắn
(shoot - shot - shot)
twang (n): tiếng búng của dây cung, dây đàn
escape (v): thoát khỏi
send back (v): đáp trả
(send - sent - sent)
fall (v): ngã
(fall - fell - fallen)
forward (prep): về phía trước
disappear (v): biến mất
until (prep): cho tới khi
widow (n): góa phụ
boldly (adv): liều lĩnh
enter (v): đi vào
sigh (v): thở dài
Key Sentences
1 The head forester suddenly realized who Rob was and knew he was an enemy.
2 For several hours Rob ran, until, tired and hungry, he came to a small house.
3 When he was younger, he had visited the kind widow who lived in this house.
“An evil wind is blowing through Sherwood,” she said. “The poor have nothing because the rich take everything. My three sons killed the King’s deer to keep us from starving.1 They are outlaws, and now they hide in the forest. They tell me that 40 men, all skilled archers, are hiding with them.”2
“Where are they?” cried Rob. “I would like to join them.”
“My boys will visit me tonight,” said the old woman. “Stay here, and meet them if you want.”
When Rob met the three sons, he was eager to join their band. They were men like him who loved the forest and were skilled with a bow.3 They accepted him and told him that their band was looking for a leader.4
Key Words
evil (adj): xấu xa
blow (v): thổi
(blow - blew - blown)
take (v): chiếm đoạt
(take - took - taken)
starve (v): đói đến chết
hide (v): ẩn nấp, trốn
(hide - hid - hidden)
skilled (adj): có kỹ năng
archer (n): cung thủ
would like to: muốn (thể hiện sự hân hạnh)
join (v): tham gia
visit (v): thăm
be eager to do something: háo hức làm gì đó
look for (v): tìm kiếm
leader (n): người lãnh đạo,
người chỉ huy
Key Sentences
1 My three sons killed the King’s deer to keep us from starving.
2 They tell me that 40 men, all skilled archers, are hiding with them.
3 They were men like him who loved the forest and were skilled with a bow.
4 They accepted him and told him that their band was looking for a leader.
“We are looking for someone who can use his head as well as his bow,”1 said one. “All of us are wanted by the Sheriff. So if one of us wins the archery contest in Nottingham, he will be our leader.”
“What a coincidence!” said Rob, standing suddenly. “I was on my way there before all this trouble started.2 I will disguise myself and win the prize.”
He spoke with such confidence and passion that the three sons were impressed.3 They wished him luck and told him they would serve him gladly if he was the winner.4 He must bring the golden arrow as proof.
Check up
Complete the following sentence according to the story.
Rob promised himself he would ______ the golden arrow.
Key Words
A as well as B: A cũng như B
coincidence (n): sự trùng hợp
on one’s way: trên đường đi
trouble (n): rắc rối, phiền phức
disguise (v): cải trang
confidence (n): sự tự tin
passion (n): niềm đam mê
impress (v): gây ấn tượng
wish A luck: chúc A may mắn
serve (v): phụng sự, phục vụ
winner (n): người thắng cuộc
proof (n): bằng chứng
Key Sentences
1 We are looking for someone who can use his head as well as his bow.
2 I was on my way there before all this trouble started.
3 He spoke with such confidence and passion that the three sons were impressed.
4 They wished him luck and told him they would serve him gladly if he was the winner.
Comprehension Quiz
A. Complete the following sentences with the phrases given.
blowing - through - skilled - with - arrested for came - across - guarded by
1. The forests were ___________ the King’s foresters.
2. Men could be ___________ shooting the King’s deer.
3. Rob ___________ a group of foresters on his way to Nottingham.
4. “An evil wind is ___________ Sherwood,” said the old lady.
5. Men who were ___________ a bow were hiding in Sherwood.
B. Based on the story, mark “T” if true or “F” if false.
1. The Sheriff of Nottingham was an enemy of Rob’s father.
2. The new head forester was kind to Rob.
3. The new head forester wanted to arrest Rob for killing a deer.
4. Rob planned to become the leader of the outlaws in Sherwood.
C. Choose to complete the following sentences.
1. Rob’s father, Hugh, ______________________.
(a) was a bad man who cheated and lied
(b) was cheated out of his position as head forester
(c) became an outlaw after he shot a deer
2. Rob’s mother ___________________________.
(a) died in prison
(b) went away to work at the King’s court
(c) died of shock when they lost their home
D. Put the sentences in order.
1. Rob killed the man who took his father’s job.
2. Rob decided to enter the archery contest at the Nottingham Fair.
3. Rob met the widow’s sons.
4. Rob went to live with his uncle, Sir Gamwell.
5. Rob had a happy life under the trees of Sherwood.
Understanding the Story
Many people wonder about Robin Hood's existence in real life. Let's talk about it.
Man or Myth?
Was Robin Hood a real man, or did he only exist in old English legends? Fans of the legend offer a wide variety of Robert’s and Robin’s from the early 13th to the 14th centuries as the one true man behind the legend. One of the earliest is the Robert Hod that appears in court records for 1226. Another possible Robin Hood is the William Robehod of 1262, whose name, royal records show, was changed to William Robinhood. Then there’s the 1316 record of a marriage between a Matilda Hood and Robin Hood mentioned in the Wakefield Court Rolls. Unfortunately, these records usually only offer a name and little else that supports the idea that these men were outlaws in Sherwood forest.
The first reference to Robin Hood as an outlaw by name is found in the book ”The Vision of Piers Plowman,” written by William Langland in 1377. At this time, the peasants were growing more and more dissatisfied with the ruling nobility. This discontent exploded in the Peasant’s Revolt of 1381. It is very likely that the legend of Robin Hood was created to give the peasants a hero. In the end, since most events in the various Robin Hood stories are folklore, arguments over the “real” or “true” Robin Hood are unlikely to reach any conclusion. Even if a historical Robin Hood or a similar person did indeed exist, finding actual evidence about his life is highly unlikely.
myth (n): truyền thuyết
exist (v): tồn tại
legend (n): huyền thoại
fan (n): người hâm mộ
offer (v): cung cấp
variety (n): sự đa dạng
century (n): thế kỷ
appear (v): xuất hiện
court (n): tòa án
record (n): hồ sơ
marriage (n): hôn thú
mention (v): nhắc tới, đề cập tới
support (v): ủng hộ
reference (n): sự tham khảo
vision (n): tầm nhìn
peasant (n): nông nô
dissatisfied (adj): bất mãn
ruling (adj): cai trị, cầm quyền
nobility (n): tầng lớp quý tộc
discontent (n): sự bất mãn
explode (v): bùng nổ
revolt (n): cuộc nổi dậy
likely (adj): có khả năng
folklore (n): truyện dân gian
argument (n): sự tranh luận
conclusion (n): sự kết luận
indeed (adv): quả thực, thực sự
evidence (n): chứng cớ