Chapter TwoRob becomes Robin Hood
The next day, a beggar entered the town of Nottingham. He wore an old cotton hood around his face. He walked with a limp and took his place among the archery contestants.1 Many looked at him with disgust, but the contest was open to all men.
Around town, there were many posters describing Robert Fitzooth of Lockesley. Indeed, a reward of 200 pounds was offered for his capture.
However, in the excitement of the fair, many people paid little attention. The Sheriff and his men were the only ones looking carefully for Rob.2
The beggar looked down the row of boxes, and his heart leaped for joy. There sat Maid Marian, Rob’s childhood friend. The beggar was really Rob, and he wanted to impress Marian.
Check up
Rob was excited to see __________.
a. the posters looking for him
b. many archery contestants
c. his childhood friend
Key Words
beggar (n): người ăn mày
wear (v): mặc (trang phục)
(wear - wore - worn)
cotton (n): vải bông
hood (n): mũ trùm đầu
limp (n): tật đi khập khiễng
contestant (n): thí sinh
disgust (n): sự ghê tởm
describe (v): miêu tả
indeed (adv): quả thực
reward (n): tiền thưởng
offer (v): đưa ra
capture (n): sự bắt giữ
excitement (n): sự nhộn nhịp, sự sôi nổi
pay attention (v): chú ý
men (n): đám tay chân (số nhiều)
row (n): hàng, dãy
box (n): chỗ ngồi
leap (v): nhảy lên
for joy: vì vui sướng
maid (n): tiểu thư
Key Sentences
1 He walked with a limp and took his place among the archery contestants.
2 The Sheriff and his men were the only ones looking carefully for Rob.
The contest was announced, and twenty–six archers gathered to shoot at a target fifty meters away.1 Only twelve archers passed the first round. Rob and another poorly dressed man were among the best shooters.2
Rob looked at this other man closely. He was a muscular man, with a patch over one eye. Rob could see kindness in his eye.
Just then, the horn blew to begin the last round. The archers took their places. Each took his turn with some hesitation because the target was far away.3 None of them put an arrow into the inner circle. Then it was Rob’s turn. He also hesitated. His eyes moved to Maid Marian’s booth. She met his look and smiled. At that moment, Rob knew she recognized him despite his disguise. He knew he would win the prize for her and gain back some of his family’s honor. With new confidence, he drew back his bow and launched his arrow straight and true into the center of the target.4
Key Words
announce (v): thông báo
gather (v): tập trung lại
target (n): cái bia, mục tiêu
round (n): vòng thi đấu
shooter (n): người bắn
closely (adv): kỹ lưỡng
muscular (adj): vạm vỡ
patch (n): miếng che mắt
horn (n): cái tù và
take one’s turn: theo thứ tự, lần lượt (turn: lượt)
hesitation (n): sự do dự,
sự ngập ngừng → hesitate (v), hesitant (adj)
inner (adj): bên trong
booth (n): lều
look (n): cái nhìn
despite (prep): mặc dù
gain back (v): lấy lại
honor (n): danh dự
launch (v): phóng đi
true (adj): đúng, chính xác
Key Sentences
1 The contest was announced, and twenty-six archers gathered to shoot at a target fifty meters away.
2 Rob and another poorly dressed man were among the best shooters.
3 Each took his turn with some hesitation because the target was far away.
4 With new confidence, he drew back his bow and launched his arrow straight and true into the center of the target.
The last archer, the man with the eye patch, smiled and stepped up to the mark. With no hesitation, he drew his bow and shot his arrow. Straight and true it flew, but a small wind came up just then. The wind caused it to land just outside the center, right next to Rob’s arrow.1 The man looked surprised when he saw the result. However, he was the first to congratulate Rob as the winner.2
Soon Rob was surrounded by the townspeople, who cheered him. They led him to the Sheriff’s box, where the Sheriff greeted him. Without a word of thanks, Rob took the golden arrow and turned his back on the Sheriff.3 He walked slowly over to Maid Marian.
“Lady,” he said, “please accept this prize.”
“Thank you, Rob in the Hood,” said Marian. Her smile told Rob that she did indeed recognize him as her childhood friend.4
Check up
What did Rob do after he got the golden arrow?
He ________ it to Maid Marian.
Key Words & Sentences
step (v): bước đi
mark (n): lằn ranh
cause A to: làm cho A...
land (v): hạ cánh
next to (prep): ngay bên cạnh
result (n): kết quả
congratulate (v): chúc mừng
surround (v): vây quanh
townspeople (n): người dân trong thành
cheer (v): tung hô
lead A to: dẫn A tới...
greet (v): chào mừng, đón chào
1 The wind caused it to land just outside the center, right next to Rob’s arrow.
2 However, he was the first to congratulate Rob as the winner.
3 Without a word of thanks, Rob took the golden arrow and turned his back on the Sheriff.
4 Her smile told Rob that she did indeed recognize him as her childhood friend.
Later that evening, deep in Sherwood Forest, forty men were sitting around a fire. They were all dressed in dark green clothes, with green cloaks and hoods. They were enjoying a meal of roast deer. Suddenly, they heard a noise from someone approaching.1 In a second, they all rose with swords and bows at the ready.
“I am looking for the widow’s sons,” said a man as he stepped into the light of the fire.2“I come alone.”
“It’s Rob!” cried the widow’s three sons. “Wel-come to Sherwood Forest! Did you win the contest?”
“Yes, I did,” said Rob. “But I cannot prove it. I gave the golden arrow to a fair lady. However, I will gladly join your band of Merry Men as a common archer.”
Then a muscular man stepped forward. He was the man with the patch, but now his eyepatch was gone.
Check up
Based on the story, write down “T” if true or “F” if false.
a. The band of Merry Men wore green clothes. ____
b. The widow’s three sons recognized Rob. ____
Key Words
be dressed in: mặc (áo quần)
cloak (n): áo choàng không tay
meal (n): bữa ăn
roast (adj): nướng
noise (n): tiếng động
approach (v): tới gần
in a second: ngay tức thì
rise (v): nâng, giơ lên
(rise - rose - risen)
sword (n): thanh gươm, kiếm
at the ready: sẵn sàng
prove (v): chứng minh
fair (adj): xinh đẹp
common (adj): bình thường
be gone: biến mất
Key Sentences
1 Suddenly, they heard a noise from someone approaching.
2 “I am looking for the widow’s sons,” said a man as he stepped into the light of the fire.
“This young man does not lie,” the man said to the others. “He beat me at the fair, and he won the golden arrow.”
Then he said to Rob, “My name is Will Stutely. You are a better archer than any man here. I declare that you should be our leader. I will serve no other man but you.”1
The other men gladly swore to follow Rob. They gave him clothes of green like their own. They also gave him a horn and told him that if he needed help, he should blow it three times. Any of them who heard it would come as quickly as they could.2
Will said, “You shall be known as Robin Hood, for that is what the fair lady called you.”3
Robin Hood smiled and accepted his new name. Finally, he was happy again in Sherwood Forest.
Key Words
lie (v): nói dối
(lie - lied - lied)
declare (v): tuyên bố
but (conj): nhưng
swear (v): thề
(swear - swore - sworn)
follow (v): đi theo
one’s own: của ai đó
blow (v): thổi
(blow - blew - blown)
be known as: được biết đến là...
for (conj): vì, bởi vì
Key Sentences
1 I will serve no other man but you.
2 Any of them who heard it would come as quickly as they could.
3 You shall be known as Robin Hood, for that is what the fair lady called you.
Comprehension Quiz
A. Write down the name of the character next to each line.
Rob
Marian
the widow’s sons
Will Stutely
1. Thank you, Rob in the Hood. ______________
2. I declare that you should be our leader. ______________
3. Welcome to Sherwood Forest! Did you win the contest? ______________
4. However, I will gladly join your band of Merry Men as a common archer. ______________
B. Complete the sentences with the words below.
1. All the men rose with swords and bows at the ____________.
2. Marian’s look made Rob ____________ that he could hit the target.
3. The townspeople led Rob to the Sheriff’s box, where the Sheriff ____________ him.
4. A reward of 200 pounds was ____________ for his capture.
C. Choose the correct answers to the questions.
1. What did the men of Sherwood NOT give to Robin?
(a) A horn to blow when he was in trouble
(b) Clothes of green
(c) A beautiful sword
2. Why did Rob disguise himself as a beggar at the fair?
(a) Because he was wanted.
(b) Because he wanted to hide his skill at the archery.
(c) Because he wanted to surprise Marian.
D. Put the words in order to complete the sentences.
1. The beggar was really Rob, and ______________________________.
(to, Marian, he, impress, wanted)
2. Rob looked at the stranger and ________________________________.
(his, saw, in, eye, kindness)
3. Many looked at him with disgust, but _______________________.
(to, was, the, all, open, contest, men)