Post B week 7

This post will be a reflection of how I thought the book went as a whole. I really enjoyed reading this book for multiple reasons, but of course I didn't like a few things as well. The parts of the book I enjoyed reading about the most was those that described Robin's childhood. You never hear about these and I found them really interesting- especially the parts about how Robin was originally a noble born boy, which is ironic because he later steals from them. Another part I really enjoyed about the book was how clean the book was in the sense of no sexual innuendos and no swearing. Perhaps this reflects the culture of those in medieval society-I don't know- but if it is I'm very surprised because of how hanging was very typical. The last part I really like about the book was the part that Robin wasn't invincible. Sure, he learns how to use the bow extremely well incredibly quickly, but its not like he knew everything about archery at birth. Also, the fact that Robin is defeated on multiple occasions suggests that defeat wasn't dishonorable as long as you admitted it. Which is very different from most legends about hero's.

Post A week 7

This week's cultural theme in Robin Hood is how physical superiority is the deciding factor in deciding if that person is worth having as a friend. For example, in these final chapters, Robin's band becomes increasingly bigger because he convinces more and more people to join. However, the people he decides to allow to join are those who beat him in combat, such as sword fighting or staff fighting. "Enter our company, then, John Little; and be welcome" (153). This is what Robin Hood says to Little John after little John launches Robin from a bridge.

Week 6 Post B

In this post, I will talk about how Robin has finally joined the band of outlaws that live in Sherwood forest. As I've mentioned, Robin has been frowned upon bye both the Sheriff and Prince John. These characters have considerable power in Nottingham, which of course means that they control the law. So in these chapters, Robin has been placed under arrest by the Sheriff, and while Robin was gone, the Sheriff and his men burned down Robin's house. This caused Robin's loyal bodyguard, Warrenton, to avenge his master by killing the men that burned down Robin's house. This act of vengeance caused Robin's arrest warrant to become a bounty with a high price on Robin's head. Robin then went into hiding with Warrenton and Stutetly and they stumbled upon Will'o the Green's band fighting the men of the Sheriff. The battle is going badly for the outlaws until Robin intervenes saving whats left of the band. Unfortunately, Will dies in the battle, but his dying words entitle Robin to join the band. This is were the chapters leave us, giving us an interesting cliff hanger.

Week 6 Post A

This week's cultural aspect is that "practical jokes" can be considered as asking for money or following a traveller, who is minding their own business, ceaselessly. For example, John Stuteley, Robin Hood's close friend, wants to bother this strange traveller: "They watched him go by, and passed jests between themselves concerning him. Stuteley begged that he might be allowed a joke upon the fellow"(144). This joke leads to a fight between Stuteley and the traveller in which Stuteley is struck in a way that had the traveller been using a sword instead of a cane, Stutelely would have died. So practical jokes back in old england could easily lead to individuals being killed.

Post B week five

I am going to talk about the first part of the book in general for this post. We all have heard of the legendary archer, Robin Hood, and how he stole from the rich and gave to the poor. Well, I didn't know anything about his childhood until I read this book, which is very interesting because it gives all the background you need to know in order to fill the gaps in the story line. The thing I find most interesting about Robin's childhood is how before Robin, there was another bandit leader who lived in Sherwood Forest, named Will'o the Green. He is basically the model that Robin bases himself off of, however, Robin is bascially a better version of Will in eveyway. For example, he knows how to read and write where as Will does not. Also, Robin is already equalled in bowmenship with Will at the age of 15, with barely any practice. The other very interesting thing I find differeing from what I expected was that Robin was a law abiding citizen until his father's post as ranger was not passed on to him.

Post A week 5

The cultural theme that I noticed in these chapters was that of how patriarchal a society Robin's is. Example's are scattered throughout the book, however, the example in my mind is how Robin is control of the household despite his mother living there, and women are portrayed as incompetent. For example, the sheriffs daughter get very mad at Robin because he didn't present her the award for being the prettiest. This caused Robin's death because her father spoils her, and she wanted Robin to be punished, so her dad sent out his men to punish Robin by hanging him. Also, Robin's mother is clueless to what is going on other than whats on the surface. "Why I did not know you met your cousin, Robin. When was it, and why do you call him the Scarlet Knight?(106). This quote is important because its illustrates how women are kept in the dark in the affairs of men.

Post b week 4

So much has gone on since the last post that it would be hard to explain it all. However, I'll do my best to keep it quick. Since last time, Robin has become the head forester of Sherwood because his father was killed by a deer. Despite being so young, he is respected by the other ranger's of Sherwood because he laid down strict punishment for someone who started to protest his leadership. Another major event that happened in these chapters was the fact that he entered another archery contest against the best archer's in England. He technically had the best shot in the competition, however, he was disqualified for shooting without giving his name to the council of the competition. This normal technicality wouldn't disqualify someone from the competition, but Prince John was there, and his archer was second to Robin, so in disqualifying Robin, his archer won. Robin was foolish in coming there because in taking the head Ranger post, he disobeyed the Sheriff. That said, the position was his by right, but at the very first archery competition, Robin gave his golden arrow to a girl different from the Sheriff's daughter, so the Sheriff has a grudge against Robin which I believe will cause trouble for him later.

Post A week 4

This week I'm going to talk about how during Robin's time, the king's possessions are put above and beyond any other man's lives. Being hung was the punishment for killing any one of the King's deer, and because of this, no one can touch the deer in Sherwood forest, even though the King never comes to Nottingham. So it is a rediculous rule that is carried out with a ridiculous zeal. "Now mast Ford, filful your duty. You know the law; that if one be found killing the king's deer in the Royal Forest of Sherwood, he or she may be summarily hanged when caught upon the nearest tree"(109).

Post B quarter 4 week 3

This post will be about the future events of this book. So far, we have only seen a young version of Robin, one of about 16 years. This is interesting to me because he is a lord who is loyal to the king at this point in time, which leads me to believe that something must happen to someone he likes and he turns bandit. I believe the person who gets something done to them is his cousin Geogroffey. He is currently exiled from his estate, but he keeps coming there in secrect anyway. My guess is that he is captured by the authorities and is forced to be put in jail. I believe that Robin is going to join Will'o'the Green and free him, and then stay with the bandits.

Post A quarter 4 week 3

The cultural theme that I found in this section of Robin Hood was how honor was very important in Robin's time. For example, he really wanted to win the archery competition because it would give him a little fame. This was made even more apparent because Will'o'the green was furious when he lost to Robin due the fact that the wind made his shot move to the left of the bullseye.

Post B quarter 4 week 2

This post will be about the plot line that we really don't know hear much about today. You see, the books takes place when Robin is about our age, and he is not the good bandit we hear about today, but rather a lordling (a son of a lord but too young to be called one yet). I find this interesting because its rather ironic that Robin started as a lord, but later, as as we all know, steals from from when he gains the title; Robin Hood. But enough on that, the fact that he is a lordling right now means that he is set up to inherit some major land, which is causing problems for both his father and his uncle. His father is a Fitzooth, where as his mother is a Montfichet which will get in the way of what land will he inherit. Also, Robin's father is a forest ranger (meaning he watches the king's forest) and is disliked by George of Gamewell who Robin is currently staying with (his uncle or Grandfather I believe). But at the very end of the dialogue explaining this; a well placed foreshadowing throws everything off "Fate had in store for young robin, however, very different plans from those tormenting Fitzooth the Ranger and old Squire George of Gamewell Hall.

Post A quarter 4 week 2

This week's cultural aspect is how superstitious the people are. For example, Robin Hood goes to see a wizard at the fair (basically a fortune teller) despite the logical resoning of his guardian. Also Robin asks Will Stutely (a young boy picked up with a circus like group) whether or not it is a sign that he has met two Wills and liked both of them in two days. "I like you Will; you are the second Will that I have met and liked within two days; is there a sign in that?" (41). So basically two Wills in two days. The other Will was Will'o the Green, who is basically like Robin Hood without being Robin.

Post B quarter 4 week 1

The book so far has been good, however, it seems to me that part of the story is based on fact in the sense of certain character's names. For example: "Not for rebellious princes will we cry to arms; but for him whom God hath placed over us- Henry the Angevin" (27). I believe the Henry they mention in this quote is King Henry the fifth, but I'm not quite sure, but regardless I believe it refers to the king who reined during the first tellings of the story. The fact that he is regarded as someone God has sent, leads me to believe that he had some personal influence in what was put into this story. Maybe I'm just being affected by "In the Time of the Butterflies" but I believe that this story might very well have been a sneaky attempt for making him look good. For if the people of medival Britain adore Robin Hood, how good King Henry must look if Robin Hood answers to him!

Post A quarter 4 week 1

The cultural aspect of my book (Robin Hood), is the old english language they use. For example: "His eyes had twinkled, though, when the dame had spoken; and one could see that 'twas not on roots and fresh water alone that the clerk had trived" (17). The words "dame" and "'twas" make the reading more enjoyable for me because it makes the writting more poetic, which makes the story flow much better. However, it makes the story a little harder to understand so I have to re-read parts that I otherwise wouldn't have.

L.A. Book choice

I choose the story Robin Hood, because it is a story that everyone has heard of and because of this, many references to the story are made. So I decided I wanted to read the story to truely understand what the purpose of it is, and what major themes are present in it.

Post B quarter three week seven

This post will be a rant on indecision and how very important decisions are made. In this chapter, on both sides of the war, people who had the right idea and who were better qualified for advice were ignored and the wrong decisions were made. For example, the German mobilization to take control of the Belgium railroads was in the middle of happening, due to the person who knew what they were talking about was listened too. However, the person who wasn't as qualified had more favor with the ultimate decider and told Germany to stop mobilization for a foolish reason. That reason was that Britain had not answered back to German's plea that they stay neutral in the war, when all the odds said that Britain would fight. However, the point I'm trying to make is that the people who are elected for office that are going to make really important decisions are elected not based on who is the best leader, but rather who has the support of their party and of the people, which means they say and do things that aren't necessarily what is needed to benefit everyone.

Theme quarter 3 week seven

The theme for these chapters was that every nation's government must carefully consider how they are going to deal with nation crisis that will ultimately lead to people dieing.

Quote quarter 3 week seven

"Of the 2501 persons listed in the Carnet B, 80 per cent were ultmately to volunteer for military service" (87). This quote is important because it shows how foolish the beliefs that all foreigners are spies.

figurative language quarter 3 week 7

1. "At that moment," his memoirs say, "I thought my heart would break" (81). This quote is important to the story because it is referring to Germans cancelling their mobilization plans into Belgium, despite the fact that it was a critical area for the German offensive. This is figurative language because it is foreshadowing a part of the war.

2. "In France appreciation was keener than he knew" (83). This is figurative language because the book because it is a major foreshadow for the future plot.

3. "The event, pregnant with possible civil strife, stunned the Cabinet. Street barricades, riot, even revolt became a prospect on the threshold of war" (87). This quote was important to the book because it illustrates what a predictiment France was in right before it decided to mobilize for World War I.

Vocab quarter 3 week 7

aide-de-camp (81): A subordinate military or naval officer acting as a confidential assistant to a superior, usually to a general officer or admiral.

casus belli (81): An event or political occurrence that brings about a declaration of war.