Robin Hood - John Keats
John Keats
No! those days are gone away
And their hours are old and gray,
And their minutes buried all
Under the down-trodden pall
Of the leaves of many years:
Many times have winter’s shears,
Frozen North, and chilling East,
Sounded tempests to the feast
Of the forest’s whispering fleeces,
Since men knew nor rent nor leases.
No, the bugle sounds no more,
And the twanging bow no more;
Silent is the ivory shrill
Past the heath and up the hill;
There is no mid-forest laugh,
Where lone Echo gives the half
To some wight, amaz’d to hear
Jesting, deep in forest drear.
On the fairest time of June
You may go, with sun or moon,
Or the seven stars to light you,
Or the polar ray to right you;
But you never may behold
Little John, or Robin bold;
Never one, of all the clan,
Thrumming on an empty can
Some old hunting ditty, while
He doth his green way beguile
To fair hostess Merriment,
Down beside the pasture Trent;
For he left the merry tale
Messenger for spicy ale.
Gone, the merry morris din;
Gone, the song of Gamelyn;
Gone, the tough-belted outlaw
Idling in the “grenè shawe”;
All are gone away and past!
And if Robin should be cast
Sudden from his turfed grave,
And if Marian should have
Once again her forest days,
She would weep, and he would craze:
He would swear, for all his oaks,
Fall’n beneath the dockyard strokes,
Have rotted on the briny seas;
She would weep that her wild bees
Sang not to her—strange! that honey
Can’t be got without hard money!
So it is: yet let us sing,
Honour to the old bow-string!
Honour to the bugle-horn!
Honour to the woods unshorn!
Honour to the Lincoln green!
Honour to the archer keen!
Honour to tight little John,
And the horse he rode upon!
Honour to bold Robin Hood,
Sleeping in the underwood!
Honour to maid Marian,
And to all the Sherwood-clan!
Though their days have hurried by
Let us two a burden try.
- Biography -
- John Keats was an English Romantic poet who is among the most beloved of all English poets.
- His work is characterized by sensual imagery, most notably in his series of odes.
- His poems had been in publication for less than four years when he died of tuberculosis at the age of 25.
- Born: 31 October 1795, Moorgate, London, United Kingdom.
- Died: 23 February 1821 (age 25 years), Rome, Italy.
- Parents:
- Mother: Frances Jennings Keats,
- Father: Thomas Keats
- Education: King’s College, London.
- Early in 1820, Keats began to display symptoms of tuberculosis. His second volume of poetry was published in July, but he was by now very ill.
Summary/Introduction
John Keats’ poem “Robin Hood” is a nostalgic reflection on the legendary figure of Robin Hood and his band of merry men. In the poem, Keats expresses sorrow over the loss of the days when Robin Hood roamed the Sherwood Forest, emphasizing how those times have disappeared into history. The poem carries a tone of longing for a simpler, more carefree past, contrasting it with the present, which seems more complex and less joyous. Keats writes the poem as a tribute to Robin Hood, his companions, and the legends surrounding them, evoking a deep sense of admiration for the old tales of heroism and adventure.
The poem begins by stating that the days of Robin Hood are long gone, and their memories have faded away, much like the passage of time has covered them with layers of fallen leaves. Keats describes how the forest has seen many winters and storms since those times. The image of winter’s “shears” cutting through the forest suggests how nature and time have stripped away the vitality of the past. These powerful forces of time have silenced the sounds that once echoed through the forest – the bugles, the twanging bows, and the laughter of men like Robin Hood.
The poet goes even further by describing the rainbow as the “daughter of tears,” meaning that the rainbow is born from rain, which reflects the sunlight and creates its beautiful colors. This poetic image ties the bird’s beauty to the natural world in a deeper, emotional sense. The kingfisher is not just a pretty bird, it represents something more profound nature’s ability to create beauty out of sadness and tears.
As the poem progresses, Davies compares himself to the kingfisher. Just like the bird, the poet enjoys visiting lonely and quiet places, like pools where tree branches droop over the water. This reflects the poet’s love for solitude and his desire to be away from the busy, noisy world of people.
Keats points out how these legendary figures, like Robin Hood and Little John, are no longer part of the world. The forest that once rang with their merriment and adventurous spirit is now quiet. He highlights the absence of Robin Hood’s companions, who used to play music, sing hunting songs, and laugh while journeying through the green woods. The merry atmosphere of the forest is gone, and Keats notes that if anyone were to visit the forest today, they would no longer find Robin Hood or Little John, nor would they hear their lively songs.
The poem also reflects on how the world has changed since Robin Hood’s time. Keats mentions that if Robin Hood were to return from his grave and find Marian, his beloved, they would both be disheartened by the state of the world. Robin Hood, a defender of the common people, would be furious to see that the forests where he once found refuge have been destroyed. The oaks that sheltered him and his band have been cut down for dockyards and left to rot at sea. Marian, on the other hand, would mourn the loss of the wildness and natural beauty that once surrounded her. Keats cleverly remarks that even honey, something as simple and pure as nature’s sweetness, cannot be obtained without “hard money” in the modern world, indicating that even the simple pleasures of life have become tied to commerce and materialism.
Despite the loss of Robin Hood and his era, Keats urges the reader to honor the memory of the past. He calls for respect for the tools of Robin Hood’s trade the bowstring, the bugle horn, and the woods themselves. He praises not only Robin Hood but also Little John, Maid Marian, and the entire Sherwood clan, as well as the Lincoln green they wore, symbolizing their connection to the forest and their outlaw status.
In the closing lines of the poem, Keats suggests that although the days of Robin Hood and his companions have “hurried by,” we should still try to carry the burden of remembering and honoring them. Their memory lives on through stories and songs, and Keats encourages us to keep their spirit alive by celebrating their legendary adventures.
In summary, Keats’ “Robin Hood” is a poem filled with nostalgia for the past and a recognition of the ways in which the modern world has changed. Through the figure of Robin Hood, Keats reflects on the loss of innocence, natural beauty, and the carefree spirit of a bygone era. However, he also celebrates the enduring legacy of Robin Hood and his companions, urging us to honor their memory and the values they represent-freedom, justice, and a deep connection to nature.
Question & Answers
One Marks
Answer:. John Keats.
Answer: A friend.
Answer: The bugle.
Answer: Winter
Answer: Little John.
Answer: Marian.
Answer: Lincoln green.
Two Marks
Answer: The poet is expressing that the days of Robin Hood, his merry band, and their adventurous times in the forest have passed and can no longer be experienced.
Answer: The poet uses these images to represent the harsh passage of time and how nature and the seasons have erased the memories of Robin Hood’s time from the forest.
Answer: The sounds of the bugle, the twanging of bows, the mid forest laughter, and the lively songs of Robin Hood and his men have all disappeared.
Three Marks
Answer: Keats suggests that if Robin Hood were to return, he would be upset to see that the forests where he once roamed have been destroyed, and the simplicity and beauty of the past have been replaced by the harsh realities of modernity, including the need for money even to get honey.
Answer: These references emphasize Robin Hood’s companions and the legendary tales of adventure and camaraderie in Sherwood Forest. They symbolize the unity, bravery, and free spirited nature of the group, which is now lost to time.
Answer: Keats contrasts the lively, adventurous past of Robin Hood with the present, where the bugle no longer sounds, the forests have been cut down, and simple pleasures have become difficult to attain in the modern world. The joyous freedom of Robin Hood’s time is replaced by a world governed by money and materialism.
Four/Five Marks
Answer: The poem is filled with nostalgia for a lost era of adventure, freedom, and simplicity. Keats laments the passing of Robin Hood’s days, expressing sorrow that the joy, natural beauty, and wild spirit of those times are now gone. He uses images of winter, fallen leaves, and silent forests to show how time has erased these experiences, leaving only memories. The poet longs for the return of those times but acknowledges that they are forever in the past.
Answer: Nature plays a central role in the poem, symbolizing both the past vitality of Robin Hood’s time and the inevitable changes brought by time. Keats uses imagery of the forest, winter’s shears, and fallen leaves to show how nature has buried the past, but he also honors the beauty and wildness of the forests that once provided a home to Robin Hood and his men. The loss of the untouched forest mirrors the loss of freedom and simplicity from that time.
Answer: This line symbolizes the harsh reality of the modern world, where even the simplest pleasures, like honey, which could once be freely obtained from nature, now require money. It reflects the shift from a time of abundance and natural beauty to a world governed by materialism and financial concerns.
Ten Marks
Answer: In “Robin Hood”, John Keats expresses a deep sense of nostalgia and longing for a bygone era, one filled with adventure, freedom, and joy. The poem is dedicated to a friend, but its focus is on the legendary figure of Robin Hood, his companions, and their days of merriment in Sherwood Forest. Keats mourns the passing of those days, conveying the theme of loss in a way that evokes both sorrow and admiration for the past.
The poem opens with the declaration that the days of Robin Hood are “gone away” and their hours are “old and gray.” This sets the tone of the poem, suggesting that the vibrant life once led by Robin Hood and his men has faded into the distant past, leaving only faint memories. Keats uses the image of fallen leaves, “the downtrodden pall Of the leaves of many years,” to show how time has buried the experiences of the past, much like autumn leaves cover the forest floor The natural world, once filled with the sounds of bugles, bows, and laughter, has grown silent, reflecting the loss of the adventurous spirit that once characterized Robin Hood’s time.
Keats also highlights the passage of time through the harshness of winter, noting that “winter’s shears” and the “Frozen North” have transformed the forest, stripping it of its former vitality. This imagery of the changing seasons symbolizes how time wears away even the most vibrant and joyous times, leaving only memories. Keats suggests that the forest, once alive with the laughter and songs of Robin Hood’s men, is now a quiet and desolate place, a stark contrast to its former glory.
As the poem progresses, Keats introduces a sense of disillusionment with the modern world. He suggests that even if Robin Hood were to return from his grave, he would be saddened by what he found. The oaks that once sheltered him have been cut down and left to rot on the seas, and the wild bees that once provided honey now require “hard money” to obtain. This shift from a world of natural abundance to one ruled by commerce and industry reflects the theme of loss not just of the past, but of a simpler and more fulfilling way of life.
Despite this sense of loss, Keats does not abandon hope entirely. He urges the reader to honor the memory of Robin Hood, his companions, and the world they lived in. The poet calls for respect for the tools of Robin Hood’s trade the bowstring and the bugle horn as well as the forest that provided them with refuge. He praises not only Robin Hood, but also Little John, Maid Marian, and the entire Sherwood clan. In doing so, Keats reminds the reader that while the physical world of Robin Hood may have disappeared, its spirit lives on through stories, songs, and the shared admiration for their bravery and freedom.
Keats closes the poem with a plea to “try a burden,” suggesting that the task of remembering and honoring the past is something that he and his friend should take on together. The use of the word “burden” implies that keeping the memory of Robin Hood alive is not easy it requires effort and dedication-but it is a task worth undertaking.
In conclusion, Keats” “Robin Hood” uses nostalgia to evoke a profound sense of loss for the past. Through vivid imagery of the natural world, Keats contrasts the vibrant, joyous life of Robin Hood’s time with the quiet, materialistic present. However, despite this loss, Keats emphasizes the importance of remembering and honoring the past, suggesting that the spirit of Robin Hood and his companions can live on through memory and tradition. The poem serves as both a lament for what has been lost and a celebration of the enduring legacy of Robin Hood.