Робин Гуд и его Шервудский лес / Robin Hood and his Sherwood Forest. Пособие по чтению и пересказу

Chapter 1. Robin of Locksley

Pre-reading discussion: What do you think Robin Hood was – a hero or a criminal? What do you know about Robin Hood? Please, share this information with others.

Pre reading task. Match the words with their definitions:

While-reading communicative task

While reading please pay attention to what Robin was good at, what skills he possessed. What was Robin determined to do? Why?

What are you good at? What are you poor at? What skills would you like to have to fulfill your aims? What's your «Sherwood Forest»? What injustices or challenges motivate you?

Robin Hood was born in the small town of Locksley in Nottinghamshire. Locksley's buildings were made of wood and it was smoky and dirty, like many other towns in England. Robin's father owned a small farm, which did not have very much land. Life was sometimes very hard. The family had not always been poor. Robin's grandfather had been a knight and he had owned a lot of land around Locksley. But then the Sheriff of Nottingham had taken the land because Robin's grandfather could not afford to pay the Sheriff's high taxes. Robin worked on his father's farm every day. He had grown up to be tall and strong. He was fair-haired and very handsome. Robin liked to practice archery on his father's farm, and he had become a very good archer. Many people came to watch Robin shooting his longbow. One of these people was the daughter of a local knight. Her name was Maid Marian. Marian had long blonde hair and she was very beautiful. Robin and Marian often looked at each other. Then they began to meet secretly, and slowly they fell in love.

At this time, the King needed archers for his army. He had ordered all the strong young men in England to practise archery. Every year, there were special archery contests in England. In the small towns, the prizes were of meat and drink. In the large towns, the best archers won prize money. One of the biggest archery contests was held in Nottingham. Every year, the Sheriff of Nottingham gave the winning archer a prize from the King. The prize – one hundred golden crowns – was a lot of money. Archers came from all over England to compete in the contest. When Robin reached his eighteenth birthday, he decided to speak to his father about the contest in Nottingham.

'Father, please let me go to Nottingham,' Robin said. 'I am old enough to enter the contest and I am the best archer in Locksley. I can hit a target at 500 paces. Let me compete with the archers in Nottingham. I am sure that I can win.'

His father was silent for a moment, and then he replied, 'You are a very good archer, my boy. But the King and the Sheriff want archers for their wars. Do not go Robin. Stay in Locksley and be a farmer. It's not a bad life.'

'But I want to see the world,' said Robin. 'I have never been to Nottingham. And I may win one hundred golden crowns. With that money, we can buy more land. And… then I can ask Marian to marry me!'

'You may win the contest,' replied Robin's father, 'but Marian's family still won't let you marry her. They want their daughter to marry a knight, not a farmer.'

'But your father was a knight,' said Robin. 'He owned land in Huntingdon and around Locksley.'

'That was over twenty years ago,' said his father. 'The Sheriff took most of our land when my father could not pay his taxes. Now we are poor and no one can take any more from us.'

'We are poor but honest,' replied Robin. 'I am sure that Marian will marry me for love.'

'Do not talk of love and honesty!' said his father angrily. 'There is no love or honesty in England. The rich become richer while the poor become poorer. The rich make the laws, the poor pay taxes.'

But Robin was determined to go to the contest.

'Father, I must go to Nottingham,' Robin said. 'I am sure that I will win the Sheriff's money. Perhaps Marian will not marry me, but at least we will not be poor anymore.'

'Then go!' replied his father. 'You have seen little of the world and I pray that you return safely. Go with God and may He protect you. But go straight there and come straight back again. Do not stop on the way.

Tasks:

Find the English equivalents to the following words and phrases:

быть сделанным из дерева / владеть маленькой фермой / рыцарь / быть в состоянии платить высокие налоги / светловолосый и красивый мужчина / тренироваться в стрельбе из лука / лучник, стрелок / стрелять из длинного лука / влюбиться / соревнование лучников / состязание проводилось, проходило / участвовать в соревновании / попасть в цель с расстояния в 500 шагов / бедные, но честные / выйти замуж по любви / богатые создают законы, бедные платят налоги / полный решимости ч.-л. сделать / молиться

Arrange the sentences in chronological order:

1. Robin Hood was born in a small town of Locksley in Nottinghamshire.

• But then he could not afford to pay the Sheriff's high taxes and the Sheriff of Nottingham took his land.

• Locksley's buildings were made of wood and the town was smoky and dirty.

• The biggest archery contest for a prize from the King (a big sum of money) was held in Nottingham.

• Robin was determined to go to the contest. Besides, he wanted to see the world.

• Robin's father owned a small farm.

• The family had not been poor as Robin's grandfather was a knight and had owned a lot of land around Locksley.

• Robin was sure that Marian would marry him for love, as they were honest people.

• Robin was strong, fair-haired and handsome; he was also a very good archer.

• He thought that the money would help him to marry Marian and his family would not be poor.

• Many people watched him shooting his longbow.

• Among the people, there was Marian- the daughter of a local knight.

• His father let him go and asked him to come straight back and not stop on the way.

• Robin decided to take part in the contest to win the money.

• They often looked at each other and fell in love.

• At this time, as the King needed archers for his army, there were special archery contests in England.

• But his father did not like that idea. He knew that Marian's parents wanted her to marry a knight not a farmer.

• His father believed there was no honesty and love in England any more.

Complete the sentences with the right words and phrases:

afford to pay the Sheriff's high taxes / was held / shoot his longbow / archer / a knight / poor but honest / fell in love with / made of wood / 100 golden crowns / hit a target at 500 paces / marry him for love / to pray / to practise archery / was determined to

1. Locksley's buildings were _______________ and the town was smoky and dirty.

2. Robin's grandfather once was __________________ but he could not ____________________ and the Sheriff of Nottingham took his land.

3. Robin liked ____________ and __________________ like a professional ________________________.

4. Robin ____________________________________ Marian and ________________________ marry her that is why he wanted to win ________________________ at an archery contest.

5. One of the biggest archery contests ______________________ in Nottingham, Robin was sure he would win it, as he was able to ________________________.

6. Though Marian's family wanted her to marry for money, Robin thought that the girl would ________________________ as he was ________________________.

7. Robin's father promised ________________________ for Robin to win the prize and return home safely.

Answer the questions:

1. What kind of family was Robin born to? Why didn't his father own much land?

2. Prove that Robin was an excellent archer.

3. Why was he determined to go to Nottingham?

4. Why was his father against him taking part in the archery contest? What did he promise Robin to do in the end?

5. Who was Marian? Whom was she going to marry?

Translate into English, using the words and phrases from the text:

1. Лук отца Робина был сделан из дерева.

2. Отец Робина владел маленькой фермой.

3. Хотя дедушка Робина был рыцарем, он не был в состоянии платить высокие налоги.

4. Вчера на поле тренировался в стрельбе из лука красивый светловолосый мужчина.

5. Робин влюбился в девушку, которая хорошо стреляла из лука.

6. Соревнования по стрельбе проходили ежегодно.

7. Робин решил участвовать в соревнованиях, потому что он мог попасть в цель с расстояния в 700 шагов.

8. Семья Робина была бедная, но честная.

9. Робин был непоколебим и хотел жениться по любви.

10. Мэриан молилась каждый вечер.

Comment on the sayings:

“The rich become richer while the poor become poorer”.

“The rich make the laws, the poor pay taxes.”

Chapter 2. How Robin Hood Became an Outlaw

Pre-reading discussion:

What drinks were popular in the times of Robin Hood? What kind of drink is ale?

What typical English dishes do you know? Is Yorkshire pudding cooked with meat or fish?

What do you think was forbidden to do in the King's forest?

While-reading communicative task

While reading please pay attention to how the foresters made Robin lose his temper and break the law. Why is it important to know the law and follow the rules? Remember the situation when you broke the law by accident or on purpose. What were the consequences? Why is it necessary to keep a cool head?

Robin set off on foot for Nottingham with his longbow and arrows. It was a fine morning in June. The fields were green and the sky was blue. Robin was young and strong and he felt that the world was new. He sang as he walked along the road. Soon he entered Sherwood Forest. Sherwood was a very large and old forest. It was full of great oak trees and the sun shone through the leaves and branches onto the road. Robin knew that there were guards in the forest – they were called foresters. The foresters looked after the trees and the deer for the Sheriff of Nottingham and the King. No man could cut wood or shoot deer in Sherwood. After a while, Robin came to a clearing. In the clearing there were fifteen men. They were eating a huge meat pie and drinking ale from a tall barrel. These men were the Sheriff's foresters. Robin knew this because the men were wearing green shirts. The colour of the shirts was called 'Lincoln green'. The men looked up when they heard Robin.

'Where are you going, boy?' one of the foresters called. He was a large man and seemed to be the leader of the group. His mouth was full of meat pie as he spoke.

'I am going to Nottingham,' Robin answered. 'I am going to compete in the archery contest.'

The forester poured himself another cup of ale. 'Ha, ha, ha,' he laughed. 'Now boys want to enter the archery contest. And what will you shoot with, little boy – a cheap bow and some old arrows? The contest at Nottingham is for real men with real bows and arrows.'

'My bow is as good as yours,' replied Robin angrily, 'and I can shoot farther and straighter than you.'

'Can you, my boy?' said the forester. 'Can you shoot one of those deer over there?'

The forester pointed to a herd of deer. It was very hard to see the animals because they were about five hundred paces away and partly hidden in the trees.

'Yes, I can,' answered Robin. Then he took his bow from his back and put it against his foot. He bent the bow and fixed the string to it. Then he took an arrow and put it to the bow.

'Those deer are too far away,' said the forester to the other men in the clearing. 'I'm sure that they are safe. The boy will miss, then we will kick him on his way to Nottingham!'

The other foresters laughed and drank more ale. Robin pulled back on his bow and took careful aim. Then he released the arrow and his bow sang as it flew towards the deer. The largest of the deer jumped up then fell to the ground. The arrow had gone into the deer's neck.

'He has killed one of the King's deer!' cried one of the foresters.

'You will be punished for this!' the leader shouted at Robin.

'The Sheriff of Nottingham is my cousin and I will take you to him. He will cut off your ears and your fingers. You will never shoot a bow again.'

'Let me pass!' cried Robin. Then he ran into the trees. He ran as fast as he could and he did not look back.

The foresters had drunk too much ale and eaten too much meat pie. They could not run fast enough to catch Robin.

'I will stop him,' said their leader. He took his bow and put an arrow to it. The forester shot the arrow at Robin's back, but his aim was bad. The arrow flew past Robin's ear and hit a tree. Robin turned around angrily. Before the forester could shoot again, Robin put an arrow to his bow and aimed it. He let the arrow go and it flew through the air and hit the forester in the chest. Bright red blood ran down the man's Lincoln green shirt. The man cried out and fell down.

Robin turned and disappeared into the forest.

The foresters brought the dead man's body to Nottingham. Then they went to the Sheriff of Nottingham and told him what had happened. As he listened, the Sheriff's face turned dark with anger.

'How did this happen?' he shouted. 'You must catch the murderer who killed my cousin. Hang him!'

So the foresters travelled to all the towns on the far side of Sherwood Forest. 'Who is the young man who can shoot a deer at five hundred paces?' they asked the townspeople.

The people of Locksley knew that there was only one young man who could shoot a deer at five hundred paces. Soon the Sheriff heard the name of Robin Hood.

'I will give one hundred golden crowns to the man who brings me Robin Hood,' he said to his men. 'He has killed one of the King's foresters and one of the King's deer. He is an outlaw. Bring me Robin Hood of Locksley – dead or alive”

Tasks:

Find the English equivalents to the following words and phrases:

отправиться в путь пешком куда-либо / дубы / срезать деревья, стрелять в оленей / участок леса под пашню / бочонок / быть полным мясного пирога / налить себе еще кружку эля / стадо оленей / наклонить лук / натянуть струну / отрезать уши и пальцы / попасть лесничему в грудь / убежать, исчезнуть в лесу / почернеть от злости / изгой, вне закона

Agree or disagree with the statements. Give the right variant for the wrong statements:

1. Robin set off on a horse for Nottingham with his longbow, arrows and a friend.

2. Robin did not like the forest, as it was dark and frightening.

3. Sherwood Forest was full of oaks and the sun shone through the leaves and branches onto the road.

4. The foresters in the wood looked after the flowers and helped people to kill deer.

5. There were three men in the clearing, they were drinking ale and singing songs.

6. Robin did not know who the men were.

7. Robin told the men he was going to compete in the archery contest.

8. The foresters were happy for Robin and allowed him to kill the deer.

9. A herd of deer was 500 paces away and nobody could shoot animals at such a long distance.

10. The foresters were sure Robin would not be able to shoot a deer.

11. When Robin killed the deer, the foresters got very angry and ran after him.

12. Robin disappeared into the forest quickly. He knew he had become a criminal as he had shot the King's deer.

13. Robin was very angry: he put an arrow to his bow, aimed it and hit the forester in the stomach.

14. The killed forester was Sheriff's cousin.

15. Sheriff decided to revenge and started looking for Robin to kill him.

16. Robin Hood became an outlaw. One thousand golden crowns was promised for his head.

Complete the sentences with the right prepositions:

1. Robin Hood travelled _____ foot with his longbow and arrows.

2. The fields were green, the sky was blue, and it was a fine morning _____ June.

3. Robin was happy and sang songs as he walked _____ the road.

4. The barrel was full _____ ale.

5. The foresters looked _____ the trees and the deer for the Sheriff of Nottingham and the King.

6. Robin was going to compete _____ the archery contest.

7. The Sheriff's face turned dark _____ anger when he learnt that Robin had killed his cousin and the King's deer.

Find the linking words in the text, add your own ones and try to use them in your retellings.

Ex. Soon, then, moreover, …

Answer the questions:

1. Describe Sherwood Forest. What was Robin's mood like?

2. Whom did Robin meet in the clearing? What were the foresters doing?

3. Why didn't the foresters believe that Robin could shoot the deer?

4. Why did Robin become an outlaw?

5. How much was the Sheriff ready to pay for Robin's head?

Translate into English, using the words and phrases from the text:

1. Робин отправился пешком в Шервуд через дубовый лес.

2. Шериф Ноттингэма и Король запретили кому-либо срезать деревья и стрелять оленей в Шервудском лесу.

3. Робин увидел бочонок на участке леса под пашню.

4. Они не могли говорить, так как рты были набиты мясным пирогом.

5. Лесничий налил себе еще одну кружку эля и засмеялся.

6. Стадо оленей исчезло в лесу.

7. Робин наклонил лук и натянул на него струну, выстрелил и попал лесничему в грудь.

8. Изгой, услышав новость, почернел от злости.

9. Лесничий пообещал Робину, что Король отрежет ему уши и пальцы, если он убьет королевского оленя.

10. Робин стал изгоем.

Chapter 3. The Outlaws of Sherwood Forest

Pre-reading discussion:

Who is an outlaw? Who is a wanted man? What do they have to do to survive?

What are forests famous for? What can you do in the forest? Is it easy to live in the forest?

While-reading communicative task

While reading please pay attention to Robin Hood's philosophy and his plans to help the poor and the oppressed. Do you think it is right to rob the rich to give to the poor? How else can social injustice be improved?

Robin ran through the forest until he could run no more. 'I wish that forester had never spoken to me,' he thought to himself. 'I wish that I had followed a different path through the forest.'

But what was done was done. Robin was now an outlaw. He could not return to his home. He could not see his father or Maid Marian again. Now he would have to hide in the forest and live like an animal.

Robin soon realized that he was not alone in the forest. Other men lived there too. The first person Robin met was called Will Stutely. Will Stutely was a thin man with sharp eyes.

'I am a barber,' Will Stutely explained to Robin. 'I used to shave the beards of Norman knights. Then one day I cut a man's throat and he died. Now I am a wanted man.'

Soon many other men joined them. Some of the men were in the forest because they had not paid their taxes. Some of the men had killed the King's deer in winter because there had been no food for their families. All these men were outlaws. They had come to Sherwood Forest to escape the King's soldiers.

It was easy for the outlaws to hide. Sherwood was a large forest and it was summer – the days were long and warm. There were many deer to hunt and fish to catch in the rivers. There was dry wood for making fires and nuts and berries to eat from the trees and bushes. There was wild corn in the clearings at the forest's edge.

There were now more than fifty outlaws and that number grew each week. The outlaws wore coats of Lincoln green, which they had stolen from the King's foresters. The green coats helped them to hide in the forest.

'Every day, the Sheriff robs the ordinary people with high taxes,' Robin said to the other outlaws. 'We should rob the Sheriff in return. But we will not rob him because we want to be rich. We will rob the rich to give to the poor. We will not harm women, children, or honest men. We will right wrongs when we can and we will bring hope to the people. We will live outside the law because the law is only for rich men. We will fight these rich men's unfair laws.'

Every day, Robin and the outlaws moved to a different part of Sherwood. They knew that the Sheriff's men often came through the forest looking for them. The Sheriff's men wanted the reward of one hundred golden crowns for Robin Hood, caught dead or alive.

'We cannot go on living like this,' Robin said to the other outlaws. 'We cannot keep running away from the Sheriff's men. We have to stop and fight.'

'But we cannot fight,' said Will Stutely. 'We only have a few bows and knives and quarterstaffs. The Sheriff's men have swords and shields. They have crossbows. And there are too many of them for us to fight.'

'We will not fight them all at the same time,' replied Robin, 'but we can fight a few of them at a time. We must find somewhere where we can live without the Sheriff's men finding us. In a few weeks, it will be autumn and the leaves of the forest will turn brown and fall. The days will grow short and cold. Soon, we will need food for the winter. We must fight the winter and the Sheriff of Nottingham.'

So the outlaws went out in small groups. They went to explore the deepest parts of the forest. They were looking for a place where no one would be able to find them.