Robin hood and little John

¹ When Robin Hood was about eighteen years old

He chanced to meet Little John,

A jolly brisk blade just fit for his trade

For he was a sturdy young man.

² Altho he was little his limbs they were large,

His stature was seven feet high.

Wherever he came, he soon quickened his name

And presently caused them to fly.

³ One day these two met on a long narrow bridge,

And neither of them would give way,

When Robin stepped up to the stranger and said,

"I'll show you brave Nottingham play."

⁴ "You speak like a coward," the stranger he said,

"As there with your long-bow you stand;

I vow and protest you may shoot at my breast

While I have but a staff in my hand."

⁵ "The name of a coward," said Robin, "I scorn,

And so my long-bow I lay by

And then for your sake a staff I will take

The strength of your manhood to try."

⁶ Then Robin he stepped out into a grove

And pulled up a staff of green oak,

And this being done straight back he did come,

And thus to the stranger he spoke:

⁷ "Behold thou my staff, it is lusty and tough,

On this long narrow bridge let us play;

Then he who falls in, the other shall win

The battle and then we'll away."

⁸ Then Robin hit the stranger a crack on the crown

That caused the blood to appear

And thus so enraged they more closely engaged

And laid on the blows most severe.

⁹ The stranger gave Robin a crack on the crown

That was a most terrible stroke,

The very next blow laid Robin below

And tumbled him into the brook.

¹⁰ "Oh where are you now?" the stranger he cried;

With a hearty laugh in reply,

"Oh, faith, in the flood," quoth bold Robin Hood.

"And floating away with the tide."

¹¹ Then Robin he waded all out of the deep

And pulled himself up by a thorn,

Then just at the last he blew a loud blast

So merrily on his bugle horn.

¹² The hills they did echo, the valley did ring

Which caused his gay men to appear,

All dressed in green most fair to be seen

Straight up to the master they steer.

¹³ "What aileth thee, master?" quoth William Stutely,

"You seem to be wet to the skin."

"No matter," quoth he, "This villain you see

In fighting hath tumbled me in."

¹⁴ "We'll pluck out his eyes and duck him likewise,"

Then seized they the stranger right there,

"Nay, let him go free," quoth bold Robin Hood,

"For he's a brave fellow. Forbear!

¹⁵ "Cheer up jolly blade and don't be afraid

Of all these gay men that you see,

There are four-score and nine and if you will be mine

You may wear of my own liverie."

¹⁶ A brace of fat deer was quickly brought in,

Good ale and strong liquor likewise.

The feast was so good, all in the greenwood

Where this jolly babe was baptised.

SEMINAR #4.

William Shakespeare "OTHELLO".

Questions on the structure of "OTHELLO".

1. Describe the development of Othello s jealousy as it relates to the structure of the play.

2. How does Shakespeare join the various parts of the play? What are the elements, which link the various stages of the play? Where are the key turning points in the plot? How has the dramatist prepared us in the beginning for what will arrive in the ending?

3. What is the relationship between conflict and structure in the play?

Fill in the chart for frequency of appearance of characters and answer the following questions:

1. Who do we meet in the 1st scene?

2. When do we meet Othello and why?

3. Who is actually the principal character?

4. What is peculiar about Act II Scene I and Act II Scene 2?

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