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Howard PyleA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.
Robin is a spirited yeoman living in England during the 1100s. Known for his exceptional skill with a bow and arrow, he assumes leadership of a band of societal outcasts hiding in Sherwood Forest after a youthful altercation leaves him on the wrong side of the law. He operates under a personal moral code that involves stealing from wealthy, corrupt figures and redistributing the funds to the poor. Despite his outlaw status, he maintains a good-humored demeanor and often seeks to befriend his adversaries after a physical challenge.
Closest friend of Little John
Adversary of Sheriff of Nottingham
Leader of Will Stutely
Relative of Will Scarlet
Friend of Allan a Dale
Companion of Friar Tuck
Favored subject of Queen Eleanor
Cousin of Prioress of Kirklees
Standing seven feet tall, Little John is a broad-shouldered and physically imposing man who becomes Robin Hood's most trusted companion. Despite his immense strength and fighting skills, he possesses an endearing laziness and deeply enjoys the comforts of good food and drink. He acts as Robin's second-in-command, participating in many of the group's adventures while occasionally getting sidetracked by his appetite.
Right-hand man of Robin Hood
Close friend of Will Stutely
Temporary servant of Sheriff of Nottingham
Friend of Arthur a Bland
Companion of Friar Tuck
Companion of Midge the Miller
The Sheriff serves as the primary law enforcement official in Nottingham, making him Robin Hood's most persistent local enemy. Driven by a desire for reward money and personal vengeance, he hatches numerous schemes to capture the outlaws in Sherwood Forest. He frequently collaborates with wealthy clergymen and uses deceit to achieve his goals, though his plots consistently fail against Robin's wiles.
Pursuer of Robin Hood
Ally of Bishop of Hereford
Collaborator with Prior of Emmet
Employer of Guy of Gisbourne
Former employer of Little John
Employer of Wat o' the Crabstaff
Subordinate to King Richard the Lionhearted
King Richard is the famous monarch of England, holding authority over the land and its subjects. He possesses a fun-loving, humble personality that sharply contrasts with the touchy vindictiveness of other authority figures. While he represents ultimate justice and the rule of law, he also appreciates a good jest and approaches his subjects with a mixture of sternness and mercy.
Ruler of Robin Hood
Ruler of Sheriff of Nottingham
Successor to King Henry II
Predecessor to King John
Ruler of Sir Richard of the Lea
Relative of Queen Eleanor
Will Stutely is a sly and sharp-eared member of Robin's band, characterized by his sun-browned face. He serves as a spy for the Merry Men, venturing into potentially dangerous situations to gather intelligence on the Sheriff's plans. His dedication to the group earns him deep loyalty from his peers, who willingly risk their own safety to protect him.
Follower of Robin Hood
Friend of Little John
Originally known as Will Gamwell, this young man is a relative of Robin Hood who flees into the forest after a fatal altercation at his father's estate. Though he appears dainty and effeminate to onlookers, he is remarkably strong and capable of defending himself against seasoned fighters. He adopts the name Will Scarlet based on the bright color of his clothing when he joins the outlaws.
Relative of Robin Hood
Companion of Allan a Dale
Allan is a young, sensitive, and romantic minstrel who brings music and poetry to the rough-and-tumble environment of Sherwood Forest. He faces severe heartache because the father of his sweetheart wishes to marry her off to a wealthy older knight. His beautiful singing voice deeply moves the Merry Men, earning him a permanent place in their community.
A stout, jolly, and thoroughly unconventional curtal friar, Tuck lives near Fountain Abbey and keeps a pack of fierce dogs. He entirely subverts the traditional expectations of clerical piety, preferring hearty meals, physical brawling, and loud singing over silent prayer. He joins the Merry Men to oversee their holy matters while providing frequent comic scolding.
Chaplain for Robin Hood
Acquaintance of Will Scarlet
The Queen of England acts as a kind and just ruler who takes a special interest in Robin Hood's legendary archery skills. She operates with a degree of independence from her husband, making secret wagers and using her influence to protect those she favors. She commands deep respect from the common people through her fair treatment of them.
The Bishop of Hereford is an exceedingly wealthy and pompous churchman who prioritizes luxury over religious charity. He travels with a heavily laden retinue of packhorses and refuses to help those in financial distress. His lack of generosity makes him a frequent target for Robin's redistributive justice.
A wealthy and scheming clergyman who actively works to acquire land from indebted knights. He conspires with local authorities to expand his priory's holdings, showing absolutely no leniency to those who owe him money.
Creditor of Sir Richard of the Lea
Collaborator with Sheriff of Nottingham
Sir Richard is a proud and noble knight who falls into heavy debt after paying a steep fine to keep his son out of prison. He faces the loss of his ancestral lands to greedy clergymen until he crosses paths with the Merry Men. He strictly follows the rules of chivalry and courtesy, maintaining his dignity even when impoverished.
A fierce, heavily armed, and widely hated outlaw who accepts a contract to hunt down Robin Hood. He operates as a violent hitman, contrasting sharply with Robin's relatively peaceful methods of highway robbery.
Tracker of Robin Hood
Employee of Sheriff of Nottingham
The reigning monarch during the early years of Robin's outlawry. He displays a fiery temper, especially regarding the outlaws who poach his deer in Sherwood Forest. He readily deploys his guards to capture rulebreakers and demands absolute obedience from his subjects.
Husband of Queen Eleanor
Ruler of Robin Hood
The successor to King Richard, who rules England with a much harsher hand. He lacks his predecessor's humor and views outlaws purely as a threat to be eliminated, dispatching armed men to enforce his will.
Ruler of Robin Hood
Ruler of Sheriff of Nottingham
Ellen is a young woman whose father attempts to force her into a financially advantageous marriage to an older knight. She deeply loves a poor minstrel and relies on the intervention of the Merry Men to secure her preferred future.
Sweetheart of Allan a Dale
Unwilling bride of Sir Stephen of Trent
A wealthy older knight who attempts to marry a younger woman against her wishes. He displays a haughty, socially condescending attitude toward the commoners around him, viewing his prospective bride as a prize he elevates from poverty.
Suitor of Ellen o' the Dale
Rival of Allan a Dale
A tanner from Blyth who possesses exceptional skill with a staff. He holds his own against famous fighters and readily joins the outlaws once he realizes their identities.
Friend of Little John
Follower of Robin Hood
A young, honest-looking miller who proves surprisingly resourceful when attacked. He uses the tools of his trade to blind and defeat his attackers before accepting an invitation to join them.
Follower of Robin Hood
A dependable member of the Merry Men who actively gathers information in local towns. He is a skilled wrestler who occasionally finds himself in danger from angry crowds during local fairs.
Follower of Robin Hood
Protected by Sir Richard of the Lea
A robust tinker who accepts the Sheriff's commission to capture the famous outlaw. He enjoys heavy drinking at local taverns, a habit that makes him susceptible to trickery.
Employee of Sheriff of Nottingham
Friend of Robin Hood
She serves as the head of a religious house in Yorkshire, a position she secured through family influence. As a skilled nurse, she provides medical care, though she remains highly conscious of the political dangers associated with treating outlaws.
Cousin of Robin Hood
A royal page who carries messages for Queen Eleanor. He proves resourceful in tracking down Robin Hood to deliver both invitations and crucial warnings about the king's men.
Employee of Queen Eleanor