Kitabı oxu: «Робин Гуд и его Шервудский лес / Robin Hood and his Sherwood Forest. Пособие по чтению и пересказу»
© Ангелова М. М., 2025
© Василева М. Ц., 2025
© Котегова А. А., художник, 2025
© Знание-М, 2025
Предисловие
«Robin Hood and his Sherwood Forest: пособие по чтению и пересказу», подготовленное преподавателями Высшей школы Ангеловой Марьяной Марковной и Василевой Маргаритой Цветановой, предназначено для школьников и студентов, изучающих английский язык на уровне pre-intermediate.
Пособие разработано в рамках дисциплины «Иностранный язык» и направлено на формирование и развитие навыков пересказа художественного текста на английском языке, а также расширение активного словарного запаса и совершенствование грамматических навыков. В основу пособия положен адаптированный текст о Робин Гуде, к которому прилагается система заданий учебного и развивающего характера. Пособие включает разнообразные упражнения, направленные на развитие языковых навыков и речевой активности обучающихся. Среди заданий:
• обсуждение тематики текста перед его прочтением;
• подготовительные коммуникативные задания перед чтением;
• поиск английских эквивалентов к предложенным словам и выражениям;
• установление хронологической последовательности предложений;
• выражение согласия или несогласия с утверждениями;
• дополнение предложений подходящими словами и выражениями;
• перевод предложений с русского на английский язык;
• комментирование высказываний;
• вставка правильных предлогов в контекст;
• ответы на вопросы по содержанию текста;
• поиск слов-связок в тексте (средств логической связи);
• лексико-семантические упражнения на синонимию и антонимию;
• участие в обсуждениях;
• преобразование прямой речи в косвенную;
• трансформация предложений из активного залога в пассивный;
• творческие задания, направленные на развитие навыков устной и письменной речи.
Такой набор упражнений обеспечивает комплексный подход к развитию навыков чтения, понимания текста, лексико-грамматических умений и устной речи на английском языке.
Объем пособия составляет 224 страниц. Учебное пособие может быть использовано при аудиторной работе, а также для самостоятельной подготовки студентов и школьников. Оно может служить дополнительным материалом при обучении английскому языку в рамках общего и профессионального образования.
Материал пособия соответствует уровню pre-intermediate языковой подготовки обучающихся и может быть рекомендован к использованию в учебном процессе.
Robin Hood
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.
Robin searched the forest alone. He followed paths and crossed rivers. At last, he came to a part of the wood where the sun did not shine. Here the trees and bushes grew high and thick, like a dark green wall.
Robin followed the wall until he found a narrow path, which went into the deep bushes. Robin followed this path for many minutes, until he came to a clearing.
The clearing was neither damp nor dark – it was a place of light and air. It was on a high slope that rose above the trees. Around the edges of the clearing was a large ring of stones. A dead oak tree with broken branches stood on the top of the slope.
Robin walked up to it. There was a crack in the side of the tree and inside was a hollow space. Robin could see something shining inside the crack. He put his hand inside and pulled out a horn. The horn was made of bone and white metal. It was a hunting horn.
Robin put the horn to his lips and blew it hard.
Suddenly the trees and bushes all bent down, as if they were under a great wind. The clearing became very bright. The sound of the horn sang through the forest as Robin called the other outlaws to him. He blew the horn again and again.
The men had travelled far across Sherwood Forest but they all heard the sound of the horn. Immediately they stopped searching and followed the noise until they came to the clearing and the old oak tree.
Robin and the outlaws had found their new home.
Tasks:
Find the English equivalents to the following words and phrases:
лучше бы этот лесничий никогда не разговаривал со мной / лучше бы я пошел по другой тропинке / изгой / прятаться / острый взгляд / цирюльник / брить бороды / разыскиваемый / избегать, прятаться / в ответ / жить вне закона / премия, награда в сто золотых крон / мечи и щиты / исследовать самые дальние уголки леса / высокий склон / трещина / дупло (пустое место) / вытащить рог (рожок, горн) / рожок был сделан из кости и белого металла / наклоняться / идти на шум / старый дуб
Find the passages with description in the text and translate them into Russian:
• Sherwood was a large forest and ………….. helped them to hide in the forest.
• The clearing was neither damp nor ………………. a hunting horn.
Complete the sentences using the text:
1. Robin ran through the forest until …
2. Robin wished he had …
3. Robin was an outlaw so he couldn't … and he had to …
4. Robin was not alone in the forest: …
5. Some of the men were in the forest because they …
6. It was easy for the outlaws to hide in the forest because …
7. The outlaws wore green coats because …
8. Robin decided to rob the rich …
9. The Sheriff's men looked for Robin Hood because …
10. Robin suggested fighting the Sheriff's men but …
11. The outlaws explored the deepest parts of the forest …
12. Robin went to the forest alone and came to …
13. The clearing was full of light and air …
14. There was a crack in the oak tree and a hollow space where …
15. The horn was made of …
16. Robin Hood blew the horn, the trees and bushes … and all the outlaws heard …
Read the passage, explain the meaning of the verb “will” and make 3 sentences of your own about what you would like to change in your life.
“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.'
Answer the questions:
1. Why couldn't Robin return to his home?
2. Whom did Robin meet in the forest? What was Will Stutely? How did he become an outlaw?
3. Why did other men have to come to Sherwood Forest?
4. Why did Robin decide to rob Sheriff and how?
5. What kind of a place did Robin manage to find for outlaws to live there?
Translate into English, using the words and phrases from the text:
1. Лучше бы этот лесничий никогда не разговаривал со мной.
2. Лучше бы я пошел по другой тропинке.
3. Так как Робин был изгоем теперь, он должен был прятаться в лесу.
4. Уил Статли был худой мужчина с острым взглядом.
5. Раньше он был цирюльником, брил бороды, а теперь стал разыскиваемым преступником.
6. Так как Робин и другие изгои вынуждены были жить вне закона, они решили грабить Шерифа в ответ.
7. Люди Шерифа искали Робина и его людей, потому что хотели получить награду в сто золотых крон.
8. Изгои исследовали самые дальние уголки леса, чтобы спрятаться от людей Шерифа, которые имели разные виды оружия: мечи, щиты, луки.
9. Робин нашел старый дуб с трещиной на высоком склоне, в дупле лежал охотничий рожок, сделанный из кости и белого металла.
10. Робин подул в рожок, все деревья и кусты наклонились, и изгои пошли на шум и нашли Робина.
Chapter 4. Little John
Pre-reading discussion:
Comment on the proverb: “Meet on clothes, and see off on the mind.” How do you usually behave when you meet strangers? Is it easy to make friends?
While-reading communicative task
While reading please pay attention to how Robin Hood and his men were going to hunt for news? How do people usually collect information? What methods would you chose and why?
The men made a simple camp in the clearing. The narrow path was the only way into the camp and it was easy to guard.
'Tomorrow we will go hunting again,' said Robin to the men. 'But this time we will go hunting for news. We need information about the Sheriff's men. We need to know who is travelling to Nottingham. Look for groups of knights. Look for tax collectors. They will travel slowly and will have money and weapons. We will welcome them here in the woods.'
* * *
The next day, Robin went alone to the edge of Sherwood Forest. He walked along a path until he came to a river. A branch of wood crossed the river, like a bridge. Only one man could walk across this branch at a time.
A stranger was coming along the path from the opposite direction. The stranger and Robin stood at either end of the bridge. Both men carried quarterstaffs. The stranger was very tall and very broad. He was the biggest man that Robin had ever seen.
'Let the better man cross first,' shouted the stranger to Robin. The stranger had a handsome, happy face. He smiled at Robin as he spoke.
Robin also smiled.
'Then let me pass,' he said, 'for I am the better man.'
'Ah! We shall see,' said the stranger. Then he lifted his quarterstaff in both hands. He was ready to fight.
Robin took hold of his own quarterstaff and stepped onto the branch. The stranger also stepped onto the branch and the two men began to fight.
Robin was tall but the stranger was taller. Robin was broad but the stranger was broader. Both men were strong. They moved backwards and forwards along the narrow branch as they fought.
After many minutes of fighting, the stranger hit Robin hard on the side of his head. Robin fell into the water and the stranger laughed.
'Now, who is the better man?' said the man. 'Here, give me your hand. You have given me good exercise today.'
He helped Robin out of the water and the two men sat next to the river.
'What is your name?' asked Robin.
'I am called John Little,' said the stranger.
'Have you ever heard of Robin Hood?' asked Robin.
'Of course I have,' said John Little. 'He is an outlaw who lives here in the forest. The Sheriff of Nottingham is looking for him. But I have no love for the Sheriff and his men, so I hope that he doesn't catch Robin Hood.'
'Would you like to join Robin Hood and his group of outlaws?' asked Robin.
John Little looked at Robin carefully. 'Who are you?' he asked. 'Why do you want me to become an outlaw?'
Robin did not answer. Instead, he took his horn from his belt and blew it three times. Soon his men came running from the forest. They came to the river and stood around Robin and John Little.
'My name is Robin Hood and these are my men,' Robin said. 'Will you join us?'
'I see many men around you,' said John Little. 'But I still do not know you – I only know the name Robin Hood. I also know that Robin Hood is a very good archer. Show me that you can shoot an arrow and I will believe you.'
Robin lifted his bow and arrow. 'Tell me what to shoot,' he said.
John Little looked around and pointed into the forest.
'Do you see that young tree?' he asked. 'It's about five hundred paces away and no broader than a man's hand. Can you shoot an arrow into that tree?'
'It is not an easy target,' said Robin. 'You have chosen well.'
Robin put an arrow to his bow. Then he took aim and shot the arrow into the young tree.
'You must be Robin Hood,' said John Little. 'Well, I do not love the Sheriff, nor the men who collect taxes from the common people. So yes, Robin Hood, I will join you and your men.'
Robin smiled at the big man. Then he laughed loudly.
'We must have a feast to celebrate!' he said. 'And to welcome you to our home in Sherwood Forest.'
In the forest clearing, by the old oak tree, the outlaws built a great fire and roasted an ox. They ate the ox and drank ale until they were full. At the end of the feast, Robin took a cup of ale and held it over John Little's head.
'You are the biggest man I have ever seen,' Robin said. 'And now you are one of us so we will give you a new name. We shall call you Little John.'
And Robin poured the ale over Little John's head.
Find the English equivalents to the following words and phrases:
лагерь / сторожить, охранять / собирать новости / край Шервудского леса / высокий и очень широкий в плечах / двигаться взад-вперед / присоединиться к / стрелять из лука / легкая мишень / собирать налоги с простых людей / улыбнуться к.-л. / должны организовать праздник, чтобы отпраздновать / приветствовать к.-л. в доме / зажарить быка
Arrange the sentences in the right order:
1. The men made a camp in the clearing.
• He was tall and very broad, but his face was happy.
• To prove he was Robin Hood, Robin shot an arrow and hit the narrow tree at 500 paces.
• Robin Hood gave a new comer a new name “Little John” because he was the biggest man he had ever met.
• A branch of wood crossed the river like a bridge so only one man could walk across this bridge.
• He wanted to cross the bridge first but Robin wanted the same.
• As John did not like Sheriff and tax collectors, he agreed to join Robin and his men.
• The man's name was John Little and he heard about Robin Hood and his men.
• There was a stranger on the opposite side of the branch.
• There was only one way to the camp so it was easy to guard.
• Robin and his men needed to know who was travelling to Nottingham.
• Knights and tax collectors travelled slowly and carried money and weapons.
• The next day Robin went alone to the edge of Sherwood Forest and came to a river.
• They started fighting, they moved backwards, forwards until the stranger hit Robin, and he fell into the water.
• Robin invited John to join him and his men but John did not believe he was the famous Robin Hood.
• In the evening the outlaws celebrated a feast, ate an ox and drank ale, they welcomed a new member to their home.
• Robin suggested hunting for news.
Complete the sentences with the right adjectives or adverbs:
broader, carefully, well, better, simple, good, biggest, slowly, taller, better
11. Robin was broad but the stranger was ______________.
12. The men made a ______________ camp in the clearing.
13. Let the______________ man cross first,' shouted the stranger to Robin.
14. You have chosen ______________.
15. Robin was tall but the stranger was ______________.
16. John Little looked at Robin ______________.
17. I also know that Robin Hood is a very ______________ archer.
18. They will travel ______________ and will have money and weapons.
19. He was the ______________ man that Robin had ever seen.
20. 'Then let me pass,' he said, 'for I am the ______________ man.'
Answer the questions:
1. What were Robin Hood and his men going to hunt for?
2. How could Robin cross the river?
3. Who turned out to be stronger: Robin Hood or John Little?
4. How did John Little find out that Robin was the famous Robin Hood?
5. How did the outlaws welcome Little John to Sherwood Forest?
Translate into English, using the words and phrases from the text:
1. Узкая тропинка была единственной дорогой в лагерь, поэтому ее легко было охранять.
2. Робин решил собрать новости и пошел один на край Шервудского леса.
3. Робин встретил высокого и очень широкого в плечах незнакомца, он был самый большой мужчина, которого Робин когда-либо видел.
4. Они двигались взад-вперед по узкому стволу, пока дрались.
5. Робин Гуд пригласил Джона Литла присоединиться к нему и его изгоям.
6. Джон Литл попросил Робина выстрелить из лука, чтобы он поверил, что он действительно Робин Гуд.
7. Робин Гуд думал, что дальнее дерево – нелегкая мишень.
8. Джон Литл не любил тех, кто собирал налоги с простых людей.
9. Робин улыбнулся большому мужчине и поприветствовал его в доме в Шервудском лесу.
10. Они подумали и решили организовать праздник и зажарили быка.
Chapter 5. Will Stutely the Barber
Pre-reading discussion:
How can people disguise (переодеваться, замаскироваться)? How can a barber change a person? Have you ever changed your appearance?
While-reading communicative task
While reading please pay attention to the plan Will Stutely had and how he managed to realize it. What knowledge helped him to understand the Normans? Why is it useful to know and speak a foreign language? How did the knowledge of English help you?
The Sheriff of Nottingham collected taxes from all the neighbouring towns. His tax collectors were knights, barons, and churchmen. One of these churchmen, the Abbot of St Mary's, came to Nottingham every year. The Abbot brought the taxes he had collected from the town of Doncaster. Knights and soldiers helped him guard the money as he travelled.
'Soon the Abbot of St Mary's will pass through the forest on his journey to Nottingham,' Robin told the outlaws. 'We must be ready to welcome him. Go out of the forest and look for the Abbot. Come back and tell me how many men are travelling with him.'
But the Sheriff of Nottingham was not stupid. 'Robin Hood will learn that the Abbot of St Mary's is coming to Nottingham,' he told his men. 'I am sure that he will try to steal the tax money from the Abbot as he travels through Sherwood Forest. But we must be ready for him. We will catch Robin Hood and we will hang him from a high tree.'
* * *
Will Stutely set out to look for the Abbot and his men. He decided to search the north side of the forest because he knew that the Abbot would pass that way. Will had sharp eyes and a quick mind. He also had a plan.
Will watched and waited. Soon he saw a group coming towards him. With them was the Abbot. He was riding in a covered wagon that was pulled by six white horses. There were many knights and soldiers around him.
The wagon moved slowly. 'There must be gold in that wagon,' thought Will Stutely. 'It is heavy – and so is the Abbot. He is very fat.'
Will followed the Abbot and his men to a small town at the edge of Sherwood Forest. Then he watched as the men stopped at a small inn. It was evening now and Will guessed that they would spend the night there.
Will Stutely was a barber. He always carried a pair of scissors and a razor with him. The men who travelled with the Abbot were Normans and Normans liked to be shaved every day. They liked to have very short hair on their heads, so they often needed the services of a barber. But the Normans preferred to be shaved by Norman barbers. They did not trust every barber with a sharp razor!
Will Stutely slept by the road near the inn. In the morning, he woke to the sound of the Abbot's men. They were calling for a barber!
'Barbeur! Barbeur!' the knights called in Norman French. But there was no barber at the inn.
Will Stutely stepped forward.
'I am a barber, good sirs,' he told them. 'May I be of service to you?'
One of the knights spoke English. He looked at Will Stutely coldly. 'Do you know how to shave a monk's head?' the knight asked.
'Yes, I do sir,' said Will. 'I have cut the hair of many monks at Fountains Abbey
and at the Abbey of…'
'Enough!' shouted the knight. 'Be silent! These men have decided to become monks.' He pointed at the group of knights. 'Cut their hair and shave their heads. Do it carefully and you will be paid. If you are careless, you will be whipped.'
Will Stutely started to shave the men's heads, but it was a strange task. Knights did not usually shave their heads like monks! Why did they want to do this?
As Will worked, he was listening to what the men were saying. The men spoke Norman French and they did not think that Will understood them. But Will Stutely had worked as a barber at an abbey and he knew enough Norman French to understand the men's conversation.
'Robin Hood and his outlaws will think we are monks because we will have shaved heads,' said one of the knights. 'He will think that we have no weapons.'
'We will surprise them all,' said another knight. 'We will catch and kill these outlaws of Sherwood Forest!'
After their hair was cut, the knights put on the clothes of monks – brown clothes that covered their swords and armour.
Will Stutely watched and listened. The large, heavy wagon was still outside the inn. But now there was also a smaller, open cart. The soldiers put bags of flour into this open cart. Then they pushed smaller, heavier bags under the bags of flour. Will guessed that these were bags of golden crowns. He counted forty bags altogether.
Then the Abbot of St Mary's came out of the inn. He sat in the smaller, open cart. He was not wearing the clothes of a churchman. He was wearing the clothes of a miller.
The larger, covered wagon set off along the main road. The knights, who were now dressed as monks, went with the covered wagon.
The Abbot of St Mary's travelled along another, smaller road. Two knights rode beside his cart. A group of women walked behind him. One of the women carried a small child.
The group travelled slowly. Will Stutely travelled faster. He went to tell Robin what he had seen.
Find the English equivalents to the following words and phrases:
охранять деньги / украсть налоговые деньги / повесить к.-л. на высоком дереве / отправиться искать к.-л. / прочесывать северную часть леса / зоркий глаз и быстрый ум / ехать в крытой повозке / повозка была запряжена шестью белыми лошадьми / в повозке должно быть лежит золото / ножницы и бритва / нуждаться в услуге цирюльника / доверять / брить голову монаха / выпороть / покрывать доспехи и оружие / насчитать сорок мешков / на нем была одежда мельника
Agree or disagree with the following statements. Give the right variant for the wrong statements:
11. The Sheriff of Nottingham collected taxes only from Nottingham city.
12. Tax collectors were French monks and millers and they came to English towns every year.
13. Knights and soldiers helped the Abbot to guard the money.
14. Robin Hood decided to steal the tax money from the Abbot.
15. The Sheriff of Nottingham did not get ready for Robin Hood, as he was very stupid.
16. Robin Hood set out to look for the Abbot in the south side of the forest.
17. Will Stutely watched and waited and soon saw an open wagon that was pulled by 4 black horses with 10 knights around it.
18. The wagon moved slowly as there was gold in it and so it was very heavy.
19. The Abbot and his men spent the night in the forest.
20. Normans liked to be shaved every day and liked to have short hair on their heads.
21. In the evening, the knights asked Will Stutely to shave their heads as English peasants do.
22. The knights decided to become monks; they shaved their heads like monks and took off the armory and swards.
23. Will Stutely listened carefully to the conversation but the knights spoke French and he did not understand them.
24. The soldiers put bags of flour with other heavy bags in the closed wagon.
25. The Abbot of St Mary's sat in the open cart; he was wearing the clothes of a miller.
26. The Abbot travelled alone very slowly in the covered wagon.
Complete the sentences with the right prepositions:
1. The Sheriff of Nottingham collected taxes _______ all the neighbouring towns.
2. Soon the Abbot of St Mary's will pass _______ the forest _______ his journey to Nottingham.
3. I am sure that he will try to steal the tax money _______ the Abbot.
4. We will hang him _______ a high tree.
5. Will Stutely set _______ to look _______ the Abbot and his men.
6. He was riding _______ a covered wagon that was pulled _______ 6 white horses.
7. Will followed the Abbot and his men to a small town _______ the edge of Sherwood Forest.
8. They were calling _______ a barber!
9. May I be _______ service to you?
10. He pointed _______ the group of knights.
Answer the questions:
1. How did the Sheriff of Nottingham collect taxes from towns?
2. Why did Will Stutley decide that there must be gold in the wagon?
3. Why did Normans need the services of a barber?
4. Did Will Stutley understand the Norman knights' conversation?
5. How were the knights going to deceive Robin Hood and his men?
Translate into English, using the words and phrases from the text:
1. Рыцари и солдаты помогали Шерифу Ноттингэма охранять деньги, которые он собрал с близлежащих городов.
2. Если Робин попытается украсть налоговые деньги у Аббата, мы поймаем его и повесим на высоком дереве.
3. Уил Статли, который имел зоркий глаз и быстрый ум, отправился искать Аббата и его людей.
4. Он решил прочесывать северную часть леса.
5. Аббат ехал в крытой повозке, которая была запряжена шестью белыми лошадьми, а вокруг было много рыцарей и солдат.
6. Уил Статли думал, что в повозке должно быть лежит золото, так как она была тяжелой и двигалась медленно.
7. Уил Статли всегда носил с собой ножницы и бритву, поскольку Норманы часто нуждались в услугах цирюльника, но не доверяли каждому цирюльнику.
8. Если ты не побреешь их головы, как голову монаха, тебя выпорют.
9. После того как их головы побрили, рыцари надели одежды монахов, которые покрывали доспехи и оружие. На Аббате была одежда мельника.
10. Уил Статли насчитал сорок мешков в меньшей открытой повозке. Солдаты положили более маленькие и тяжелые мешки под мешки с мукой.
Chapter 6. The Abbot of St Mary's
Pre-reading discussion:
How do you get ready for a trip in the forest? What is necessary to take care of before going on a trip and during the trip?
While-reading communicative task
While reading please pay attention to how Robin Hood was able to outsmart the Abbot of St Mary and the Sheriff of Nottingham? Whom did the money belong to? Do you think it was fair of Robin Hood to take the tax money? When you prepare some difficult plan, what do you have to take into consideration?
The covered wagon moved slowly into Sherwood Forest. It was heavy and the road was full of holes. The knights watched the road in front of them carefully. They looked for outlaws in the trees.
'We are in the middle of the forest now,' said one of the knights. 'I am sure that Robin Hood and his men will attack us soon. Do not worry. The Sheriff and his men are coming from Nottingham and we will catch the outlaws when they attack us. We will kill them all.'
Suddenly an arrow flew out of the forest. It hit one of the knights in the chest. The knight was not hurt because he was wearing armour under his brown monk's clothes.
Then a tall man stepped into the road.
'Stop right there!' the tall man shouted. 'I am Robin Hood. All people passing though Sherwood Forest must pay me a tax.'
Immediately the covers of the wagon opened and men armed with crossbows jumped out. The knights pulled out their swords and one of them blew a hunting horn.
Another horn answered from farther up the road. The Sheriff's men were coming!
The tall man in the road looked surprised. 'Run! There are too many of them – we are surrounded!' he shouted, but the knights could not see whom he was shouting to.
'Go after him!' cried one of the knights. 'It's Robin Hood. Catch him!'
The tall man ran into the forest and the knights ran after him. The soldiers followed and so did the crossbowmen. They chased the tall man for half the day, but Little John knew the forest too well and the knights could not catch him.
Little John had been alone. The other outlaws were with the real Robin Hood – in another part of the forest.
* * *
Robin was standing in the middle of a narrow road when the fat miller appeared. The miller was riding in the smaller, open cart. Two knights rode on horses beside the cart. The women and child walked a little way behind.
'Where are you going, good miller?' Robin called out.
The miller did not reply. Instead, the knight who spoke English said,
'We are going to Nottingham. Let us pass. Or do you mean to hurt these women and the child?'
'I am talking to the miller,' said Robin, 'let him answer.' But the fat miller said nothing.
So Robin walked up to the cart. 'All travellers who pass through Sherwood must pay a tax,' he told the miller. 'We will take a little flour from you, but we will take only the small bags.'
The miller's face turned red. Suddenly he put his hand into his shirt and pulled out a sword, but Robin caught the miller's hand.
'This is a pretty sword,' said Robin. 'It does not belong to a miller, I am sure. I will take it as a gift from you.'
Then Robin pulled the miller out of the cart and threw him onto the road.
Suddenly, twenty outlaws stepped out of the trees. They aimed their bows and arrows at the knights. The knights and the miller were surrounded.
'I am Sir Roger of Doncaster,' said the knight who spoke English. 'Who is this outlaw who robs women and a poor miller?'
'I am Robin Hood of Sherwood Forest,' answered Robin. 'And we shall see if this miller is really poor.'
Then two of the outlaws climbed into the cart. They moved the large bags of flour. Underneath they found the forty bags of golden crowns.
'Tell me, how does a miller have forty bags of golden crowns?' asked Robin. 'Who is the real thief here?'
The miller did not answer. Instead, he watched silently as the outlaws lifted the forty bags of gold from the wagon.
'Now go in peace,' said Robin. 'And give my good wishes to the Sheriff of Nottingham.'
And so the knights, the Abbot, and the women went on their way to Nottingham. Robin and his men travelled back to their camp in the middle of the forest. They carried the forty bags of gold with them.
The Abbot of St Mary's was no poorer because of Robin Hood. The gold had not been his – it was tax that he had collected for the Sheriff of Nottingham. But the Abbot was still a very angry man.
'I will have my revenge,' he said to Roger of Doncaster. 'I do not care how long it takes, but I will find a way to kill Robin Hood!'
* * *
The Abbot of St Mary's was a rich and powerful man. He had friends at the King's court in London. These friends told the King about Robin Hood.
'Forty bags of gold!' shouted King Henry angrily. 'The Sheriff of Nottingham let an outlaw steal forty bags of gold? Send for the Sheriff. Let him explain himself! '
But when the Sheriff of Nottingham arrived to see the King, he was met by King Henry's youngest son, Prince John. King Henry had gone to France. He had left to fight a war against the French king.
Prince John was a dark-haired man. He was only twenty' one years old but he was already getting fat. John loved food and he often ate so much that he became ill.
'Good Sheriff of Nottingham,' John said, 'I hear that we have a problem. What shall we do about this outlaw called Robin Hood?'
'My lord, I shall take care of it,' said the Sheriff. 'I promise you that I will catch Robin Hood and hang him.'
'Make sure that you do,' said Prince John. 'Also, know this – that after his death, my father wishes me to become King of England. He does not want Richard to be King. And, when I am King, I will need good servants like you – the Sheriff of Nottingham.'
The Sheriff bowed his head to Prince John. 'My lord, you know that I am your true servant,' he said.
'Good,' said Prince John. 'As you know, my brother Richard likes fighting. He believes in truth and justice. But I think you are a man like myself, good Sheriff. We both know that the most important thing in life is money.'
Find the English equivalents to the following words and phrases:
быть полным дыр, выбоин / ловить, искать изгоев / ударить к.-л. в грудь / выйти на дорогу / быть вооруженным ч.-л. / преследовать высокого мужчину / вы собираетесь, хотите причинить вред? / покраснеть / вытащить меч / быть окруженным / грабить / настоящий вор / реванш, отмщение / найти способ убить / позволить изгою украсть / пусть он объяснится / позаботиться о / поклониться к.-л. / верить в правду и справедливость
Agree or disagree with the following statements. Give the right variant for the wrong statements:
1. An open wagon moved quickly in the forest along a very good road.
2. The knights were sure Robin Hood would attack them.
3. The arrow hit one knight in the chest and he died.
4. A short man stepped into the road and shouted that he was the Sheriff of Nottingham.
5. The knights agreed to pay the tax.
6. The tall man got frightened and ran into the forest but the knights caught him and hung him on the tree.
7. Little John and Robin Hood were together with 200 other outlaws.
8. The miller was riding in a small open cart with 2 knights nearby and women with small children behind.
9. The miller replied that he was just a poor man travelling with his family.
10. Robin Hood said they would take the big bags of flour.
11. Suddenly the knights pulled out swords and hit Robin Hood.
12. There were too many knights so Robin Hood and his outlaws were surrounded.
13. Robin Hood and his men took the bags with gold and carried them to the forest.
14. The Abbot of St. Mary's became poorer and wanted a revenge.
15. The Abbot of St. Mary's had friends at the King's court.
16. King Richard was very angry with the Sheriff of Nottingham.
17. Prince John was a thin fair-haired man who did not eat anything and was fond of fighting.
18. Prince Richard wanted good servants like the Sheriff of Nottingham who loved truth and justice.
Change the sentences of direct speech into indirect. Use the following verbs:
tell smb., ask smb., explain, believe, remind, order, warn, promise, inform, wonder
• 'I am sure that Robin Hood and his men will attack us soon. Do not worry. The Sheriff and his men are coming from Nottingham and we will catch the outlaws when they attack us. We will kill them all.' (the knight)
Example: The knight said that he was sure that Robin Hood and his men would attack them soon. He asked the other knights not to worry. He believed that the Sherriff and his men were coming from Nottingham and they would catch the outlaws when they attacked them. He promised that they would kill them all.
• 'We are going to Nottingham. Let us pass.' (the knight)
• 'I am talking to the miller, let him answer.' (Robin)
• 'All travellers who pass through Sherwood must pay a tax, we will take a little flour from you, but we will take only the small bags.' (Robin)
• 'This is a pretty sword, it does not belong to a miller, I am sure. I will take it as a gift from you.' (Robin)
• 'I am Robin Hood of Sherwood Forest, and we shall see if this miller is really poor.' (Robin)
• 'I will have my revenge, 'I do not care how long it takes, but I will find a way to kill Robin Hood!' (the Abbot)
• 'Forty bags of gold! The Sheriff of Nottingham let an outlaw steal forty bags of gold? Send for the Sheriff. Let him explain himself! (King Henry)
• 'Also, know this – that after his death, my father wishes me to become King of England. He does not want Richard to be King. And, when I am King, I will need good servants like you – the Sheriff of Nottingham.' (Prince John)
• 'As you know, my brother Richard likes fighting. He believes in truth and justice. But I think you are a man like myself, good Sheriff. We both know that the most important thing in life is money.' (Prince John)
Answer the questions:
1. Why did the covered wagon move slowly?
2. How did the outlaws attack the knights? Why were the knights frightened?
Pulsuz fraqment bitdi.
