THE DEATH OF ROBIN HOOD by Eugene Field: Summary, Meaning & Analysis
Robin Hood, on his deathbed, requests Little John to shoot one final arrow and lay him to rest where it lands — deep within the beloved greenwood.
The poem
"Give me my bow," said Robin Hood, "An arrow give to me; And where 't is shot mark thou that spot, For there my grave shall be." Then Little John did make no sign, And not a word he spake; But he smiled, altho' with mickle woe His heart was like to break. He raised his master in his arms, And set him on his knee; And Robin's eyes beheld the skies, The shaws, the greenwood tree. The brook was babbling as of old, The birds sang full and clear, And the wild-flowers gay like a carpet lay In the path of the timid deer. "O Little John," said Robin Hood, "Meseemeth now to be Standing with you so stanch and true Under the greenwood tree. "And all around I hear the sound Of Sherwood long ago, And my merry men come back again,-- You know, sweet friend, you know! "Now mark this arrow; where it falls, When I am dead dig deep, And bury me there in the greenwood where I would forever sleep." He twanged his bow. Upon its course The clothyard arrow sped, And when it fell in yonder dell, Brave Robin Hood was dead. The sheriff sleeps in a marble vault, The king in a shroud of gold; And upon the air with a chanted pray'r Mingles the mock of mould. But the deer draw to the shady pool, The birds sing blithe and free, And the wild-flow'rs bloom o'er a hidden tomb Under the greenwood tree. "LOLLYBY, LOLLY, LOLLYBY" Last night, whiles that the curfew bell ben ringing, I heard a moder to her dearie singing "Lollyby, lolly, lollyby." And presently that chylde did cease hys weeping, And on his moder's breast did fall a-sleeping, To "lolly, lolly, lollyby." Faire ben the chylde unto his moder clinging, But fairer yet the moder's gentle singing,-- "Lollyby, lolly, lollyby." And angels came and kisst the dearie smiling In dreems while him hys moder ben beguiling With "lolly, lolly, lollyby!" Then to my harte saies I, "Oh, that thy beating Colde be assuaged by some swete voice repeating 'Lollyby, lolly, lollyby;' That like this lyttel chylde I, too, ben sleeping With plaisaunt phantasies about me creeping, To 'lolly, lolly, lollyby!'" Sometime--mayhap when curfew bells are ringing-- A weary harte shall heare straunge voices singing, "Lollyby, lolly, lollyby;" Sometime, mayhap, with Chrysts love round me streaming, I shall be lulled into eternal dreeming With "lolly, lolly, lollyby."
Robin Hood, on his deathbed, requests Little John to shoot one final arrow and lay him to rest where it lands — deep within the beloved greenwood. The poem concludes by highlighting the overshadowed splendor of kings and sheriffs against the vibrant forest that silently preserves Robin's legacy.
Line-by-line
"Give me my bow," said Robin Hood, / "An arrow give to me;"
Then Little John did make no sign, / And not a word he spake;
He raised his master in his arms, / And set him on his knee;
The brook was babbling as of old, / The birds sang full and clear,
"O Little John," said Robin Hood, / "Meseemeth now to be"
"And all around I hear the sound / Of Sherwood long ago,"
"Now mark this arrow; where it falls, / When I am dead dig deep,"
He twanged his bow. Upon its course / The clothyard arrow sped,
The sheriff sleeps in a marble vault, / The king in a shroud of gold;
But the deer draw to the shady pool, / The birds sing blithe and free,
Tone & mood
Elegiac yet not mournful. Field maintains a restrained and dignified tone—grief lingers beneath every stanza, but it never erupts into tears. The final shift feels almost triumphant, quietly affirming that Robin's way of dying was the right choice.
Symbols & metaphors
- The bow and arrow — Robin's defining tool becomes his death rite. By shooting the final arrow, he asserts his identity one last time and allows fate — or the forest — to decide where he rests. This way, he dies as himself, not as a patient lying in a bed.
- The greenwood tree — The forest embodies freedom, camaraderie, and a sense of home simultaneously. It opens and closes the poem, creating a frame for the entire piece. To be enveloped by it symbolizes the deepest form of belonging to a place, transcending any ties to institutions or social status.
- The marble vault and shroud of gold — These symbolize worldly power and its pretensions. The sheriff and king dedicated their lives to opposing Robin's values, and their grand tombs are revealed to be empty — "the mock of mould" brings them down to the same level.
- The wild-flowers over the hidden tomb — Robin's grave remains unmarked and concealed, but nature adorns it in its own way. The wildflowers serve as a natural tribute, more genuine and enduring than any engraved stone.
- Little John's silence — His silence and lack of protest show a loyalty that runs deeper than words. It also signals acceptance — he respects Robin's wish, even if it costs him everything.
Historical context
Eugene Field wrote this poem in the late 19th century, inspired by the age-old Robin Hood ballad tradition that dates back to medieval England. During the Victorian era, the legend experienced a significant revival, with writers and artists portraying the Sherwood Forest outlaw as a figure of freedom and natural justice. Field, an American journalist and poet known for his sentimental verse and children's poetry, adds a tender, reflective quality to the death scene found in older ballads like "Robin Hood's Death." In those earlier versions, Robin is betrayed and bled to death by a treacherous prioress; however, Field removes that sense of betrayal and centers the poem on the farewell between Robin and Little John, turning it into a meditation on dying gracefully and the lasting influence of nature over human pretense. The poem emerged at a time when American readers felt a strong nostalgia for Old English legends.
FAQ
It's about Robin Hood's death — particularly his last moments with his faithful friend Little John. Robin releases one final arrow and requests to be buried where it falls, in the forest he cherished. The poem contrasts his humble grave in the woods with the elaborate tombs of the king and sheriff, suggesting that Robin's ending is the more honorable one.
This detail is drawn from older Robin Hood ballads. It reflects Robin's commitment to being true to himself until the end—allowing the bow, his lifelong companion, to make the final choice. In a way, it also means the forest itself decides where he finds his rest.
Little John is Robin Hood's closest friend and second-in-command within the Merry Men. In this poem, he witnesses Robin's death, cradling him and fulfilling his final wish. His quiet, sorrowful smile captures the emotional essence of the piece.
"Mickle" is an old English term that translates to "great" or "much." Therefore, "mickle woe" simply refers to great sorrow. Field incorporates this archaic language throughout the poem to create a medieval ballad atmosphere.
It's the poem's argument in miniature. The powerful men Robin fought against are buried in grand tombs — marble vaults and gold shrouds — yet decay ("the mock of mould") claims them all the same. In contrast, Robin's hidden grave in the vibrant forest is portrayed as something deeper and more enduring than all that extravagance.
"Mould" in this context refers to the earth, particularly the decaying soil found in a grave. This phrase suggests that decay ultimately ridicules all the gold and marble used in tombs—regardless of how magnificent your resting place may be, the dirt prevails in the end. It's Field's most incisive remark.
Yes. In "Robin Hood's Death," a traditional English ballad likely from the 15th or 16th century, there's a poignant moment when Robin shoots his last arrow to select his burial site. Field takes this central image but omits the treachery subplot, transforming the scene into a gentle elegy.
Calm and bittersweet. There's genuine grief here — Little John's shattered heart, Robin's fading memories of his old friends — but the poem avoids melodrama. It concludes on a note of tranquility, with the forest gently watching over Robin's grave for all time.