How does Robin Hood show characteristics of an Anglo-Saxon/Celtic hero?
As one of the earlier respondents mentioned, the Robin Hood stories always contain his residence in the forest (early versions have him from Berkshire in the south to York in the north). But like the Celtic and Viking heroes, Robin goes out into the wild and only comes back to civilization when the quest is completed or when he has to (see the epic poem Beowulf). Also, Robin Hood reveals his pagan roots in his early stories with the very Germanic concept of fate. In the early stories, Robin is many times forced to be an outlaw. His temper gets the best of him and he kills a soldier out of anger or is caught poaching from the king’s forest to feed himself. This is also very common in Celtic, German, and Saxon heroes (Roman/Christian/Norman heroes choose their actions). Lastly, there is no Christ or God in the Robin Hood stories. Only in the Renaissance is a spiritual adviser, Friar Tuck, hoisted upon him (in fact, one of the earliest stories is about Robin killing a monk). In pre Christ
