How Little John Lived At The Sheriff's Sparknotes

Summary/Analysis Prompt

Summary: In the chapter "How Little John Lived at the Sheriff's" from the book The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, by Howard Pyle, Little John (disguised as Reynold Greenleaf) goes to live at the Sheriff's after accepting to join his service. During his stay, Little John became a favorite of the Sheriff's, allowing him to enjoy feasting on rich dishes, superior alcohol, and sleeping late. Six months later, growing fat and sluggish, Little John stays in bed instead of going hunting with the Sheriff and there he begins to reminisce about his merry life in Sherwood Forest among his fellow merry men and Robin Hood. Little John decides that after breakfast, he will leave and go back to his fellow friends. As he approached

Before fencing Little John proposes that they should enjoy the feast together, seeing as the Cook loves a good feast, he accepts. Befriending one another during their meal together, the two continued to their postponed sword fight, lasting for over an hour with neither striking a blow. Impressed by the Cooks swordsmanship, Little John reveals his true identity to the Cook and suggests that he come to Sherwood Forest and join the Merry Men. The Cook set forth with Little John to the forest, taking with them a large bag of silver from the Sheriff's to give to Robin Hood. As they reached Sherwood Forest everyone welcomed Little John and the Cook, but Robin was unpleased with them commandeering the Sheriff's silver. Knowing that the Sheriff was near the forest, Little John ran to where he and his party were hunting with the plan of luring the Sheriff alone into Sherwood forest with some tale. The Sheriff followed Little John into the forest to where Robin Hood and the Merry Men (now including the Sheriff's Cook) sat, upon arriving the Sheriff turned and realized Little John's true identity. Robin then offered the Sheriff to join in another feast, the Sheriff's declined, however Robin insisted he joined for at least a drink of quality alcohol which was

I take my tithes from fat priests and lordly squires, to help those that they despoil and to raise up those that they bow down; but I know not that thou hast tenants of thine own whom thou hast wronged in any way. Therefore, take thou thine own again, nor will I dispossess thee today of so much as one farthing. Come with me, and I will lead thee from the forest back to thine own party again." (Pyle