Why did they call Robin Hood's men merry ?!
Question: Merry is also referred to as happy or jolly..i.e:Merry X-Mas...thus Robin Hood's men were jolly/merry ol' men..or in other words, very drunk men...upon futher review the English Folklore coorelation is correct..sry
Answers: Merry is also referred to as happy or jolly..i.e:Merry X-Mas...thus Robin Hood's men were jolly/merry ol' men..or in other words, very drunk men...upon futher review the English Folklore coorelation is correct..sry
because they where great and happy man
The word "merry" in this and other ballads is probably used in the archaic sense meaning "companion or follower of an outlaw".
The Merry Men were the group of outlaws who follow Robin Hood, according to English folklore. An early use of the phrase "merry men" occurs in the oldest known Robin Hood ballad, "Robin Hood and the Monk", which survives in a manuscript completed around 1450. The word "merry" in this and other ballads is probably used in the archaic sense meaning "companion or follower of an… outlaw". The early ballads give specific names to only three of Robin's companions, Little John, Much the Miller's Son, and William Scarlock or Scathelock, the Will Scarlet of later tradions. Joining them are between 20 and "seven score" (140) outlawed yeomen.
I hope it helps!
They were happy to be living free from government oppression, living off the land, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. And not having to vote tomorrow on Super Tuesday.
they wear happy. Merry used to be the word for happy.
Aloha from Down Unda!
Perhaps they were the original 'gender challenged'!
Best wishes
In medieval Europe, a merry man (or merry-man) meant someone who was a follower or companion of an outlaw, hero or knight. That is the main reason his band of men were called merry men.
For literary purposes, another definition of merry (pleasing, agreeable, joyful) probably helped paint Robin Hood and his followers as lovable rogues who were enjoying themselves and enjoying doing things to the rich and powerful (stealing, attacking, basically just acting like bandits) and aiding the poor. It made the Merry Men seem more sympathetic and likeable to the reader.