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'''Robin Goodfellow''' in English folklore is a euphemistic personification of a half-tamed, troublesome [[fairy]] or [[hobgoblin]], a prankster who is the domesticated aspect of [[Puck]]. | |||
Shakespeare refers to him in ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'', ii. 1. | |||
The children's theater play ''Robin Goodfellow'' by Aurand Harris is a retelling of ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' from the point of view of [[Puck]]. | |||
:Either I mistake your shape and making quite, | |||
:Or else you are that shrewd and knavish sprite | |||
:Called Robin Goodfellow... | |||
:Those that Hob-goblin call you, and sweet Puck, | |||
:You do their work, and they shall have good luck. | |||
The earliest reference to 'Robin Goodfellow' cited by the ''Oxford English Dictionary'' is from 1531. | |||
The name ''Robin'' is Middle English in origin, deriving from Old French ''Robin'', the pet form for the name Robert. After Giacomo Meyerbeer's successful opera ''Robert le Diable'' (1831), neo-medievalists and occultists began to apply the name ''Robin Goodfellow'' to the Devil, with appropriately extravagant imagery. | |||
The character probably originates in German folklore. | |||
According to the public domain 1898 edition of ''Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable'': | |||
''Robin Goodfellow''' was a "drudging fiend", and merry domestic fairy, famous for mischievous pranks and practical jokes. At night-time he will sometimes do little services for the family over which he presides. The Scotch call this domestic spirit a [[brownie]]; the Germans, [[kobold]] or [[Knecht Ruprecht]]. Scandinavians called it [[Nissë God-dreng]]. Puck, the jester of Fairy-court, is the same. | |||
==External links== | |||
*[http://www.boldoutlaw.com/puckrobin/puck.html Puck - That Shrewd and Knavish Sprite Called Robin Goodfellow] | |||
*[http://www.boldoutlaw.com/puckrobin/puckbals.html The Ballads of Robin Goodfellow] | |||
==See also== | |||
* [[Lubber fiend]] | |||
{{wikipedia}} | |||
[[Category:English mythology]] | |||
[[Category:Household spirits]] | |||
Latest revision as of 17:26, 18 April 2007
Robin Goodfellow in English folklore is a euphemistic personification of a half-tamed, troublesome fairy or hobgoblin, a prankster who is the domesticated aspect of Puck.
Shakespeare refers to him in A Midsummer Night's Dream, ii. 1.
The children's theater play Robin Goodfellow by Aurand Harris is a retelling of A Midsummer Night's Dream from the point of view of Puck.
- Either I mistake your shape and making quite,
- Or else you are that shrewd and knavish sprite
- Called Robin Goodfellow...
- Those that Hob-goblin call you, and sweet Puck,
- You do their work, and they shall have good luck.
The earliest reference to 'Robin Goodfellow' cited by the Oxford English Dictionary is from 1531.
The name Robin is Middle English in origin, deriving from Old French Robin, the pet form for the name Robert. After Giacomo Meyerbeer's successful opera Robert le Diable (1831), neo-medievalists and occultists began to apply the name Robin Goodfellow to the Devil, with appropriately extravagant imagery.
The character probably originates in German folklore.
According to the public domain 1898 edition of Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable: Robin Goodfellow' was a "drudging fiend", and merry domestic fairy, famous for mischievous pranks and practical jokes. At night-time he will sometimes do little services for the family over which he presides. The Scotch call this domestic spirit a brownie; the Germans, kobold or Knecht Ruprecht. Scandinavians called it Nissë God-dreng. Puck, the jester of Fairy-court, is the same.
External links
See also