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I have gotten hooked on the new BBC "Robin Hood". It's a fun bit of fluff that doesn't make me think too hard, and it has Richard Armitage following Alan Rickman's footsteps as the sexy bad guy we love to hate. (Although I do like Jonas Armstrong as well, he he.)
Since I've thrown myself into this fandom I've read a bunch of fanfics; some good, some bad. As a historical reenactor, there are a few things I would like to share to help raise the quality of the fics.
1. Brush Up Your Shakespeare
Even if Shakespeare was 400 years after RH, that style of language is a lot closer than the way we talk now (and the way the actors in RH talk). Things to avoid: awesome, cool, yeah, really,
2. I'm Not Wearing Underwear Today
Underwear was not a part of middle age life like it is today. No panties, boxers, or bras.
Guys wore nothing, so if in your fic Robin takes a dunk in the river then takes his pant off to dry them by the fire we would see a pale English bum.
Girls used a chemise as a base. a full (ivory, tan, or grey) dress made of soft fabric (like linen) with a draw string to close the neck and wrists. Over this you would put on an overdress. Yes, we've seen Marian in a white slip thing, not a real chemise.
Side note: This simple dress was used in many cultures for many, many years. In America during the late 1800's the name was 'shift' and if you were so poor that you didn't own one, you were side to be 'shiftless'.
3. Goin' To The Chapel
In the middle ages the 'banns' had to be read three time before a couple could marry. All this involved was the local priest announcing from the pulpit the intent of 'John' and 'Jane' to wed. There were several reasons at the time why people could not marry; i.e.: already married, had committed murder. The banns were read to give time for any of these reasons to come to light. If the couple lived in different parishes, the banns would have to be read in both. So, if Locksley has it's own church, and Knighton has it's own church, then if Guy gets Marian to agree to marry him, the banns would be read in both.
After the three readings have gone by, the wedding takes place at the door to the church, not inside it.
4. The Fabric of Our Lives
Yes cotton was around in the 12th century, but it was imported from Africa or India so only the really rich could afford it. None of the outlaws or the villagers would be wearing a cotton shirt. Think of it like silk.
The most common fabrics would be wool (from sheep) and linen (from flax, a plant).
Since I've thrown myself into this fandom I've read a bunch of fanfics; some good, some bad. As a historical reenactor, there are a few things I would like to share to help raise the quality of the fics.
1. Brush Up Your Shakespeare
Even if Shakespeare was 400 years after RH, that style of language is a lot closer than the way we talk now (and the way the actors in RH talk). Things to avoid: awesome, cool, yeah, really,
2. I'm Not Wearing Underwear Today
Underwear was not a part of middle age life like it is today. No panties, boxers, or bras.
Guys wore nothing, so if in your fic Robin takes a dunk in the river then takes his pant off to dry them by the fire we would see a pale English bum.
Girls used a chemise as a base. a full (ivory, tan, or grey) dress made of soft fabric (like linen) with a draw string to close the neck and wrists. Over this you would put on an overdress. Yes, we've seen Marian in a white slip thing, not a real chemise.
Side note: This simple dress was used in many cultures for many, many years. In America during the late 1800's the name was 'shift' and if you were so poor that you didn't own one, you were side to be 'shiftless'.
3. Goin' To The Chapel
In the middle ages the 'banns' had to be read three time before a couple could marry. All this involved was the local priest announcing from the pulpit the intent of 'John' and 'Jane' to wed. There were several reasons at the time why people could not marry; i.e.: already married, had committed murder. The banns were read to give time for any of these reasons to come to light. If the couple lived in different parishes, the banns would have to be read in both. So, if Locksley has it's own church, and Knighton has it's own church, then if Guy gets Marian to agree to marry him, the banns would be read in both.
After the three readings have gone by, the wedding takes place at the door to the church, not inside it.
4. The Fabric of Our Lives
Yes cotton was around in the 12th century, but it was imported from Africa or India so only the really rich could afford it. None of the outlaws or the villagers would be wearing a cotton shirt. Think of it like silk.
The most common fabrics would be wool (from sheep) and linen (from flax, a plant).
