Associate professor introduces Robin Hood series on WGTE

May 6, 2010 | Events, UToday
By Meghan Cunningham



A University of Toledo literature expert will introduce each episode of a Robin Hood series this spring and summer on the local PBS member station WGTE Public Media.

Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald

Dr. Christina Fitzgerald, associate professor of English and the department’s director of graduate studies, will provide interesting facts about Robin Hood stories that will include how the character changed from being a yeoman to an earl and how the story’s setting shifted from the 14th century to the 12th century under the reign of King Richard the Lionheart.

“He’s always been a very popular literary character,” Fitzgerald said. “Robin Hood has been open to changes and interpretations over the years, but his role as a heroic outlaw has been consistent.”

For several minutes before each of the 13 “Robin Hood” episodes in the BBC series, Fitzgerald will discuss an aspect of literary and cultural history related to Robin Hood, from the role of women in the story and the introduction of Maid Marian to Robin Hood’s involvement in the Crusades.

The “Robin Hood” series began May 1 and will air on Saturdays at 8 p.m. through the summer on WGTE Ch. 30.

Fitzgerald was a welcome resource as an expert in medieval literature, Darren LaShelle, director of television and executive producer at WGTE, said.

“PBS nationally has a tradition with people of note introducing a series, and we like to continue that here locally,” he said. “If we can take that same idea and tie a series with a local resource and personality in northwest Ohio, it personalizes it for their station.”

The series this summer not only takes advantage of the new film “Robin Hood,” directed by Ridley Scott and starring Russell Crowe to be released in May, but is an example of a youthful and action-packed show on public broadcasting, LaShelle said.

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