John Little
Robin Hood first comes across the Little John as a complete stranger. After being bested by the stranger in a battle of supremacy of the rights of possession, he learns the man’s name is John Little, but Will Stutely—a big fan of ironic humor—recasts the name to unsuitably fit the very stout fellow and deems him to forever be known henceforth as Little John.
The Bishop
The Bishop of Hereford is described as cutting fine figure in his clothes made of silk and sporting a vulgar gold chain around his neck. He also flaunts a cap of velvet adorned with jewels set in gold. In light of such hypocrisy from a church teaching the godliness of poverty, it is quite ironic when the Bishop genuflects at the name Robin Hood and curses him with a prayer: "Now Heaven keep us this day from that evil man!"
Dramatic Irony
Dramatic irony is utilized throughout the irony. This is the type of irony achieved when the reader knows importance information that characters in the actual story do not. Any time Robin Hood is appearing in disguise, for example, is an example dramatic irony because the reader is let in on the deception for the purpose of enjoying the reaction of the characters who are not aware of the situation.
Ironic or Not?
The fundamental irony at work in the story is that Robin and his band of merry men are cast as outlaws even though they only steal from the rich for the purposes of doing the good which the government will not. Likewise, the authorities employed by the government are officially in the role of being the arbiters of law and order despite the irony of using their position to help only themselves. Of course, in the modern world this circumstance doesn’t seem quite as ironic as it once did.
Allan a Dale
Allan a Dale is constantly singing songs, playing the harp, obsessed with love and the target of insults by the more gregariously masculine of the merry men. He is, indeed, more merry than manly. And so there is a bit of irony in the fact that of all the merry men, Allan is one of the two or three that Robin is most dependent upon and who represents the inner circle of protection and loyalty which marks the character of the outlaws of Sherwood Forest.
