What is the difference between robin goodfellow and puck? Like why is he called two different things?
The characters Robin Goodfellow and Puck are often associated with each other, but they are not exactly the same. To understand why these two names are used interchangeably, we need to delve into the world of folklore and literature.
Robin Goodfellow is a mischievous and impish character from English folklore, dating back to the medieval period. He is often depicted as a hobgoblin or fairy and is known for playing pranks on humans. Robin Goodfellow appears in several works of literature, including Shakespeare's play "A Midsummer Night's Dream."
Puck, on the other hand, is a character specifically found in Shakespeare's play. In "A Midsummer Night's Dream," Puck serves as the jester and trickster of the fairy kingdom. He is mischievous and causes much confusion and mischief among the human characters. However, it is important to note that Shakespeare's Puck is heavily influenced by the traditional figure of Robin Goodfellow.
The reason why Robin Goodfellow is sometimes called Puck is due to the interchangeability and merging of folklore elements between different sources. Shakespeare, known for incorporating folklore into his works, drew upon the character of Robin Goodfellow and gave him the name Puck in "A Midsummer Night's Dream." This association became popular and has since influenced subsequent adaptations and interpretations of these characters.
So, to summarize, Robin Goodfellow is the original character from English folklore, while Puck is a specific incarnation of Robin Goodfellow found in Shakespeare's play. The use of the name Puck to refer to Robin Goodfellow is primarily derived from Shakespeare's influence on popular culture.