The consensus is that 'The Highwayman' is not a true story. It's more of a literary composition crafted to entertain and engage readers through fictional characters and events.
The Highwayman poem is purely fictional. The author used imagination and literary devices to craft the tale. It doesn't have roots in real events or people.
Well, typically in a highwayman story based on a true event, there might be events like the highwayman stopping travelers on a particular road. For example, he might target a stagecoach. He would then demand money or valuables from the passengers. There could also be a chase sequence where the local authorities try to catch him. And often, there is some sort of a backstory to why the highwayman turned to this life, like being in poverty or having a vendetta against the rich.
Yes, 'The Highwayman' is based on a true story. It often involves tales of highwaymen in olden times who would rob travelers on the roads. Highwaymen were a real problem in certain historical periods, preying on those journeying between towns. They were often romanticized in literature, like in 'The Highwayman', but their actions were quite dangerous and illegal in reality.