Little Red Riding-hood
by Charles Perrault · from Tales of Mother Goose
Original Story
Little Red Riding-Hood
Once upon a time, there lived in a certain village, a little country
girl, the prettiest creature was ever seen. Her mother was excessively
fond of her; and her grand-mother doated on her much more. This good
woman got made for her a little red riding-hood; which became the girl
so extremely well, that every body called her Little Red Riding-Hood.
One day, her mother, having made some girdle-cakes, said to her:
"Go, my dear, and see how thy grand-mamma does, for I hear she has
been very ill, carry her a girdle-cake, and this little pot of
butter."
Little Red Riding-Hood set out immediately to go to her grand-mother,
who lived in another village. As she was going thro' the wood, she met
with Gaffer Wolf, who had a very great mind to eat her up, but he
durst not, because of some faggot-makers hard by in the forest.
He asked her whither she was going. The poor child, who did not know
that it was dangerous to stay and hear a Wolf talk, said to him:
"I am going to see my grand-mamma, and carry her a girdle-cake, and a
little pot of butter, from my mamma."
"Does she live far off?" said the Wolf.
"Oh! ay," answered Little Red Riding-Hood, "it is beyond that mill
you see there, at the first house in the village."
"Well," said the Wolf, "and I'll go and see her too: I'll go this way,
and you go that, and we shall see who will be there soonest."
The Wolf began to run as fast as he could, taking the nearest way; and
the little girl went by that farthest about, diverting herself in
gathering nuts, running after butterflies, and making nosegays of such
little flowers as she met with. The Wolf was not long before he got to
the old woman's house: he knocked at the door, tap, tap.
"Who's there?"
"Your grand-child, Little Red Riding-Hood," replied the Wolf,
counterfeiting her voice, "who has brought you a girdle-cake, and a
little pot of butter, sent you by mamma."
The good grand-mother, who was in bed, because she found herself
somewhat ill, cry'd out:
"Pull the peg, and the bolt will fall."
The Wolf pull'd the peg, and the door opened, and then presently he
fell upon the good woman, and ate her up in a moment; for it was above
three days that he had not touched a bit. He then shut the door, and
went into the grand-mother's bed, expecting Little Red Riding-Hood,
who came some time afterwards, and knock'd at the door, tap, tap.
"Who's there?"
[Illustration: "HE ASKED HER WHITHER SHE WAS GOING"]
Little Red Riding-Hood, hearing the big voice of the Wolf, was at
first afraid; but believing her grand-mother had got a cold, and was
hoarse, answered:
"'Tis your grand-child, Little Red Riding-Hood, who has brought you a
girdle-cake, and a little pot of butter, mamma sends you."
The Wolf cried out to her, softening his voice as much as he could,
"Pull the peg, and the bolt will fall."
Little Red Riding-Hood pulled the peg, and the door opened. The Wolf
seeing her come in, said to her, hiding himself under the bedclothes:
"Put the cake, and the little pot of butter upon the bread-bin, and
come and lye down with me."
Little Red Riding-Hood undressed herself, and went into bed; where,
being greatly amazed to see how her grand-mother looked in her
night-cloaths, she said to her:
"Grand-mamma, what great arms you have got!"
"That is the better to hug thee, my dear."
"Grand-mamma, what great legs you have got!"
"That is to run the better, my child."
"Grand-mamma, what great ears you have got!"
"That is to hear the better, my child."
"Grand-mamma, what great eyes you have got!"
"It is to see the better, my child."
"Grand-mamma, what great teeth you have got!"
"That is to eat thee up."
And, saying these words, this wicked Wolf fell upon poor Little Red
Riding-Hood, and ate her all up.
The Moral
_From this short story easy we discern
What conduct all young people ought to learn.
But above all, young, growing misses fair,
Whose orient rosy blooms begin t'appear:
Who, beauties in the fragrant spring of age,
With pretty airs young hearts are apt t'engage.
Ill do they listen to all sorts of tongues,
Since some inchant and lure like Syrens' songs.
No wonder therefore 'tis, if over-power'd,
So many of them has the Wolf devour'd.
The Wolf, I say, for Wolves too sure there are
Of every sort, and every character.
Some of them mild and gentle-humour'd be,
Of noise and gall, and rancour wholly free;
Who tame, familiar, full of complaisance
Ogle and leer, languish, cajole and glance;
With luring tongues, and language wond'rous sweet,
Follow young ladies as they walk the street,
Ev'n to their very houses, nay, bedside,
And, artful, tho' their true designs they hide;
Yet ah! these simpering Wolves! Who does not see
Most dangerous of Wolves indeed they be?_
The Fairy
[Illustration]
[Illustration: "'WHAT IS THIS I SEE?' SAID HER MOTHER"
(page 30)]
Story DNA
Moral
Young people, especially young women, should be wary of strangers and their deceptive charms, as many 'wolves' exist in society who hide their dangerous intentions behind a pleasant facade.
Plot Summary
A beloved young girl, Little Red Riding-Hood, is sent to deliver food to her ailing grandmother. On her way through the woods, she encounters a cunning Wolf who tricks her into revealing her destination. The Wolf races ahead, devours the grandmother, and then disguises himself in her bed. When Little Red Riding-Hood arrives, she is lured into bed with the Wolf, who, after a series of questions about his appearance, reveals his true nature and devours her as well, serving as a cautionary tale about the dangers of trusting strangers.
Themes
Emotional Arc
innocence to terror
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Perrault's version is one of the earliest recorded, and notably ends with the death of the protagonists, serving as a direct cautionary tale, especially for young women regarding sexual predators. The 'wolf' is a clear metaphor for dangerous men.
Plot Beats (13)
- Little Red Riding-Hood, a pretty country girl, is given a red riding-hood by her grandmother, which becomes her namesake.
- Her mother sends her to her ailing grandmother's house with a girdle-cake and a pot of butter.
- In the woods, Little Red Riding-Hood meets a Wolf who asks where she is going.
- She innocently tells him her destination and her grandmother's location.
- The Wolf suggests they race, taking different paths, and sends Little Red Riding-Hood on a longer, distracting route.
- The Wolf arrives at the grandmother's house first, impersonates Little Red Riding-Hood, and gains entry.
- The Wolf devours the grandmother and then disguises himself in her bed.
- Little Red Riding-Hood arrives, notices the 'grandmother's' hoarse voice, but enters after being told how to open the door.
- She is instructed to put the food away and join the 'grandmother' in bed.
- Little Red Riding-Hood expresses surprise at her 'grandmother's' large arms, legs, ears, and eyes.
- She finally questions the 'grandmother's' large teeth.
- The Wolf reveals himself and devours Little Red Riding-Hood.
- The story concludes with a moral warning young women about deceptive 'wolves' in society.
Characters
Little Red Riding-Hood ★ protagonist
Prettiest creature ever seen, young and innocent.
Attire: A little red riding-hood (cloak or cape with a hood), likely a simple country dress underneath.
Naïve, obedient, easily distracted, trusting.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young girl, about 10 years old, with long flowing brown hair and bright curious eyes. She wears a vibrant red hooded cape that drapes over her shoulders, the hood pulled up slightly. Underneath, a simple white blouse and a dark skirt. She holds a small woven basket in one hand. Her posture is upright but relaxed, with a gentle smile. She stands alone. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Gaffer Wolf ⚔ antagonist
Large, predatory, with a big voice, great arms, great legs, great ears, great eyes, and great teeth.
Attire: None, but capable of mimicking human voice and hiding in bedclothes.
Cunning, deceptive, gluttonous, patient (when necessary).
Image Prompt & Upload
A tall, gaunt man with a long, sharp-featured face and a cruel smirk. He has greasy, dark hair slicked back from a high forehead, and his eyes are narrow and predatory. He wears a threadbare, dark wool coat over a stained shirt, with worn leather boots. His posture is hunched slightly forward, one hand curled into a claw-like gesture. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Grand-mamma ◆ supporting
Ill and in bed.
Attire: Nightclothes, as she is in bed.
Affectionate (doated on her granddaughter), vulnerable, trusting.
Image Prompt & Upload
An elderly woman in her seventies with a kind, wrinkled face and warm smile. She has silver hair pulled back into a soft bun, with gentle eyes behind round spectacles. She wears a long, flowing dress in muted floral patterns with a lace collar and a knitted shawl draped over her shoulders. Her posture is slightly bent but strong, with hands gently clasped in front of her as if ready to help. She stands with a welcoming, nurturing demeanor, her head tilted slightly with a compassionate expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature
Little Red Riding-Hood's Mother ◆ supporting
None explicitly stated, but implied to be a caring mother.
Attire: Simple country attire, appropriate for baking girdle-cakes.
Fond of her daughter, caring, practical.
Image Prompt & Upload
A kind-faced woman in her late thirties with warm brown eyes and a gentle smile. She has chestnut hair neatly braided and pinned up under a simple white linen coif. She wears a long-sleeved, deep blue woolen dress with a cream-colored apron tied at the waist. Her posture is upright and caring as she kneels slightly to adjust the red hooded cloak on a small basket she holds. The scene is inside a cozy, rustic cottage with a wooden table and a hearth in the soft background. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
The Wood (Forest)
A forest with faggot-makers nearby, where Little Red Riding-Hood gathers nuts and flowers.
Mood: initially innocent and playful, then subtly dangerous
Little Red Riding-Hood meets the Wolf and is diverted from her path.
Image Prompt & Upload
A dense, ancient forest in soft morning light. Sunbeams pierce through a canopy of towering oak and beech trees, casting dappled golden light on a carpet of fallen amber and russet leaves. Clusters of wildflowers—bluebells and primroses—dot the mossy ground among scattered hazelnuts. A weathered wooden cart and neatly stacked bundles of firewood sit at the edge of a sun-dappled clearing, hinting at nearby faggot-makers. A gentle mist hangs in the air, diffusing the light. Colors are rich earth tones, deep greens, and warm autumn golds. The atmosphere is serene, quiet, and slightly magical. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Grandmother's House
A house in another village, beyond a mill, with a door that opens by pulling a peg and a bolt falling. Contains a bed and a bread-bin.
Mood: initially welcoming and familiar, quickly becomes eerie and terrifying
The Wolf devours the Grandmother and then Little Red Riding-Hood.
Image Prompt & Upload
A cozy thatched-roost cottage in a forest clearing at dusk. The wooden door features a prominent peg handle and a visible iron bolt. Warm golden light spills from a small window, illuminating a simple bed and a wooden bread-bin inside. A dirt path leads to the doorstep, surrounded by mossy stones and wildflowers. The sky is deep purple and orange, with the first stars appearing. No border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
