THE THREE BEARS
by Unknown · from A Apple Pie and Other Nursery Tales
Adapted Version
Once, there was a little girl named Silver-Locks. She did not always listen.
One day, she ran into a wood. She found a little house. The door was open. She went inside.
The house belonged to three bears. They were out for a walk. They were Papa Bear, Mama Bear, Baby Bear.
Silver-Locks saw three bowls of soup. She tasted the first bowl. "This soup is too hot," she said. She tasted the second bowl. "This soup is too cold," she said. She tasted the third, small bowl. "This soup is just right," she said. She ate it all up.
Then she saw three chairs. She sat in the first chair. "This chair is too big," she said. She sat in the second chair. "This chair is too hard," she said. She sat in the third, small chair. "This chair is just right," she said. She rocked and rocked. The chair broke.
She went upstairs. She saw three beds. She lay on the first bed. "This bed is too big," she said. She lay on the second bed. "This bed is too lumpy," she said. She lay on the third, small bed. "This bed is just right," she said. She fell asleep.
The three bears came home. "Someone was here!" said Papa Bear. "My soup is gone," said Mama Bear. "My soup is all eaten!" said Baby Bear. He was sad.
"Someone sat in my chair!" said Papa Bear. "Someone sat in my chair," said Mama Bear. "Someone broke my chair!" said Baby Bear. He was very sad.
They went upstairs. "Someone was in my bed!" said Papa Bear. "Someone was in my bed," said Mama Bear. "Someone is in my bed!" said Baby Bear. He saw Silver-Locks.
Silver-Locks woke up. She saw the bears. She was very scared. She jumped out of the bed. She ran to the open window. She jumped out.
She ran home as fast as she could. She was safe. She was a little scared.
Her mother said, "Do not go into other houses." Silver-Locks listened. "I will listen," she said. She learned to obey the rules.
Original Story
THE THREE BEARS.
The Three Bears take a walk.
In a far-off country there was once a little girl, who was called Silver-Locks, because her curly hair shone so very brightly. But she was not so good as she was pretty, for she was a sad romp, and so restless that she could not be kept quiet at home, and would often run out when she was told not to do so. One day, she started off into a wood, to gather wild flowers and to chase butterflies. She ran here, and ran there, and went so far, at last, that she found herself in quite a lonely place, and there she saw a snug little house, in which three Bears lived; but they were not then at home. The door and the parlour window being open, Silver-Locks peeped in, and soon found the place was empty; so the saucy puss made up her mind to go in boldly, and look all about the place, little thinking what sort of folks lived there.
Little Silverlocks enters the Bears' dwelling.
Now the three Bears had gone out to take a walk, a little while before this. The biggest of them was the Papa Bear, who had a very rough coat, and was named Mr. Bruin. The next Bear in size was his wife, called Mammy Muff, from her smooth skin; and the smallest of the three was their little darling, Tiny. Before going out, Mammy Muff put the nice soup she had made for dinner on a great chest in the parlour to cool; as they were very hungry, they meant to be back in a short time.
Silverlocks finds three jars of soup set for the Bears' dinner.
When Silverlocks went into the house, she soon found by the smell that something nice had been cooked. On going into the parlour, sure enough she saw there three jars smoking away: the first, a very large one, for Mr. Bruin; the next of middling size, for Mammy Muff; and the smallest of all was Tiny's jar; and in each of them was a wooden spoon. The little busy-body now went to work tasting the soup in each jar by turns; but she found that in the smallest jar was the nicest to her taste.
Silverlocks tastes the soup and chooses the jar set for Tiny, the little Bear.
Silver-Locks was now in high glee, and thought to enjoy herself, hungry as she was, by eating up all the soup in the little jar. But she was too weary to be standing all the time, so she looked about for a seat. There were three chairs in the parlour, a very large one for Mr. Bruin, another of middling size for Mrs. B., and a nice little chair for Tiny. The little girl tried them all in turn; she found that the smallest suited her best, and down she sat, and began to eat her soup with great relish.
Silverlocks seats herself in Tiny's little chair and eats his soup.
When Silver-Locks had nearly eaten up all poor Tiny's soup, she began to rock herself to and fro in his little chair: she had often been punished for this naughty trick, but without effect. While she was indulging this silly whim, out came the rush-bottom of the chair, and she and the soup jar rolled on the floor. But she did not mind this at all, thinking it was fine fun. She now thought she would go up stairs, and see all that was to be seen: and there we will leave her for the present.
Silverlocks goes upstairs to the Bears' bedroom.
When the three Bears came back, they found that some one had been there. “Who has been to my soup?” roared out Mr. Bruin. “And who has been to my soup?” said Mrs. B., with a low growl. Then poor Tiny cried, “Somebody has been to my soup, and has eaten it all up!” Then said the big Bear, fiercely, “Who has moved my chair about?” Mrs. B., too, said, “Who has moved my chair about?” Then Tiny cried pitifully, “Somebody has sat in my chair, and broken it in pieces!”
And lying down on Tiny's bed, falls asleep.
In the room up stairs there were three beds: the largest was Mr. Bruin's bed; the next was Mrs. B.'s; and the smallest of the three was Tiny's bed. Silver-Locks tried them all, but she found the little one the most comfortable; and as she was very sleepy, she crept into it, and fell fast asleep. The three Bears, thinking that somebody was in the house, came up stairs to look, and found their beds had been disturbed, and they all, in angry voices, asked who had dared to do it.
The Bears come home and find Silverlocks on the bed, but she awakes in time and escapes through the window.
Silver-Locks did not hear the gruff voices of Mr. and Mrs. Bruin, but the sharp squeak of Master Tiny's voice aroused her from her slumber. “Somebody has disturbed my bed,” cried he; and in a moment after he added, “and here she is!” looking at the same time as fierce as a little Bear who had lost his dinner could do. The little girl was now almost frightened to death, especially when she saw at the other end of the room two larger Bears, in a terrible rage. Luckily for her, there was an open window close to Tiny's bed, and seeing this, she jumped out of bed in a moment, and then took a spring, and escaped out of window, falling on some soft grass below. The three Bears came to the open window, and stared wildly at her, so she soon got up, and ran as fast as she could, until she got safe home again. Here she was properly punished for her wilful behaviour, besides the great fright she suffered from the savage looks and angry growling of the Three Bears.
Story DNA
Moral
Disobedience and trespassing can lead to frightening consequences.
Plot Summary
A disobedient girl named Silver-Locks wanders into the woods and finds an empty house belonging to three bears. She boldly enters, tastes their soup (eating Tiny's), tries their chairs (breaking Tiny's), and falls asleep in Tiny's bed. When the bears return, they discover the intrusion, and Silver-Locks wakes up to their angry voices. Terrified, she escapes through a window and runs home, where she is punished and learns a valuable lesson about respecting others' property and obeying rules.
Themes
Emotional Arc
curiosity to fear to relief
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This version of the tale, featuring a girl (originally an old woman) and three bears, was popularized in the 19th century, evolving from earlier oral traditions.
Plot Beats (13)
- Silver-Locks, a disobedient girl, wanders into a lonely part of the woods and finds an empty house.
- She boldly enters the house, belonging to Papa Bear, Mammy Muff, and Tiny, who are out for a walk.
- Silver-Locks finds three bowls of soup cooling on the table and tastes each one.
- She finds Tiny's soup to be the best and eats it all up.
- She then tries the three chairs, finding Tiny's chair the most comfortable, but breaks it while rocking.
- Silver-Locks goes upstairs and tries the three beds, eventually falling asleep in Tiny's bed.
- The three Bears return home and immediately notice that someone has been in their house.
- They discover their soup has been tasted, and Tiny's eaten; their chairs have been moved, and Tiny's broken.
- They go upstairs and find their beds disturbed, and Tiny discovers Silver-Locks asleep in his bed.
- Silver-Locks wakes up, sees the angry bears, and is terrified.
- She quickly jumps out of Tiny's bed and escapes through an open window.
- She runs home as fast as she can, safe but thoroughly frightened.
- Silver-Locks is punished for her disobedience and learns a valuable lesson from her frightful experience.
Characters
Silver-Locks
A small, restless girl, not explicitly described in height or build, but implied to be nimble and quick. Her most distinguishing feature is her very brightly shining, curly hair.
Attire: Not explicitly described, but given the context of a 'far-off country' and a child gathering wild flowers, she likely wears simple, practical clothing suitable for play and outdoor activity, such as a linen dress or smock, possibly with an apron, in muted colors.
Wants: To explore, to satisfy her curiosity, and to find amusement, often disregarding rules.
Flaw: Her disobedience and recklessness lead her into dangerous situations.
She learns a harsh lesson about the consequences of her disobedience and trespassing, experiencing a great fright that leads to her being 'properly punished' and presumably more cautious.
Naughty, restless, disobedient, curious, playful, easily frightened (when caught).
Mr. Bruin (Papa Bear)
The biggest of the three bears, with a very rough, dark brown coat. He is large and imposing.
Attire: As a bear, he wears no clothes, but his 'rough coat' is a key descriptor of his appearance.
Wants: To maintain order and security in his home, to provide for his family.
Flaw: His temper can make him intimidating.
Remains consistent as the protective, authoritative figure of the household.
Gruff, fierce, protective (of his home and family), easily angered when provoked.
Mammy Muff (Mrs. B.)
The next bear in size after Mr. Bruin, with smooth, likely lighter brown or honey-colored fur.
Attire: As a bear, she wears no clothes, but her 'smooth skin' (fur) is a key descriptor.
Wants: To care for her family and maintain their home.
Flaw: Her concern for her family can lead to anger when they are threatened.
Remains consistent as the nurturing yet protective figure of the household.
Caring (makes soup for dinner), observant (notices disturbance), protective, can be angered.
Tiny (Master Tiny)
The smallest of the three bears, a little darling. His fur is not explicitly described but would likely be soft and well-kept, similar to his mother's but on a smaller scale.
Attire: As a bear, he wears no clothes.
Wants: To enjoy his simple pleasures (soup, chair, bed) and feel secure in his home.
Flaw: His small size makes him vulnerable, and he is easily distressed.
Remains consistent as the vulnerable but ultimately fierce little cub.
Innocent, sensitive (cries when his soup is gone and chair is broken), easily upset, can be fierce when angered.
Locations
The Wood
A dense, lonely forest with wild flowers and butterflies, far from any human habitation.
Mood: Initially playful and adventurous, then becomes isolated and a little eerie as Silver-Locks goes deeper.
Silver-Locks wanders far from home, discovers the Bears' house, and enters it.
The Bears' Parlour
A cozy, rustic room in a snug little house, furnished with three chairs and a large chest, with an open door and window.
Mood: Initially inviting and warm due to the smell of soup, becoming chaotic and disturbed after Silver-Locks' actions.
Silver-Locks tastes the soup, breaks Tiny's chair, and the Bears discover the disturbance upon their return.
The Bears' Bedroom
An upstairs room containing three beds of varying sizes, with an open window near the smallest bed.
Mood: Initially peaceful as Silver-Locks falls asleep, quickly turns to terror and panic upon the Bears' discovery.
Silver-Locks falls asleep in Tiny's bed, is discovered by the Bears, and escapes through the window.