THE THREE BEARS
by Unknown · from The National Nursery Book: With 120 illustrations
Adapted Version
In a green forest, lived three bears. They lived in a nice house. Father, Mother, and Baby Bear lived there. They had beds. They had chairs. They had basins.
One morning, the bears made milk. They poured it to cool. Then they went for a walk outside.
A little girl lived in the forest. Her name was Golden Hair. Her hair was like gold. She walked in the forest.
Golden Hair saw the bears' house. A window was open. She looked inside. No one was home. She went in.
She saw three basins of milk. She tasted Father Bear's milk. Too hot. She tasted Mother Bear's milk. Too cold. Baby Bear's milk was just right. She ate all of Baby Bear's milk.
She saw three chairs. She sat in Father Bear's chair. Too hard. She sat in Mother Bear's chair. Too soft. She sat in Baby Bear's chair. It was just right. The chair broke!
Golden Hair went upstairs. She saw three beds. She tried Father Bear's bed. Too hard. She tried Mother Bear's bed. Too soft. She tried Baby Bear's bed. It was just right. Golden Hair fell asleep.
The three bears came home. They were hungry.
They saw their chairs. Father Bear said, "Someone sat in my chair!" Mother Bear said, "Someone sat in my chair!" Baby Bear cried. "Someone sat in my chair! And broke it!"
They saw their basins. Father Bear said, "Someone tasted my milk!" Mother Bear said, "Someone tasted my milk!" Baby Bear cried. "Someone ate all my milk!"
The bears went upstairs. They saw their beds. Father Bear said, "Someone slept in my bed!" Mother Bear said, "Someone slept in my bed!" Baby Bear looked at his bed. He saw Golden Hair. "Someone is in my bed!" he squeaked.
The bears made loud noises. Golden Hair woke up. She was very scared. Golden Hair jumped out of bed. She ran down the stairs. She ran past the bears. She ran out the door. She ran all the way home.
Golden Hair learned a big lesson. It is not good to go into other people's homes. It is not good to touch their things. Always ask first.
Original Story
THE THREE BEARS.
Once upon a time three bears lived in a nice little house in a great forest.
There was the Father Bear, the Mother Bear, and the Baby Bear.
They had each a bed to sleep in, a chair to sit on, and a basin and spoon for eating milk or honey, which was their favourite food.
One morning the three bears resolved on taking a walk before breakfast; but before they went out, they poured their warm milk into their basins, that it might get cool by the time they came back.
THE BEARS AT BREAKFAST.
When the milk was poured out, the three bears set out for a walk.
THE BEARS OUT FOR A WALK.
Mr. and Mrs. Bear walked arm-in-arm, and Baby ran by their side.
“WHAT A FINE DAY IT IS!” growled Mr. Bear.
"What a fine day it is!" said Mrs. Bear.
“What a fine day!” squeaked little Bear.
And so it was.
The sun shone brightly though it was low in the sky, and its rays glittered on the fine webs on the grass. The leaves shivered in the soft breeze; the wood-pigeon cooed; the lark sang loud enough to make himself hoarse; the sparrows chirped; the bee buzzed, and a yellow butterfly perched on great Bear's nose.
“What a squeaky noise these creatures make!” said big Bear, as he brushed off the butterfly. "What a pity it is they have not our deep voices."
“Yes,” said Mrs. Bear; "you have a much finer voice than the lark. I should like to hear him growl as you do."
“Oh, my dear, you are too kind; my growl is nothing to the lion's.”
And thus conversing, the bears walked on.
Now there lived in the same forest a sweet little girl, who was called Golden Hair. She was the Woodman's daughter, and her hair looked just like sunbeams. She knew every tree in the greenwood, and every flower in it. She loved the birds, and liked to listen to their song; and everything in the wood loved Golden Hair. The trees bent down their lower branches to touch her glittering head as she passed; the birds sang sweeter as she glided by. The lark's song in the sky was—
“Come up, come up, Golden Hair; here is your happy home.”
“Coo, I love you; coo, I love you!” cooed the wood-pigeon, as she passed.
“Twit, twit, pretty child,” said the sparrow.
“Oh, you darling,” sang the blackbird; and Golden Hair laughed with glee, for she liked to be loved.
LITTLE GOLDEN HAIR.
As to the butterflies, they flew after her, and rested on her hair, and tickled her cheeks; but she never tried to catch them.
GOLDEN HAIR PEEPING INTO THE BEARS' HOUSE.
She would not frighten or vex them for anything. She loved all the creatures, and that is why they loved her.
Love makes love.
Dear little Golden Hair, she went on singing merrily through the greenwood, saying sometimes to herself—
“I wish I could sing as well as the lark!”
By-and-by Little Golden Hair reached the Bears' house. She had never seen it before, and she wondered who lived there. A window was open, and Golden Hair peeped in.
“Dear me,” thought the child, "whose house can it be! There is a table and three chairs, and three basins of hot milk, all steaming, and nobody to drink it. But I don't see any work or books, or anything else. I think I will go in and see who lives here."
So she tapped at the door, and cried, “Is any one at home?”
But there was no answer. Then Golden Hair stepped in very carefully, and looked about her.
She could not see any one, nor hear anybody snoring, so she walked into the Bears' parlour.
There was a fire, which made the room cheerful, and the hot milk looked very inviting; it quite seemed to say, "Come and have some breakfast;" and the early spring air had made Golden Hair rather cold, and very hungry; so she sat down by the fire in the little Bear's chair. It was too small for her, but she did not quite sit down at first. In a moment she got up again, and went round the table and tasted the milk in all the basins. Little Bear's was the nicest, because it had sugar in it, and Golden Hair thought it was good. So she took the basin and sat down again in Little Bear's chair, took his spoon, and ate up all his milk. Now this was very wrong. A tiny bear is only a tiny bear; still, he has a right to keep his own things. But Golden Hair did not know any better. Unluckily, Baby Bear's chair was, as we have said, too small for her; she broke the seat and fell through, basin and all.
GOLDEN HAIR EATS THE LITTLE BEAR'S BREAKFAST.
Then Golden Hair went upstairs, and there she saw three beds all in a row. Golden Hair lay down on Father Bear's bed first, but that was too long for her; then she lay down on Mother Bear's bed, and that was too wide for her; last of all she lay down on Baby Bear's bed, and there she fell asleep, for she was tired.
THE LITTLE BEAR GRIEVES FOR HIS BROKEN CHAIR.
By-and-by the bears came home. Baby Bear saw that his chair was broken and thrown down, and he cried in a very squeaky voice,
"Somebody has been here;" and Father Bear growled,
"SOMEBODY HAS BEEN HERE;"
And Mother Bear growled, more softly,
"Somebody has been here."
Then they went to the table and looked at their breakfasts, and Father Bear growled, "WHO HAS TOUCHED MY BASIN?"
And Mother Bear growled, "Who has touched my basin?"
And Tiny Bear squeaked, "Somebody has broken mine!"
And then Tiny Bear began to cry, for he was very fond of his own basin and his own chair; and, besides, he was very hungry after his long walk in the forest.
It really did seem a shame. Then the three bears thought they would go over their house, to see who had been in it, and to try if they could find the thief.
They went upstairs to their bedroom, which was over their other room, and as soon as they saw the tumbled beds Father Bear growled,
"WHO HAS BEEN LYING ON MY BED?"
And Mother Bear growled
"Who has been lying on my bed?"
And Tiny Bear squeaked out,
"Oh! here is a little girl in my bed; and it must be she who has eaten my breakfast and broken my chair."
THE BEARS FIND GOLDEN HAIR IN LITTLE BEAR'S BED.
Then Father Bear growled,
"LET US EAT HER UP;"
And Mother Bear growled, "Let us eat her up;"
And Tiny Bear squeaked,
"Let us eat her up."
GOLDEN HAIR ESCAPES FROM THE BEARS.
The noise they made woke Golden Hair, and you may imagine how frightened she was when she saw the three bears. She started out of bed, and jumped at once out of the window. The bears rushed after her, and Father Bear caught her golden hair in his teeth, but she left a lock behind, and still ran on. Then the three bears all jumped out after her, but they fell one on the top of the other and rolled over and over, and while they were picking themselves up, little Golden Hair ran home, and they were not able to catch her.
But I do not think she had acted rightly (though she did not deserve to be eaten up); it was very wrong to break little Bear's chair and eat his milk, and I think Golden Hair will have to take great care to keep out of the reach of the Three Bears.
Story DNA
Moral
It is wrong to trespass and misuse the belongings of others, and such actions can lead to frightening consequences.
Plot Summary
Three bears, each with their own sized belongings, go for a walk, leaving their breakfast to cool. A curious girl named Golden Hair discovers their empty house and enters. She proceeds to taste their milk (eating Baby Bear's), try their chairs (breaking Baby Bear's), and test their beds (falling asleep in Baby Bear's). When the bears return, they discover the intrusions, and Baby Bear finds Golden Hair in his bed. Waking to the bears' growls, Golden Hair is terrified and escapes through a window, running home, having learned a lesson about respecting others' property.
Themes
Emotional Arc
innocence to fear to relief
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This version, featuring 'Golden Hair' (later Goldilocks), evolved from earlier versions where the intruder was an old woman. It became widely popular after Robert Southey's 1837 publication.
Plot Beats (15)
- The three bears (Father, Mother, Baby) live in a forest house, each with their own sized bed, chair, and basin.
- One morning, the bears pour their milk to cool and go for a walk in the forest.
- A sweet girl named Golden Hair, known for her golden hair and love for nature, wanders through the forest.
- Golden Hair discovers the bears' house, finds an open window, and, seeing no one home, enters without permission.
- Inside, she tastes the milk in all three basins, finding Baby Bear's (with sugar) the best, and eats it all.
- She tries all three chairs, finding Baby Bear's the most comfortable, but breaks it when she sits down.
- She goes upstairs and tries all three beds, finding Baby Bear's just right, and falls asleep.
- The three bears return home from their walk, hungry for breakfast.
- They notice their chairs have been disturbed, and Baby Bear cries upon finding his chair broken.
- They then discover their milk has been tasted, and Baby Bear cries again, finding his basin empty.
- The bears go upstairs to their bedroom and find their beds disturbed.
- Baby Bear squeaks in surprise, finding Golden Hair asleep in his bed.
- The bears growl about eating her, waking Golden Hair, who is terrified.
- Golden Hair jumps out of bed, leaps out the window, and runs home, escaping the pursuing bears.
- The narrator concludes that Golden Hair acted wrongly and will likely be more careful in the future.
Characters
Father Bear
A large, imposing brown bear, significantly bigger and broader than Mother Bear and Baby Bear. His fur is thick and shaggy, indicative of a wild forest dweller. He has powerful limbs and a sturdy build.
Attire: None, as he is a wild animal.
Wants: To maintain order and comfort in his home, and to protect his family and their belongings.
Flaw: His temper and a tendency to jump to conclusions (wanting to eat Golden Hair immediately).
Remains largely unchanged, serving as a consistent figure of authority and protector.
Authoritative, protective, easily annoyed, possessive, and somewhat gruff. He is the head of the household.
Mother Bear
A medium-sized brown bear, smaller than Father Bear but larger than Baby Bear. She has a softer, more gentle build compared to her husband, with thick brown fur.
Attire: None, as she is a wild animal.
Wants: To maintain a peaceful and comfortable home for her family, and to nurture her child.
Flaw: Her gentler nature might make her less decisive in confrontation compared to Father Bear.
Remains largely unchanged, serving as a consistent figure of warmth and support.
Nurturing, supportive, observant, and slightly less aggressive than Father Bear. She is kind but also protective of her home.
Baby Bear
A small, adorable brown bear cub, the smallest of the three. His fur is soft and fluffy, typical of a young animal.
Attire: None, as he is a wild animal.
Wants: To enjoy his simple life, his food, and his possessions. To be comfortable and safe.
Flaw: His small size and vulnerability, his tendency to cry when things go wrong.
Remains largely unchanged, serving as the most vulnerable and emotionally expressive of the bears.
Innocent, sensitive, easily distressed, and possessive of his belongings. He is prone to crying when upset.
Golden Hair
A sweet little girl, slender and agile, with a youthful build. She is the Woodman's daughter, suggesting a life spent outdoors.
Attire: Simple, practical clothing suitable for a woodman's daughter in a European forest setting, likely a plain linen or cotton dress, perhaps with a simple apron, in muted, natural colors like cream, pale blue, or green. Her attire would allow for easy movement through the woods.
Wants: Driven by curiosity and a desire for comfort and enjoyment. She seeks out new experiences and places.
Flaw: Her impulsiveness and lack of consideration for others' property. Her innocence leads her to trespass and take liberties.
Starts as an innocent but thoughtless child. Her encounter with the bears serves as a harsh lesson about respecting boundaries and property, implying she will be more careful in the future.
Curious, innocent, carefree, affectionate towards nature, but also somewhat thoughtless and impulsive. She loves to be loved.
Locations
Great Forest
A dense, expansive forest with trees whose leaves shiver in a soft breeze. The ground is covered with grass where fine webs glitter in the morning sun. It is home to wood-pigeons, larks, sparrows, bees, and butterflies. The trees have lower branches that bend down.
Mood: Peaceful, vibrant, natural, initially idyllic but later becomes a place of escape.
The bears take their morning walk, Golden Hair wanders through it, and she later escapes back into it.
Bears' Cottage Exterior
A 'nice little house' situated within the great forest. It has at least one open window, suggesting a simple, rustic dwelling.
Mood: Inviting, mysterious to Golden Hair, later becomes a point of entry and escape.
Golden Hair discovers the house, peeks in through the window, and later jumps out of it to escape.
Bears' Parlour/Living Room
A cheerful room with a fire burning in a hearth. It contains a table with three chairs of varying sizes and three basins of steaming hot milk. There are no books or work visible.
Mood: Cozy, inviting, initially peaceful, then becomes a scene of intrusion and discovery.
Golden Hair enters, tastes the milk, eats Baby Bear's milk, and breaks Baby Bear's chair. The bears later discover the intrusion here.
Bears' Bedroom
Located upstairs, directly above the parlour. It contains three beds of varying sizes, all in a row.
Mood: Sleepy, quiet, then becomes a place of startling discovery and fear.
Golden Hair tries all three beds and falls asleep in Baby Bear's bed. The bears discover her here, leading to her frightened escape.