Story Summary
Experience the classic Brothers Grimm tale of Little Red Riding Hood, a young girl who encounters a devious wolf on her way to visit her sick grandmother.
Once, a sweet young girl lived near a dark forest, known by all as Little Red Riding Hood for the velvet cloak her grandmother gave her. One day, her mother asked her to take cake and wine to her ailing grandmother, warning her to stay on the path. In the woods, she met a cunning wolf. Unaware of his malice, she told him her destination. The wolf raced ahead, devoured the grandmother, and disguised himself in her nightclothes. When the girl arrived, she questioned her grandmother's strange appearance, eventually exclaiming, 'What big teeth you have!' The wolf replied, 'The better to eat you with!' and swallowed her whole. A passing huntsman heard the wolf's snoring, cut open the beast to rescue the girl and her grandmother, and filled the wolf's belly with heavy stones, ending his terror forever.
The Moral
The story warns children to never stray from the safety of the path and to be wary of charming strangers who may have hidden, dangerous intentions.
“But Grandmother! What big teeth you have!”
Fun Fact
In earlier oral versions of the story, the 'wolf' was sometimes a werewolf or an ogre, and the tales were significantly darker with no heroic huntsman to save the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the moral of Little Red Riding Hood?
The primary moral is to stay on the designated path and avoid talking to strangers. It teaches children that predators can be deceptive and that following parental instructions is vital for safety.
Who wrote the original Little Red Riding Hood?
While it originated as an oral folk tale, the most famous written versions are by Charles Perrault in 1697 and the Brothers Grimm in 1812. The Grimm version added the happy ending featuring the huntsman.
What did Little Red Riding Hood have in her basket?
In the Brothers Grimm version, she was carrying a piece of cake and a bottle of wine. These items were intended to help her grandmother recover from an illness and regain her strength.
How did the huntsman save the grandmother?
The huntsman found the wolf sleeping and, realizing it had eaten the grandmother, used a pair of scissors to cut open the wolf's belly. This allowed both the girl and her grandmother to emerge unharmed.
What happens to the wolf at the end of the story?
After being cut open, the girl fills the wolf's stomach with heavy stones. When the wolf wakes up and tries to run away, the weight of the stones causes him to collapse and die instantly.
What are the famous questions the girl asks the wolf?
She famously notices the wolf's ears, eyes, hands, and mouth. The sequence culminates in the line, 'But grandmother, what a big mouth you have!' to which the wolf responds, 'The better to eat you with!'
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