Story Summary
In The Wolf and the Seven Kids, a clever wolf devours six goat kids while their mother is away. Discover how the brave mother saves her family from his belly.
Once upon a time, an old goat lived with her seven young kids. One day, she headed into the forest for food, warning her children not to open the door for the wolf, who could be recognized by his rough voice and black paws. The cunning wolf soon arrived, but his deep voice gave him away. He swallowed chalk to soften his speech, but the kids saw his black paws and refused entry. After tricking a baker into flouring his paws white, the wolf finally fooled the children and burst inside. He swallowed six of them whole, but the youngest kid hid inside the grandfather clock. When Mother Goat returned, she found the house in shambles and her youngest child trembling. They found the wolf sleeping by a tree, his belly bulging and twitching. Mother Goat snipped his stomach open with scissors, and out jumped the six kids, alive and well! They filled the wolf's stomach with heavy stones and sewed him shut. When the wolf woke and tried to drink from a well, the weight of the stones pulled him in, and he drowned, leaving the goat family to live in peace.
The Moral
Do not be deceived by outward appearances or sweet words, for evil often wears a disguise.
“Open the door, dear children; your mother is here, and has brought something back with her for each of you.”
Fun Fact
This tale is classified as Aarne-Thompson type 123 and is widely considered a cautionary tale about the 'stranger danger' prevalent in oral traditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the moral of The Wolf and the Seven Kids?
The story teaches children to be wary of strangers and that appearances can be deceiving. It also highlights the importance of remaining vigilant and the power of a mother's protective love.
How did the wolf trick the kids?
The wolf used two main deceptions: he swallowed chalk to make his rough voice sound high and gentle, and he covered his black paws with white flour to look like the mother goat.
Where did the youngest kid hide?
While the other six kids were found and eaten, the youngest and smallest kid hid inside the wooden case of the grandfather clock. This allowed him to survive and tell his mother what happened.
How did the mother goat rescue her children?
She used scissors to cut open the sleeping wolf's belly while the children were still alive inside. After they climbed out, she replaced them with heavy stones and sewed the wolf back up.
What happened to the wolf at the end of the story?
When the wolf woke up thirsty and went to a well to drink, the heavy stones in his stomach shifted. The weight pulled him into the water, and he drowned under the pressure.
Is this story similar to Little Red Riding Hood?
Yes, both stories share the motif of a wolf using a disguise to prey on the vulnerable and both feature a 'swallowed whole' element where the victims are eventually cut out and saved.
