Please read the following Little Red Riding Hoods:
- “Little Red Cap” – Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm – 1812 (First collection)
- “Little Red Hat” an Italian/Austrian Little Red Riding Hood – collected by Christian Schneller, 1867
- “The Grandmother” – a French version – collected by Achille Millien in 1870
- “The True History of Little Golden Cap” -Charles Marelle, by way of Andrew Lang’s Red Fairy Book, 1895
5. Little Red Riding Hood – part of Father Tuck’s Dolly Dear series by the publisher Raphael Tuck & Sons, 1900. Courtesy of the Boston Public Library (Jordan Collection)/Archive.org.
What did you think of these variations? The theme of “stranger danger” is frequently associated with this story, but do you see any other themes emerging? Comment below.
18 thoughts on “More Traditional Little Red Riding Hoods”
A theme I also picked up was the victim (Little Red Riding Hood) majority of the time was ignorant to the situation. She had a very trusting mindset, which made the aggressor (the wolf, orge, etc.) to manipulate her. I also found it interesting to see the end of one of the stories where is explained the moral of the story. The fact that the author had to aberrate that the girls that are young and attractive should avoid the “wolf,” this means the story was only directed to the girls that fit the society’s “beauty standard.”
I thought all the variations were very unique in their own way, ending with Red surviving, dying or the wolf dying. A theme I picked up on was that Little Red Riding Hood was learning that “your actions have consequences”. If she survived at the end she understood the consequences of her actions (not listening to her mother, not going to her grandmothers house right away) and took that lesson for the next time she walked in the woods.
I’ve read some of these variations before so I wasn’t totally surprised but they were all definitely more gruesome and graphic than the current version that we tell our children. Red Riding Hood’s innocence and naivety is a very prominent in all these versions as well as the wolf/ogre’s trickery
All of these stories were similar but have distinct differences. I noticed that some of the stories the things Little Red Riding hood had to bring to her grandmother were different such as wine vs. milk ;the material and name of the “hood”; some of the stories the mother warned little red riding hood about the path, while some didn’t;the woodsman appearance; the ending (grandmother/little red riding hood’s death) ; even how the woodsman cut open the wolf. It’s very interesting how these stories differ based on the region it’s from even though it all has a similar plot.
Despite the versions being different the common theme between the stories remain the same, Do not be so trusting and truthful to strangers. All the times Little Red was on her way, she told too much information to those she did not know. Also the mother in one story said do not talk and go straight her her house, But she did not listen, that could also be a theme to listen to your elders/parents who know more than you. The stories of her staying alive and escaping are now to me because the other versions I know, they had help from the woodmen/huntsmen.
What I found interesting while reading these variations was how despite the changes to the details the themes are constant: the innocence of childhood and “”stranger danger”
All these stories had bits and pieces that were a little different then each other but in the end it was the same message and lesson that was taught. In every version Little red riding hood continues to speak to the wolf and discuss what she’s doing because her innocence doesn’t let her say the potential danger in people. The lesson is to don’t be naive and watch out for strangers.
Although each story had their own tweaks on what happened in the story and the character designs, they all had the same lesson as to not trust strangers. One thing I noticed was how dark and gory each story was, at times I thought to myself “jeez these stories are dark.” It was also interesting to see the different names for llrh.
The “Little Red Hat” and “The Grandmother” stood out the most to me because they were the most gruesome and shocking to me. I did not expect these variations to take the cannibalistic route (Little Red Ridding Hood unknowingly eating her grandmother’s body parts). After reading these six variations, the recurring theme surrounding the lack of caution and immense naivety of Little Red Riding Hood leads to her endangerment in all these variations.
This was very different from the story I new as a little girl. But I know now why they had to switch something around because it scary. These stories are dark and it was interesting to me. But the same theme was still in the story.
The different variations of little red riding hood had the same message of a stranger the wolf took advantage of the innocent girl. This has taught a lesson to the girl, which is to always listen to her mother because she was told not to talk to strange and let them know what she is doing. In all of the stories, there were little details that were different. Like what the girl will be taking for her grandmother.
All of these variations are similar but also different. These variations of little red riding hood contain dark and gory themes which may not be suitable for children. Another theme in these stories is the naivety of little red riding hood.
All of these variations are similar but also different. These variations of little red riding hood contain dark and gory themes which may n ot be suitable for children. Another theme in these stories is the naivety of little red riding hood.
Each story had its own storyline twists and character ideas, but they all taught the same lesson: strangers should not be trusted. It was interesting to see that the story was dark and gory.
Even though each story had its differences, each one ultimately had the same message. Don’t be too trusting, keep your guard up. It’s interesting how each story still kept the similar darkness that the original story has, which is someone in the story being killed.
I found it interesting how each of these versions had a different message and meaning to them. I enjoyed reading how there were different alternative endings. I believe when you read a story that is modified but it has the same ending, it isn’t as captivating. However, when you read an alternative ending, it makes you question and ask yourself questions about which version was more interesting, what offers a better ending, whats more interesting?
Considering these are all meant to be different variations of the same story, they still all deliver the same message, to not be too trusting of strangers, and ultimately teaching a young girl a ‘lesson’, which is a common theme in stories.
I have heard of most of these variations, besides Little Red Riding Hood dying. I was a bit surprised at how dark some variations were. More specifically than simply “stranger danger” which I feel may be a little bit of a surface-level term, the variations presented the idea of deceitfulness and the consequences of being too trusting/vulnerability. Being too naive can lead others to take advantage of you.