Little Red Riding Hood: The Classic Grimm's Fairy Tale

by Christopher Bamford (Narrator)

Along with the Bible and Shakespeare, Grimms’ fairy tales rank among the best selling literature of the Western world. And Little Red Riding Hood is perhaps the best known story of the Grimms brothers' collection. What accounts for such popularity? Like all of the Grimms' fairy tales, the characters in this story led us to discover the treasures in our own souls. Philosophies, artistic styles, and religious conventions change with thim, but this tale has endured for centuries. In our modern age, with our emphasis on science and technology, a wolf speaking and eating the old grandma and Red Riding Hood seem to be drawn from the depths of a remote and superstitious past. More sensitive souls such as Goethe, Rudolf Steiner, C. G. Jung, and Bruno Bettlelheim, however, have all recognized that true fairy tales are not merely arbitrary fantasies or folk imaginations. They were aware that deep meaning shines through all genuine fairy tales. The great German poet, Novalis, once said that fairy tales “are prophetic, idealistic, and inevitable, all in one.... I believe that in a fairy tale I can best express my mood of soul. Everything is a fairy tale.” Fairy tales should be told to children with out explanation. Children relate quite naturally with the inner significance of the story. They absorb the language of the imaginations and feel connected with it in a truly intimate way. Any interpretation is unnecessary and would be quite a mistake. Emotionally involved with a given tale, the young child’s imagination should not be disturbed; it is always intrusive to make conscious what a child wishes to keep preconscious. For teachers and parents, however, it is always worthwhile to become conscious of the soul and spiritual qualities behind the story. In this way, tales can be told or read to children with much more conviction and charm. One will see that such tales are not fantastic or beautiful and poetic lies but express the great soul wisdom of the heart that knows more than the head will admit. In his insightful commentary, Andrew Flaxman helps us understand the deeper meaning behind this story and fairy tales in general. Patricia DeLisa brings us a beautifully illustrated and important contribution to the literature of fairy tales. (Ages 3 – 7 years)

Genres: Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2006

Reviews

[Christian Kali · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the popular fairytale Little Red Riding Hood, the road to grandmother’s house is no walk in the park; it is dark, ominous, dangerous. It also offers choices, but Little Red Cap tends to make those that lead to trouble. The innocent heroine’s decisions always involve a seductive stranger, usually a wolf. In the Brothers Grimm version of the fairy tale Little Red Cap’s naivety and poor decision-making get her into a lot of trouble, and though she eventually escapes, she cuts it quite close. The prevailing moral/theme seems to be to never stray into the woods when protective authorities such as Mother has forbidden it because there are serious consequences for disobedience. Though simple, this conclusion entails that girls were not to think for themselves, as it would surely get them into trouble; this is a lesson that Little Red Cap nearly learns the hard way. This sugarcoated version of the fable is not as bold or risqué as other interpretations where the young protagonist is ravished by the wolf or is even killed in some cases, as the authors allow both the guiltless heroine and her grandmother to survive and live happily ever after. Instead of an empowering statement about the advancement of women, this account serves to illustrate more than anything the helplessness of females, and their reliance on men to bail them out. It is not until Little Red Cap is caged within the ribs of the satisfied and snoring wolf, (and assumed dead as the result of her own unadvised gullibility,) that she is saved by a brave and attentive neighboring huntsman, who cuts the wolf open and redeems her from the pits of her captor’s stomach. Just as Jonah’s stay in the belly of a whale was God’s way of teaching him a lesson and enlightening him, Red Cap emerges a more careful and knowing being after she is released from the stomach of the wolf. This marks the transformation of Red Cap from naive and dangerously curious to circumspect and submissive. The Grimm Brothers’ adaptation shows that women at the time were not to be independent, as it was a certain means to an end. The theme of rebirth suggests that although it may take a harsh lesson, women will ultimately come to the understanding that they are dependent on others, generally men. This rendering of the children’s fable serves as more of a cautionary tale for women than anything else. After all, the huntsmen will not always be around to save the day. The themes are in keeping of the traditional values of the day from which the story has arisen. More post-modern versions have challenged these themes which represents the progress women have made since the first rendition of Little Red Riding Hood which continues to evolve.

[Nathan Jett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This version empowers the protagonist, making her more proactive and resourceful. It’s a more optimistic take on the story.

[Saleema Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like little red riding hood. This book is about little red riding hood who takes a basket to her grandmother through the woods and a wolf follows her, but beets her there and play as her grandmother to get her basket of food.