Little Red Riding Hood (Little Redcap)

Mother’s Request

Once upon a time, there was a sweet little girl who was adored by everyone who saw her, but most of all by her grandmother. There was nothing her grandmother would not give to the child. One day, she gave the girl a beautiful velvet cape with a red hood that suited her so well, she never wanted to wear anything else. Because of this, everyone called her “Little Red Riding Hood.”

One day, Little Red Riding Hood’s mother said to her, “Come here, my dear. I have a piece of cake and a bottle of juice for you to take to your grandmother. She is feeling ill and weak, and these will help her feel better. Set out before it gets too hot, and when you walk, stay on the path and do not run. If you fall, you might break the bottle, and then your grandmother will receive nothing.”

Little Red Riding Hood nodded eagerly and replied, “I will be very careful, Mother.” She promised to follow her instructions, making sure to walk safely and greet her grandmother properly upon arriving.

Journey Into The Woods

Little Red Riding Hood’s grandmother lived deep in the woods, about half a league away from the village. As soon as Little Red Riding Hood entered the forest, she encountered a wolf. She had no idea what a dangerous creature he was, so she wasn’t afraid of him at all.

“Good day, Little Red Riding Hood,” the wolf greeted her smoothly.

“Thank you kindly, wolf,” she replied.

“Where are you going so early, Little Red Riding Hood?” he asked, his curiosity piqued.

“I’m on my way to my grandmother’s house,” she answered cheerfully.

“And what are you carrying in your apron?”

“Cake and wine. Yesterday was baking day, and my poor, sick grandmother is to have something nice to make her feel stronger.”

“Where does your grandmother live?” the wolf inquired, pretending to be helpful.

“About a good quarter of a league farther into the woods,” Little Red Riding Hood explained. “Her house is under the three large oak trees, just beyond the nut trees. I’m sure you’ve seen it.”

The wolf thought to himself, “What a tender little creature! She’ll make an even better meal than the old woman.” Crafting a plan, he decided to outsmart both of them.

He continued walking alongside Liittle Red Riding Hood for a while, then said, “Look at how pretty the flowers are around here, Little Red Riding Hood. Why don’t you stop and enjoy them? You seem to be in such a hurry, as if you’re on your way to school, while everything else in the forest is so lively and cheerful.”

Little Red Riding Hood looked up and saw the sunbeams dancing through the trees and the lovely flowers blooming everywhere. “Maybe I should pick a bouquet for grandmother,” she thought. “It will make her happy, and I still have plenty of time to get there.”

With that, she left the path and began gathering flowers, wandering deeper and deeper into the woods without realizing how far she had strayed.

Disguise

Meanwhile, the wolf ran straight to the grandmother’s house and knocked on the door.

“Who is there?” asked the grandmother.

“Little Red Riding Hood,” the wolf replied. “I’m bringing cake and wine; open the door.”

“Lift the latch,” called the grandmother. “I’m too weak to get up.”

The wolf lifted the latch, the door swung open, and without saying a word, he went straight to the grandmother’s bed and devoured her. Then, he put on her clothes, slipped into her cap, and lay down in bed, drawing the curtains.

Little Red Riding Hood, meanwhile, had been happily picking flowers. When she had gathered as many as she could carry, she remembered her grandmother and headed to her house.

She was surprised to find the cottage door wide open. As she stepped inside, a strange feeling crept over her. “Oh dear, something feels off today,” she thought. “Usually, I love visiting grandmother.” She called out, “Good morning,” but no one answered. So, she walked over to the bed and pulled back the curtains. There lay her grandmother, but something didn’t seem right.

“Oh, grandmother,” she said, “what big ears you have!”

“The better to hear you with, my child,” came the reply.

“But, grandmother, what big eyes you have!” she exclaimed.

“The better to see you with, my dear.”

“And grandmother, what large hands you have!”

“The better to hug you with.”

“Oh, but grandmother, what a huge mouth you have!”

“The better to eat you with!” the wolf roared, and with one swift leap, he pounced from the bed and swallowed up Little Red Riding Hood.

Huntsman’s Rescue

After the wolf had filled his belly, he lay back down in the bed, fell fast asleep, and started snoring loudly. A huntsman, passing by the house, heard the noise and thought, “My, the old woman is snoring loudly! I should check if she needs help.” So he went inside, and when he reached the bed, he saw the wolf lying there. “Aha! So I find you here, you wicked creature!” said the huntsman. “I’ve been hunting you for a long time!”

Just as the huntsman was about to act, he realized the grandmother might still be inside the wolf and could be saved. Instead of harming the wolf, he gently used a pair of scissors to open its large belly. After a few careful cuts, a glimpse of red appeared, and soon Little Red Riding Hood jumped out, saying, “Oh, how frightened I was! It was so dark in there!” Shortly after, her grandmother followed, a bit tired but safe and sound.

Little Red Riding Hood quickly gathered heavy stones, and together they filled the wolf’s stomach. When the wolf awoke and tried to run away, the weight of the stones was too much, and he collapsed, dead.

All three were overjoyed. The huntsman took the wolf’s skin as a prize, while the grandmother ate the cake and drank the wine that Little Red Riding Hood had brought, regaining her strength. As for Little Red Riding Hood, she promised herself, “I will never wander off the path again, especially when my mother tells me not to.”

Second Encounter

It’s also told that once, when Little Red Riding Hood was bringing cakes to her grandmother again, she met another wolf. This one tried to lead her off the path, but Little Red Riding Hood was careful. She kept walking straight ahead and later told her grandmother about the encounter, explaining that the wolf had greeted her, but his eyes had a wicked glint. If they hadn’t been on a busy road, she was sure he would have tried to eat her.

“Well,” said the grandmother, “we’ll lock the door so he can’t get in.”

Not long after, the wolf knocked and called out, “Open the door, grandmother! It’s me, Little Red Riding Hood, and I’m bringing you cakes.” But neither of them answered or opened the door. The wolf, determined, prowled around the house several times before climbing onto the roof, planning to wait until Little Red Riding Hood left so he could follow her in the dark.

Grandmother, however, guessed what he was up to. She told Little Red Riding Hood, “Take the pail, dear. I made sausages yesterday, so pour the water from the cooking into the trough outside.” Little Red Riding Hood did as she was told and filled the trough. The smell of the sausages reached the wolf, and he leaned over to sniff. He stretched out so far that he lost his balance and fell right into the trough, where he was trapped. Little Red Riding Hood happily returned home and never strayed from the path again.

Little Red Riding Hood is kind, curious, and a little naive. She’s friendly and polite, which is why she talks to the wolf without realizing he’s dangerous. What makes her stand out is her innocence and willingness to help her grandmother by bringing her food when she’s sick. She’s also adventurous and enjoys exploring the woods, even if it sometimes gets her into trouble.

By the end of the story, Little Red Riding Hood has learned an important lesson about listening to her mother’s advice and being cautious around strangers. She becomes wiser and more careful after her encounter with the wolf, realizing the danger of wandering off the path. She now understands the importance of following directions and being aware of her surroundings.

Little Red Riding Hood likely ignored her mother’s advice because she was distracted by the beautiful flowers and the pleasant surroundings in the forest. She might have thought that nothing bad would happen if she took a small detour to pick flowers. Like many children, she was tempted by something fun and didn’t think about the consequences. Yes, many of us have been tempted to ignore advice, especially when something seems harmless or exciting at the time.

If I were Little Red Riding Hood, I would have been more cautious and not talked to the wolf at all. I would have remembered my mother’s advice and stuck to the path without sharing personal information, like where my grandmother lived or what I was carrying. I would have also hurried to my grandmother’s house instead of getting distracted by the flowers.

I would advise Little Red Riding Hood to stay on the path no matter what and not to talk to any strangers, even if they seem friendly. I’d also tell her to trust her instincts and be careful when something doesn’t feel right. Lastly, I’d remind her to be quick and focus on getting to her grandmother’s house safely instead of stopping along the way.