English SL - "Little Red Riding Hood"

I believe that, through the reading of the numerous adaptations of Little Red Riding Hood, it is possible to establish a common storyline by focusing on the different parts of the story as told by the different narrators.

First, it is important to focus on the introduction and setting created at the genesis of the story, the usual inception we remember is that Little Red Riding Hood (the character, not the book) is at her mother's house and she has been tasked to bring something (generally a food item) in a woven little basket to her grandmother. The different stories differ as to what it is she is bringing as the Philip Pullman translation of the original Grimm Brothers' version specifies (in a dialogue between Little Red Riding Hood and her mother that she is taking with her "some cake and some wine". On the other hand, the Angela Carter version specifies that she is taking with her some "oatcakes" "and a little pot of butter". The general concurrence is that the basket contains some baked good. In most versions of the book, it is also seen that the mother is slightly worried at the departure of her daughter, as in the Grimm Brothers' version, the mother tests LRRH's knowledge to ensure she knows where she is going and that her daughter won't get lost. The reason of departure differs along the stories, in some, LRRH is presented as a determined young girl, willing to do some good for her grandmother whereas in other versions, it is the mother who orders her to go and help grandmother.

The second point of difference between most stories is the meeting point with the wolf during LRRH's journey through the forest (most versions agree with the fact that LRRH was travelling through a forest, usually this is described as a thick, dense forest and it is usually characterised as being quite scary). In the Grimm Brothers' version, the wolf seems to casually have a conversation with LRRH, in which he distracts LRRH from her initial mission to give himself time to eat the grandmother and get ready for LRRH. In Angela Carter's version, which differs most from the Grim Brothers' version, LRRH encounters a vicious portrayal of the wolf and she amputates "it's right forepaw". This is much more of a violent encounter when compared to the Grimm Brothers' version, where LRRH does not seem bothered at the presence of the wolf. The general consensus, however, is that she does encounter a wolf in the forest, and that the wolf, at some point in time, leaves her and runs off in the direction of her grandmother's house.

The arrival of LRRH at her grandmother's differs quite drastically from story to story, the Grim Brothers' version translated by Philip Pullman presents the classic version of her arrival, the version most remembered and the most popular version. In this version, she enters the house and the wolf is dressed up as her grandmother, whom the wolf has eaten. Then LRRH questions him for his authenticity and his weird looks (LRRH believes the wolf to be her grandmother) with phrases such as the following: "Granny, what a great grim ghastly mouth you've got!". In Carter's version of the story, she does actually meet her grandmother, but she exhibits the exact same wound she inflicted upon the wolf, she is also very ill and lying on the floor. In addition to that, the mutilated paw she recovered from the wolf had magically seemed to transform into that of her grandmother's, after which LRRH and her grandmother's neighbours proceed to beat grandmother and kill her. The general consensus here is that, somehow there is a connection where grandmother is either eaten by the wolf, or exhibits certain properties belonging to the wolf (the mutilated paw).

The lastpart is the most interesting, as Carter's version finishes where LRRH and the neighbours proceed to beat grandmother, after which Carter mentions that LRRH took over grandmother's house to live prosperously. In the Grimm Brothers' version, LRRH is swallowed alive by the wolf, after which a nearby huntsman cuts LRRH and her grandmother out of the wolf's stomach, only to fill it back up with rocks to counter for the weight lost. Due to the contents of the wolf's stomach, he proceeds to die and then they (the huntsman, LRRH and grandmother) proceed to skin him and collect his pelt, acting as a sort of revenge for the actions of the wolf. No real consensus is to be made for this part of the story as many different version vary so greatly, the Grimm Brothers' version is the most remembered, but versions exist where she does not get eaten by the wolf, or where it is a woodcutter who saves the grandmother and LRRH, in some instances, they even simplify the later killing of the wolf, by simply decapitating him.

Conclusively, it is possible to be certain of the following when reading a version of Little Red Riding Hood. The consensus is that LRRH leaves her worried mother's house to help her grandmother by bringing her some gifts - usually containing a baked good - in a basket. On her way, the consensus is that she encounters a wolf, whom is either aggressive or friendly, and the wolf ends up leaving her in the forest. Later on, the arrives at her grandmother's house and she has either been eaten by the wolf, or has magically ended up with some aspect of the wolf's physique.

Please Note: This discussion is based MAINLY upon the Pullman translation of the Grimm Bothers' version and the Angela Carter version of the story.