Little Red Riding Hood Moral Lesson – that never gets old
The Little Red Riding Hood moral lesson is a famous tale with a cautionary message for kids, and indeed adults, that not everyone has good intentions. Charles Perrault wrote the first version in 1697, and a more child‑friendly version was written by the Grimm brothers in 1812.
Little Red Riding Hood Cautionary Tale: Do Not Stray Off the Path!
In the Little Red Riding Hood moral Lesson, the young girl is sent by her mother to take food to her grandmother who lives in the forest. She was given strict instructions not to stray off the path and into the forest. Unfortunately, she went deep into the forest to pick some flowers and met a wolf. The wolf seemed to be friendly, and before long they were deep in conversation. Unfortunately, this wolf had bad intentions, and he tricked the girl into telling him what she was doing and where her grandmother lived. The wolf then rushed to the house, ate the grandmother, and waited for the little girl to arrive. He disguised himself as grandmother by wearing a dressing gown and lying in her bed.
Little Red Riding Hood Gets a Nasty Surprise!
Shortly after Little Red Riding Hood arrived at the house and knocked at the door, the wolf put on a high‑pitched voice and invited her inside. To begin with, everything seemed to be well, but she soon noticed that something was wrong. There is that famous exchange when she says, ‘What big eyes you have,’ and the wolf replies, ‘All the better to see you with, my dear.’ The exchange builds into a crescendo when the girl observes that her grandmother has big teeth, at which point the Little Red Riding Hood cautionary tale reaches its climax as the wolf jumps out of the bed to eat her! Fortunately, a brave woodcutter is working nearby, and when he hears the commotion, he rushes into the house and kills the wolf. In more child‑friendly versions, the woodcutter opens the wolf to find the grandmother alive and well inside.
What Is the Moral of the Story?
The Little Red Riding Hood moral lesson is a brilliant way of teaching children to be wary of strangers and avoid unknown places. She was told to stay on the path but ventured away from it, with disastrous consequences. Many children get a terrible shock when they learn that they’re not the center of the universe, and not everyone with a big smile has good intentions. This story teaches kids not to trust people they don’t know, be careful what they say, and listen to their parents.
The Little Red Riding Hood cautionary tale also serves as a powerful reminder for adults. We choose our own paths in life, but choices have consequences, for better or worse. When we are on a good path and surround ourselves with good people, good things are more likely to happen. Conversely, when we stray down a bad path, not‑such‑good people can enter our lives, with negative consequences. This story also has a powerful message about not giving away too much information. Ask yourself: Does this person need to know this? If they don’t, why are you telling them? It is interesting to note that 98% of the IRS’s information is volunteered by ex‑husbands, ex‑boyfriends, ex‑wives, ex‑girlfriends, ‘friends,’ and ex‑business partners.
Trivia and Memorabilia
There have been numerous films featuring Little Red Riding Hood. Perhaps the most famous recent production was Into the Woods (2014). There is a huge range of memorabilia available including books, antique tin toys and dolls, finger puppets, costumes and posters. Stackable dolls depicting the main characters are also popular amongst children and collectors.
