Unravel "Little Red Riding Hood": who wrote the fairy tale

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

The famous tale about Little Red Riding Hood is known to absolutely everyone since early childhood. The instructive story of a little girl, with whom an exciting adventure takes place, intrigues more and more with each page of the book, drawing in a whirlpool of interesting events.

We all enjoyed reading or listening (performed by mothers and grandmothers) the fairy tale "Little Red Riding Hood". Who wrote it, however, not everyone knows. It turns out that the true ancestor of the fairy tale is quite difficult to find.

Most popular version: by Charles Perrault

When children and adults hear the question: "Little Red Riding Hood" - who wrote the fairy tale?" - the well-known Charles Perrault immediately comes to mind. But is it really?

Charles never mentioned himself as a writer of fairy tales. His pen belonged to works sustained in more serious genres. Fairy tales were written by his son Pierre. However, he had an unenviable reputation, and perhaps this is what influenced the fact that the books were signed by his father's name. This was also facilitated by commercial benefits - the works of a more famous authorsold out much faster. But Charles Perrault was a famous, rich and influential man of his era.

So it turns out that Charles Perrault did not write Little Red Riding Hood? Who wrote, of course, it is difficult to answer, but it is impossible to completely deny the authorship of Charles. He also has his own version, which exists to this day. In it, the tale ends tragically. But the world community decided that it would be more acceptable to leave the version of Pierre, with a happy ending.

Actually…

So who is the real author? "Little Red Riding Hood" was passed from mouth to mouth by many generations of different peoples and is an oral folk art. Everything is so unexpected and simple.

The original version of the tale is distinguished by its cruelty and manifestation of cannibalism. For obvious reasons, such a fairy tale was remade, and Charles Perrault did it for the first time. A more child-friendly version quickly found its fans and became one of the favorites.

Of course, Perrault's version also differs from the one known to the Slavic peoples. Turgenev, whose translation of the tale is the most popular, made his own corrections, removed some scenes and transformed the tale so that it was most understandable for kids.

The Tale of the Brothers Grimm

Many authors rewrote Little Red Riding Hood. Who wrote - unequivocally difficult to answer. One of the versions of the Brothers Grimm is known.

In fact, Grimm's style was somewhat different than what we are used to. In the fairy tales familiar to us, many everyday details are missing andviolent scenes. Murder, violence and other elements that are unacceptable for children, we will not meet in Little Red Riding Hood. However, in the original of the Brothers Grimm, they are present in full.

In Russian translations, the girl Little Red Riding Hood carries a noble, innocent image of childish spontaneity. Which is significantly different from her original image.

What does a fairy tale teach?

Determining the true moral of the tale of Little Red Riding Hood is quite difficult. We tend to think that the fairy tale teaches us to obey our parents and be careful with strangers. But there are other motives in other versions.

Charles Perrault wanted to convey to the reader that one should be a serious person, observe the norms of decency. He condemned frivolity and frivolity. He also warned young girls to beware of seducers.

Everyone knows and loves Little Red Riding Hood. Who wrote this story doesn't matter anymore. For us now there is a single, most popular and acceptable version. There are no immoral scenes in it, and everything ends happily. It is this option that brings goodness - the best for any child.