The Story of Grandmother

French folktale collector, Paul Delarue, found thirty five oral versions of Little Red Riding Hood through researching the tales origins. From this discovery, folklorists suggest that the tale was told prior to the sixteenth century by the people of French villages. Furthermore, the tale was altered and passed down to the next generation (Verdier, 1997, p.3; Orenstein, 2002, p.75).

Two elements have not been adopted by the famous Perrault or Brothers Grimm. The choice of the path in The Story of Grandmother the protagonist is offered by the bzou (werewolf) is either the path of pins or the path of needles (Verdier, 1997).

A second motif absent from Perrault’s Le Petite Chaperon Rogue is the episode of the girl’s cannibalistic meal. Upon Little Red Riding Hood’s arrival to Grandmother’s house, the wolf, dressed as Grandmother, offers the protagonist the flesh of her Grandmother. However, the cat, which is a metaphorical character for the protagonist’s inner thoughts, tells her she is "A slut is she who eats the flesh and drinks the blood of her grandmother!" This leaves the reader questioning Little Red Riding Hood’s intentions with the bzou.

After stripping off her clothes and getting in bed with the bzou, Little Red Riding Hood asks to go and relieve herself. Reluctantly, the bzou allows her to go outside, but ties a woollen thread to her foot. However, the intelligent “innocent” young girl outsmarts the bzou by cutting the woollen line and setting herself free.

Recommended reading for further research

Verdier, Y. (1997). Little Red Riding Hood in Oral Tradition. Marvels and Tales, 11, p. 101-123. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ez.library.latrobe.edu.au/stable/41388448?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents