Little Red Riding Hood

Little Red Riding Hood leaves the path to pick flowers, and the Wolf reaches Grandmother’s cottage first and gobbles her up, then the girl too. A passing huntsman snips them both free, safe and sound, and the Wolf runs off for good.

Scene 1: A Little Red Hood

Little Red Riding Hood. Once upon a time, a grandmother gave her dear little granddaughter a hood of red velvet. She never wore anything else, so everyone called her Little Red Riding Hood. One day, her mother said: “Take this cake and wine to Grandmother. She is ill. And do not run off the path.” Little Red Riding Hood promised: “I will take great care.”

Scene 2: A Wolf in the Wood

In the wood, a Wolf met her. She did not know how wicked he was, so she was not afraid. The Wolf asked: “Where are you going so early, Little Red Riding Hood?” She answered: “To my grandmother’s house, under the three big oak trees.” The Wolf thought to himself: “I must act craftily, so as to catch them both.”

Scene 3: Flowers off the Path

So he said: “See how pretty the flowers are! Why don’t you look around?” She saw the sunbeams dancing through the trees. So she ran off the path to pick flowers for Grandmother. Meanwhile, the Wolf ran straight to Grandmother’s house.

Scene 4: Knock, Knock!

He knocked at the door. Grandmother called: “Who is there?” The Wolf answered: “Little Red Riding Hood, with cake and wine.” Grandmother called: “Lift the latch. I am too weak to get up.” The Wolf went in and gobbled Grandmother up in one gulp. Then he put on her cap, climbed into her bed, and drew the curtains.

Scene 5: What Big Ears You Have!

Later, Little Red Riding Hood hurried to the cottage with her flowers. She drew back the bed curtains. There lay Grandmother, looking very strange. She said: “Oh, Grandmother, what big ears you have!” The Wolf replied: “The better to hear you with, my child.” She said: “But, Grandmother, what big eyes you have!” The Wolf replied: “The better to see you with, my dear.”

Scene 6: What a Big Mouth!

She said: “But, Grandmother, what large hands you have!” The Wolf replied: “The better to hug you with.” She said: “Oh! But, Grandmother, what a terrible big mouth you have!” The Wolf cried: “The better to eat you with!” With one bound, he gobbled her up too. Then he fell asleep and snored very loudly.

Scene 7: The Huntsman

A huntsman passing by thought: “How the old woman is snoring! I must see if she wants anything.” He found the Wolf asleep, and took out his scissors. Snip, snip went the Wolf’s big round tummy! Out jumped Little Red Riding Hood, crying: “Oh, how frightened I have been! How dark it was inside the Wolf!” Then out came Grandmother too, safe and sound.

Scene 8: Never Off the Path

When the Wolf woke up, he ran off into the deep, dark wood and was never seen again. Grandmother ate the cake, drank the wine, and felt much better. And Little Red Riding Hood said to herself: “I will never again leave the path and run into the wood.” Stay on the path, and mind what your mother tells you.

Moral: Stay on the path, and mind what your mother tells you.

Questions about Little Red Riding Hood

Who gave Little Red Riding Hood her red velvet hood?

Her grandmother.

What did her mother tell her not to do?

Run off the path.

Where did Grandmother’s house stand?

Under the three big oak trees.

What did the Wolf say his big ears were for?

The better to hear you with.

Who saved Little Red Riding Hood and Grandmother?

A huntsman.