THERE Was Once Upon a Time a Little Country Girl, Born in a Village, the Prettiest Little

READING FOR WEEK 2

Extract from “The Little Red Riding-Hood” in Charles Perrault, Mother Goose’s Tales (1729)

THERE was once upon a time a little country girl, born in a village, the prettiest little creature[1] that was ever seen. Her mother was beyond reason excessively fond of her,[2] and her grandmother yet much more.[3] This good woman caused to be made for her[4] a little red Riding-Hood;[5] which made her look so very pretty, that everybody called her, The little red Riding-Hood.

One day, her mother having made some custards, said to her,[6]“Go my little Biddy,” for her christian name was Biddy,“go and see how your grandmother does,[7] for I hear she has been very ill; carry her a custard, and this little pot of butter.”The little red Riding-Hood sets out immediately to go to her grandmother, who lived in another village. As she was going through the wood, she met with Gossip Wolf,[8] who had a good mind[9] to eat her up, but he did not dare, because of some faggot-makers[10] that were in the forest.

He asked of her whither[11] she was going. The poor child, who did not know how dangerous a thing it is to stay and hear a Wolf talk, said to him, “I am going to see my grandmamma, and carry her a custard pie, and a little pot of butter my mamma sends her.”“Does she live far off?”[12] said the Wolf. “Oh! aye,”[13] said the little red Riding-Hood,“on the other side of the mill below yonder,[14] at the first house in the village.”“Well,” said the Wolf, “and I’ll go and see her too; I’ll go this way, and go you that,[15] and we shall see who will be there soonest.”

The Wolf began to run as fast as he was able, the shortest way; and the little girl went the longest, diverting herself in[16] gathering nuts, running after butterflies, and making nose-gays[17] of all the little flowers she met with. The Wolf was not long before he came to the grandmother’s house; he knocked at the door toc toc.[18]“Who’s there?”[19]“Your granddaughter, The little red Riding-Hood,” said the Wolf, counterfeiting her voice, “who has brought you a custard pie, and a little pot of butter mamma sends you.”

The good grandmother, who was in bed, because she found herself somewhat ill, cried out, “Pull the bobbin,[20] and the latch will go up.” The Wolf pulled the bobbin, and the door opened; upon which he fell upon[21] the good woman, and eat her up in the tenth part of a moment;[22] for he had eaten nothing for above[23] three days before. After that, he shut the door, and went into the grandmother’s bed, expecting the little red Riding-Hood, who came some time afterwards, and knocked at the door toc toc.

“Who’s there?” The little red Riding-Hood, who hearing the big voice of the Wolf, was at first afraid; but believing her grandmother had got a cold, and was grown hoarse, said, “it is your granddaughter, The little red Riding-Hood, who has brought you a custard pie, and a little pot of butter mamma sends you.”The Wolf cried out to her, softening his voice as much as he could, “Pull the bobbin, and the latch will go up.” The little red Riding-Hood pulled the bobbin, and the door opened.

Gustave Doré, “The Little Red Riding-Hood”

[1] Creature = person.

[2] Beyond reason excessively fond of her = so fond of her that the (mother’s) fondness can not be rationally, or “reasonably,” explained. It is a deep, emotional fondness.

[3] Yet much more = her grandmother was much fonder of her even than her mother.

[4] Caused to be made for her = had made for her granddaughter.

[5] Riding-Hood = a large hood for wearing outdoors. It is called a “riding-hood” because this king of hood was originally used for horse-riding.

[6] Said to her = her mother said to her.

[7] How your grandmother does = if your grandmother is OK.

[8]Gossip Wolf = Friend Wolf. The wolf is called a “gossip,” or friend, because he is friendly: Little Red Riding-Hood’s mistake is that she does not realize he is only pretending to be friendly.

[9] Had a good mind = wanted.

[10] Faggot-makers. Faggots were bundles of sticks tied together and used as fuel. Making faggots was a job for poor people.

[11] Whither = where.

[12] Far off = far away.

[13] Aye = yes.

[14] Yonder = over there (something that is “yonder” is something that can be pointed to and seen).

[15] Go you that = you go that (other) way.

[16] Diverting herself in = entertaining herself by.

[17] Nose-gays = small bundles of flowers.

[18]Toc toc. This is the sound of the knocks on the door. We call this onomatopoeia.

[19] “Who’s there?” This is the grandmother’s voice.

[20] Bobbin = a handle attached to a piece of string. Pulling the bobbin down on the outside of the door lifts the latch on the inside.

[21] Upon which he fell upon = at which moment he jumped on.

[22] In the tenth part of a moment = extremely fast.

[23] Above = more than.