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Little Red Riding Hood

Jacob M

• 2 min read
Little Red Riding Hood
Photo by Chelsey Marques / Unsplash
A Tale of Two Reds --- The classic story of Little Red Riding Hood presents its main character as a naive and passive victim who falls for the Big Bad Wolf's obvious tricks and must be saved. The "Fixed Fairy Tales" version radically reimagines this by transforming Little Red into a clever and aware hero. Instead of innocently answering the wolf's questions, this version of Red immediately recognizes the danger and formulates a plan. She seizes control of the narrative, shifting from a character to whom the story happens into the very force that drives the plot forward through her own intelligence and initiative. This fundamental change in Little Red Riding Hood's character has a ripple effect that alters the entire story, most notably by making the traditional rescuer obsolete. The brave woodcutter is completely absent from this version for one simple reason: he isn’t needed. Red’s cleverness serves as her own rescue, as she outsmarts the wolf by giving him bad directions. Consequently, the wolf’s role is also flipped; he is no longer the cunning predator but the one who is tricked, ultimately leading him to the house of the Three Bears and his presumed demise. Her proactivity not only saves herself but directly causes the antagonist's downfall without any outside help. Ultimately, these adjustments transform the story's core message from one of cautionary obedience to one of clever empowerment. The traditional moral, "don't talk to strangers," teaches children to avoid danger by following rules. In contrast, the humorous new moral, "always give wolves bad directions," champions the use of one's own wit and self-reliance to overcome threats. The "fixed" story suggests that you don't have to be a passive victim of circumstance; instead, you can be your own hero by thinking critically and creatively to solve your own problems. --- classic: คลาสสิก, ดั้งเดิม, presents: นำเสนอ, character: ตัวละคร, naive: ไร้เดียงสา, passive: อยู่เฉยๆ, victim: เหยื่อ, obvious: ชัดเจน, tricks: กลอุบาย, radically: อย่างสิ้นเชิง, reimagines: จินตนาการใหม่, transforming: ที่เปลี่ยนแปลง, clever: ฉลาด, aware: ตระหนักรู้, hero: วีรบุรุษ, recognizes: ตระหนักถึง, danger: อันตราย, formulates: วางแผน, seizes: ยึด, control: การควบคุม, narrative: เรื่องเล่า, shifting: ที่กำลังเปลี่ยน, force: พลัง, drives: ขับเคลื่อน, plot: โครงเรื่อง, intelligence: สติปัญญา, initiative: ความคิดริเริ่ม, fundamental: ที่เป็นรากฐาน, ripple effect: ผลกระทบต่อเนื่อง, alters: เปลี่ยนแปลง, notably: อย่างเด่นชัด, traditional: แบบดั้งเดิม, rescuer: ผู้ช่วยเหลือ, obsolete: ล้าสมัย, ไม่จำเป็นแล้ว, absent: ขาดไป, cleverness: ความฉลาด, outsmarts: ชนะด้วยสติปัญญา, consequently: ดังนั้น, cunning: เจ้าเล่ห์, predator: ผู้ล่า, tricked: ถูกหลอก, ultimately: ในที่สุด, presumed: สันนิษฐานว่า, demise: จุดจบ, proactivity: การทำงานเชิงรุก, antagonist's: ของตัวร้าย, downfall: การล่มสลาย, adjustments: การปรับเปลี่ยน, transform: เปลี่ยนแปลง, core: แก่น, cautionary: ที่เป็นการเตือนภัย, obedience: การเชื่อฟัง, moral: คติสอนใจ, contrast: ในทางตรงกันข้าม, humorous: ที่ตลกขบขัน, champions: สนับสนุน, wit: ปฏิภาณไหวพริบ, self-reliance: การพึ่งพาตนเอง, overcome: เอาชนะ, threats: ภัยคุกคาม, suggests: ชี้ให้เห็น, circumstance: สถานการณ์, critically: อย่างมีวิจารณญาณ, creatively: อย่างสร้างสรรค์ ---audio audio-src = https://blog.teacherjake.com/apps/assets/weblessons/two-reds.mp3 ---questions Q: How does the "Fixed Fairy Tales" version of Little Red Riding Hood differ from the classic one in terms of her character? A: She is more naive and passive. A: She is clever, aware, and takes control of the situation. [correct] A: She relies on the woodcutter to save her. Q: Why is the woodcutter absent from this reimagined story? A: He gets lost in the woods. A: He is scared of the wolf. A: He isn't needed because Little Red saves herself. [correct] Q: What is the moral of the "Fixed" version of the story? A: You should always listen to your mother. A: You can use your intelligence to overcome threats. [correct] A: Strong authority figures will always save you.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Which version of Little Red Riding Hood do you find more interesting or relatable? Why?
  2. How does changing Little Red Riding Hood from a passive victim to a clever hero affect your feelings about the story as you watch it?
  3. What is the significance of the wolf ending up at the Three Bears' house? What does this "crossover" add to the story's humor and message?
  4. Can you think of another classic fairy tale that could be "fixed"? What character would you change, and how would that change the story's moral?