Literary Criticisms: Red Riding Hood
While listening, answer the following questions:
�Little �Red Riding Hood �By the BROTHERS GRIMM
A LONG time ago, in a house near a wood,
As most pretty histories go,
A nice little girl lived, called Red Riding Hood,
As some of us already know.
One day said her mother, “Get ready, my dear,
“And take to your granny some cakes,
And a bottle of wine to soothe her
And ask after her pains and aches.
Set out before it gets hot
And when you are on your journey,
Walk nicely and quietly, not off like a shot.
Do not run off the path along the way,
Or you may end up falling and break the wine pot.”
Out set Riding Hood, so obliging and sweet,
And she met a great Wolf in the wood,
Who begun most politely the maiden to greet.
In as tender a voice as he could
He asked in what house she was going and why;
Red Riding Hood answered him all:
He said, “Give my love to your Gran; I will try
At my earliest leisure to call.”
Off he ran, and Red Riding Hood went on her way,
But often she lingered and played,
And made as she went quite a pretty nosegay
With the wild flowers that grew in the glade.
So as she ran from the path (against which she had been warned)
Looking for flowers farther than she should.
With each one, she saw a still prettier one for which she yearned
And so got deeper and deeper into the wood.
But in the meanwhile the Wolf went, with a grin,
At the Grandmother’s cottage to call;
He knocked at the door, and was told to come in,
Then he ate her up—sad cannibal!
Then the Wolf shut the door, and got into bed,
And waited for Red Riding Hood;
When he heard her soft tap at the front door, he said,
Speaking softly as ever he could:
“Who is there?”
“It is I, your dear grandchild; I’ve brought
Some wine and nice little cakes.”
“Pull the bobbin1, my child, and come in as you ought;
I’m in bed very bad with my aches.”
When she entered the room, the old Wolf hid himself
Very carefully (such was his plan):
“Put your basket and things, little dear on the shelf,
And come into bed to your Gran,”
1device consisting of a short bar and a length of string,
used to control a wooden door latch
The obedient child laid herself down by the side
Of her Grandmother dear (as she thought):
But all at once, “Granny!” Red Riding Hood cried,
“What, very long arms you have got!”
He answered, “The better to hug you, my child.”
“But, Granny, what very large ears!”
“The better to hear you,” the voice was still mild,
But the little girl hid her fears.
“Grandmother, you have very large eyes!”
“The better to see you, I trow2.”
“What great teeth you have got!” and the wicked Wolf cries,
“The better to eat you up now!”
2 (verb) to think, believe, or trust
Red Riding Hood shrieked, and—bang! off went a gun
And shot the old Wolf through the head:
One howl and one moan, one kick and one groan,
And the wicked old rascal was dead.
Some sportsman (he certainly was a dead shot)
Had aimed at the Wolf when she cried;
So Red Riding Hood got safe home—did she not?
And lived happily there till she died.
Groups:
In your small groups, go back through the story and analyze each section through your specific critical theory lens only.
Reading Page 1
Literary Theories
Pre-Critical: Page 1
This is the story of a little girl who is being sent out on her own on a journey. The implication that this might be a quest is presented; which means that self-knowledge will be the outcome. The illustration shows the mother as both comforting as she encircles the girl and intimidating as she points out her path in both an authoritative and warning manner.
Formalist: Page 1
”A long time ago”, a traditional opening for a fairy tale, suggests immediately a world of fantasy and that we are reading a story that will contain a moral. Much of the language is focused on the mother giving the daughter directions on not only where to go but how to go. The fact that the mother has to give so many directions suggests that our heroine has difficulty conforming. Her mother‘s wish that she leave before it gets ”hot” along with the red color of her cloak suggests that Red Riding Hood might be a passionate character.
Mythological/Archetypal: Page 1
In the opening we are introduced to the archetypal
mother. She represents life, nourishment, nurture, warmth, and protection. The fact that she commands the daughter to stay on ”the path” suggests that she takes on the role of mentor as her daughter/ pupil begins on a journey that is not simply to deliver goodies, but that she is on a path to maturity and self-knowledge. The mother and archetypal wise woman is sending Red Riding Hood to her mother who once guided her on the right path to take in life.
Psychological: Page 1
Even though Red Riding Hood is presenting herself
submissively to her, the fact that the mother feels the need to warn her to stay on the path suggests that Red Riding Hood may be a bit rebellious as the red color of her cloak implies.
Feminist: Page 1
The illustration shows both Red Riding Hood and her mother wearing aprons, which suggests time spent doing traditional female activities of cleaning and cooking, and a stereotypical concern to keep their clothing and thus appearance attractive. No father is present or mentioned; however, the mother‘s concern that Red Riding Hood stays on ”the path” and be careful not to break open the wine bottle indicates a patriarchal fear of the maiden being compromised and sullied by an outside world full of amorous males. She is also given instructions by her mother on how to present herself in a proper feminine fashion; ”walk nicely and quietly” and “stay on the path”.
Marxist: Page 1
This tale is already setting up the beginning of a lesson. Red Riding Hood is being told how to follow the rules of society. She has a place and she must stay in it. However, she is wearing a red riding hood. The fact that it is red suggests a desire to stand out and not be subjugated by class also it is s “riding” coat indicating that she has a desire to be a rider as the bourgeoisie or upper class would be able to do.
Historical: Page 1
In France in the 1600‘s, when the version originated that gave the main character a red riding hood, clothing codes were strictly enforced. For a village girl like Little Red Riding Hood to wear a ”red riding hood” made her a nonconformist. Thus the wearing of the red cap sets up Little Red Riding Hood as not doing what one should.
Next:
In your group, you will each work together to complete the packet analyzing LRRH using your Literary Critical Theory/Lens.
Complete for HW.
Also: Find and write the definitions for your vocabulary.
Directions: Jigsaw Theories
1st: Check your Lit. Theory with your group.
2nd: In your new group, share (page by page) your Theory information.
3rd: As each person shares, copy down the information in your packet.
Finally: You should have 5 Theories completed on your chart.
Homework:
Based on today’s discussion of the images in the text of Little Red Riding Hood, it is probable that this story is saying more than we should be afraid of wolves.
So, what is this text saying about danger? Try to use one the literary theories you’ve been introduced to formulate your claim.