The Secret History of Little Red Riding Hood

Step into the shoes of a folklorist in “The Secret History of Little Red Riding Hood.” This course journeys from the shadowy forests of medieval Europe to today’s pop culture, tracing how a simple fairy tale has changed over centuries. The earliest roots may lie in cautionary folk tales warning children about wandering into the woods​. One theory even suggests that the wolf was originally a werewolf figure from 16th-17th century trials​.

The course focuses on two landmark versions: Charles Perrault’s 1697 tale (the first known printed version) and the Brothers Grimm’s 1812 “Rotkäppchen”​. You will compare how each author portrayed Red’s meeting with the wolf and the story’s ending. For example, Perrault’s tale ends with the girl eaten (with a moral about stranger danger​), while the Grimms introduced a heroic rescue by a woodsman​.

Through readings, discussions, and creative activities, you’ll analyze the symbolism (why is Red’s cloak scarlet? what does the wolf represent?) and explore interpretations (coming-of-age, feminist critiques, etc.). Each week includes short quizzes on story details, discussion questions, and a writing or creative exercise (e.g., rewrite a scene in modern style). By course end, you will have a nuanced understanding of how “Little Red Riding Hood” reflects human culture and why it remains a powerful mythic story.

A classic illustration of Little Red Riding Hood at her grandmother’s door (Walter Crane, 19th century). This course explores how such imagery and themes have evolved from dark folk origins to modern retellings​.