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Little Red Riding Hood And Wolf Comparison

Decent Essays

Introduction:

The Grimm Brothers’ Little Red Riding Hood (1857), and Roald Dahl’s contemporary spin on the well-known fairy tale, Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf (1982), both endeavored to shape the meaning of the traditional fairy tale. Although Dahl relies on an audience familiar with the original fable to appreciate his alterations, both texts are aimed towards a target audience of children. Through comparison of the two differing versions, connections will be identified. Similarities and differences in relation to form, purpose and language will be explained; and subsequently, how these similarities and differences impact the target audience.

Form:
Encapsulating the traditional fairy tale structure, Grimm’s tale is presented in the form of a narrative, featuring a clear introduction, plot, and resolution. Grimm preserves the phrase symbolic to traditional fairy tales, “once upon a time”, introducing the audience to a familiar world of fantasy. The events unfold through a chronological sequence: “After that the aged grandmother”, “Then all three were delighted” and “Soon afterwards the wolf knocked”, followed by informative sentences: “the door sprang open, and without saying a word he went straight to the grandmother’s bed, and devoured her”, complimenting Grimm’s formal and instructive intentions, embellishing and providing the audience with a sound understanding. Grimm embraces the use of a third-person voice to gain authority of the audience, and sufficiently sculpts each character into their conventional protagonist and antagonist roles: Little Red Riding Hood as a ‘dear little girl’ and wolf as ‘wicked creature’.

Dahl offers a significantly different interpretation, transforming the traditional folk tale into a poem. The consistent use of rhyme and rhythm appeals to the audience, allowing smooth transition and flow between sequences. The several stanzas composing the poem feature short sentences which add clarity; eventually compacting at the final plot twist, “The small girl smiles. One eyelid flickers”, to represent an acceleration in pace and create audience suspension. Dahl also begins his version with the wolf–a perspective not usually seen–to ensure the audience identifies with the wolf.

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