Little Red Riding Hood is the protagonist of one of the most widely known fairy tales in the world. Versions exist across dozens of cultures, with the best-known Western tellings from Charles Perrault (1697) and the Brothers Grimm (1812). A young girl wearing a red hood or cloak walks through the woods to visit her grandmother and encounters a wolf.

What Happens in the Story?

Little Red Riding Hood is sent to bring food to her grandmother. A wolf intercepts her, races to grandmother's house, eats the grandmother, and disguises himself in her bed. Red arrives and is deceived until she notices something wrong. In Perrault's version, the wolf eats her. In the Grimm version, a huntsman saves both her and her grandmother.

Why Does the Story Endure?

The tale has been interpreted as a warning about predatory strangers, a coming-of-age allegory, a story about obedience, and a narrative about female vulnerability and resilience. Its simplicity allows endless reinterpretation.

How Has It Been Adapted?

The story has been adapted into films, operas, ballets, television shows, and novels. It appears in Sondheim's Into the Woods, Angela Carter's The Bloody Chamber, and countless other reimaginings.

Can You Talk to Little Red Riding Hood?

You can chat with Little Red on HoloDream, where she is available as an AI companion. She is braver than the story lets on, and she has learned a few things about wolves.