I’m sure you all know the story of the Three Little Pigs. It is a children’s classic and has been redone and passed down through the generations countless times. A big bad wolf is able to blow down the first two pigs’ houses, made of straw and wood, but is unable to destroy the third pig’s house, made of bricks.
Did you know that in the traditional version of the Three Little Pigs that the wolf ate the first two pigs? The story was first printed in 1840 but it was orally passed down long before then.
Presently came along a wolf, and knocked at the door, and said, “Little pig, little pig, let me come in.”To which the pig answered, “No, no, by the hair of my chiny chin chin.”By L. Leslie Brooke 1904. [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons because copyright has expired.
The wolf then answered to that, “Then I’ll huff, and I’ll puff, and I’ll blow your house in.” So he huffed, and he puffed, and he blew his house in, and ate up the little pig.
It is interesting how stories change over time. If you’ve ever played the game telephone you know that oral histories and stories morph slightly with each retelling. Then there are times when stories are purposely changed for a reason.
Disney did not think it was right for the big bad wolf to eat the pig.
The popular Disney version softens the story. The first two pigs get their houses blown down, but still escape from the wolf to live with the third pig. Also, the wolf is not boiled to death at the end but simply burns his behind and runs away. Just in case you want to watch the Silly Symphony cartoon I found it on YouTube. Keep in mind that it was created in 1933!
I love comments!
Which version do you prefer? Do you like the darker fairy tale or the softer one? Which one would you want your children to read? Do you think the darker version teaches different lessons? Why was the darker version appropriate for children in the 1840s but Disney thought was not appropriate in 1933?
Hi Haley! I prefer the old version. Fairy tales, along with myths and legends, are the keepers of the parable–life lessons told in story form. Of course, I’m a little dark anyway!
btw, love the new look here. I haven’t visited for awhile, but I just added my email for blog subscriptions.
Thank you, Selena! I figured you’d like the old version. I think the darker children’s stories get the lessons across better because they make the consequences for bad behavior more severe.
I’m glad you like the new look. I do too. And thanks for the subscription!