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The Trials and Tribulations of Little Red Riding Hood
Jack Zipes presents the many faces of Little Red Riding Hood. Bringing together 35 of the best versions of the tale, from the Brothers Grimm to Anne Sexton, Zipes uses the tales to explore questions of Western culture, sexism and politics.
422 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
About the author
Jack D. Zipes
152 books248 followersJack David Zipes is a retired Professor of German at the University of Minnesota. He has published and lectured extensively on the subject of fairy tales, their linguistic roots, and argued that they have a "socialization function". According to Zipes, fairy tales "serve a meaningful social function, not just for compensation but for revelation: the worlds projected by the best of our fairy tales reveal the gaps between truth and falsehood in our immediate society." His arguments are avowedly based on the neo-Marxist critical theory of the Frankfurt School.
Zipes enjoys using droll titles for his works like Don't Bet on the Prince and The Trials and Tribulations of Little Red Ridinghood.
He completed a PhD in comparative literature at Columbia University. Zipes taught at various institutions before heading German language studies at the University of Minnesota. He has retranslation of the complete fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm.
Zipes enjoys using droll titles for his works like Don't Bet on the Prince and The Trials and Tribulations of Little Red Ridinghood.
He completed a PhD in comparative literature at Columbia University. Zipes taught at various institutions before heading German language studies at the University of Minnesota. He has retranslation of the complete fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
August 14, 2009
"Little Red Riding Hood" has to be one of the most famous fairy tales in existence. Everyone seems to know, though very few people seem to know what it is really about.
It's about sex.
In this book, Jack Zipes examines the history of tale, showing how it progessed from a story about a smart girl to a story about a foolish girl who may have had it coming. Additionally, Zipes has collected several different versions of the tale, the earlies one from 1697 and the latest being from 1990.
Zipes has two essays in this book. The first examines the literary history of the tales, tracing the changes made to it and putting forth theories why those changes were made. He agrues that the tale moved from one of ritual to one about rape. He shows what that says about our culture, noting when the blame for the "rape" shifts to the victim. His second essay concerns how LRH is shown in the illustrations of the books. He does a good job of making the reader think twice about many of the illustrations. (This essay appeared in
Don't Bet on the Prince Contemporary Feminist Fairy Tales in North America and England).
It really is all about sex. I already knew that and still some of those illustrations. Hmmm. Strange how most of them were by men.
The stories collected in the volumne are perhaps worth more than the essays. While both Perrault and the Grimms have appearances, Zipes includes lesser well known versions. Two stories were particularly haunting. "Little Red Riding Hood as a Dictator Would Tell It" by H. I. Phllips was published in 1940 and is a rather amusing farce as the title indicates. More emotional was "Little Red Cap" by Max von der Grun. The story was published in 1974 and is really about the Holocaust. It is very touching.
Zipes also includes more adult versions, such as the stories by Tanith Lee and Angela Carter. There is a strange Silicon Valley Red Riding Hood, entitled, "Roja and Leopold". There is a very funny "Little Aqua Riding Hood" which is also very funny. Several of the stories show LRH as more active, in particular the version by the Merseyside Fairy Story Collective. This version has a knife.
No, Dahl's version isn't here, but Thurber's is.
It is interesting to read them in publication order. Zipes does a good job showing how it swings from pre-feminist to post feminist readings. The tales, however, never, ever lose the sexual overtone. What does that say about us? What does it say about us that the story is still told to children? What does it say when that version is usually the one that involes the resuce by the Hunter? While Zipes does not fully answer these questions, he does dwell on them.
It's about sex.
In this book, Jack Zipes examines the history of tale, showing how it progessed from a story about a smart girl to a story about a foolish girl who may have had it coming. Additionally, Zipes has collected several different versions of the tale, the earlies one from 1697 and the latest being from 1990.
Zipes has two essays in this book. The first examines the literary history of the tales, tracing the changes made to it and putting forth theories why those changes were made. He agrues that the tale moved from one of ritual to one about rape. He shows what that says about our culture, noting when the blame for the "rape" shifts to the victim. His second essay concerns how LRH is shown in the illustrations of the books. He does a good job of making the reader think twice about many of the illustrations. (This essay appeared in
Don't Bet on the Prince Contemporary Feminist Fairy Tales in North America and England).
It really is all about sex. I already knew that and still some of those illustrations. Hmmm. Strange how most of them were by men.
The stories collected in the volumne are perhaps worth more than the essays. While both Perrault and the Grimms have appearances, Zipes includes lesser well known versions. Two stories were particularly haunting. "Little Red Riding Hood as a Dictator Would Tell It" by H. I. Phllips was published in 1940 and is a rather amusing farce as the title indicates. More emotional was "Little Red Cap" by Max von der Grun. The story was published in 1974 and is really about the Holocaust. It is very touching.
Zipes also includes more adult versions, such as the stories by Tanith Lee and Angela Carter. There is a strange Silicon Valley Red Riding Hood, entitled, "Roja and Leopold". There is a very funny "Little Aqua Riding Hood" which is also very funny. Several of the stories show LRH as more active, in particular the version by the Merseyside Fairy Story Collective. This version has a knife.
No, Dahl's version isn't here, but Thurber's is.
It is interesting to read them in publication order. Zipes does a good job showing how it swings from pre-feminist to post feminist readings. The tales, however, never, ever lose the sexual overtone. What does that say about us? What does it say about us that the story is still told to children? What does it say when that version is usually the one that involes the resuce by the Hunter? While Zipes does not fully answer these questions, he does dwell on them.
April 7, 2025
A fascinating look at the history and evolution of the Little Red Riding Hood. I read this as part of my Independant Scholarship for my Masters. I found the information useful and very reflective for my work. I found it easy to read and understand and I read it very quickly and found it easy to retain information.
November 7, 2022
I read The Trials and Tribulations of Little Red Riding as a digital book on my Kindle. I read this book as part of my reading course. I read this book to compare different elements and versions of the classic tale Little Red Riding Hood. My favorite part of reading this story was the different variations of the story.
At the beginning of the book, the author provides information on the history of the classic tale. The author goes deep in the evolution of Little Red Riding Hood. While very informative, I do not think a young adult reader would find this very interesting. The second part of the book delves into different variations of Little Red Riding Hood. I enjoyed how the stories showed the transition of Little Red Riding Hood from hero to villain. Again, I do not know if a young adult reader would appreciate these elements. The digital version of this story was simplistic and easy to follow. I felt as I did not miss any part of the story.
I would not recommend this book to young adults in middle/high school. If anything, maybe in an older high school setting it could be used to discuss and teach different variations of the classic story. I think then a teacher could also discuss the history of folk tales.
Thanks for reading my review!
At the beginning of the book, the author provides information on the history of the classic tale. The author goes deep in the evolution of Little Red Riding Hood. While very informative, I do not think a young adult reader would find this very interesting. The second part of the book delves into different variations of Little Red Riding Hood. I enjoyed how the stories showed the transition of Little Red Riding Hood from hero to villain. Again, I do not know if a young adult reader would appreciate these elements. The digital version of this story was simplistic and easy to follow. I felt as I did not miss any part of the story.
I would not recommend this book to young adults in middle/high school. If anything, maybe in an older high school setting it could be used to discuss and teach different variations of the classic story. I think then a teacher could also discuss the history of folk tales.
Thanks for reading my review!
March 1, 2013
Rating: 4 of 5
The high rating is strictly for content, not for Zipes' analysis. The prologue and first essay were jam-packed with Little Red Riding Hood's history - loved 'em both! But the epilogue, "Reviewing and Re-Framing Little Red Riding Hood," started to bore me about halfway through. The Trials and Tribulations of Little Red Riding Hood offered a wealth of information: LRRH's history, a chronological bibliography, notes on the authors, AND a collection of 38 Little Red Riding Hood texts (aka stories). Overall, it was well worth the time it took me to hunt down a copy and the price to buy one.
The high rating is strictly for content, not for Zipes' analysis. The prologue and first essay were jam-packed with Little Red Riding Hood's history - loved 'em both! But the epilogue, "Reviewing and Re-Framing Little Red Riding Hood," started to bore me about halfway through. The Trials and Tribulations of Little Red Riding Hood offered a wealth of information: LRRH's history, a chronological bibliography, notes on the authors, AND a collection of 38 Little Red Riding Hood texts (aka stories). Overall, it was well worth the time it took me to hunt down a copy and the price to buy one.
Read
May 7, 2015The first part of this book is an approximately sixty-page essay on the history and evolution of the story of Little Red Riding Hood. The second part of the book is a chronological collection of several different versions of the story.
I mostly enjoyed the somewhat dense essay, skipping to the back along the way to read the corresponding stories. I especially enjoyed the bits on the story pre-Perrault. I enjoyed it much less toward the end, when the author started imposing his feminist worldview on everything and dictating how he thought the story should be.
I mostly enjoyed the somewhat dense essay, skipping to the back along the way to read the corresponding stories. I especially enjoyed the bits on the story pre-Perrault. I enjoyed it much less toward the end, when the author started imposing his feminist worldview on everything and dictating how he thought the story should be.
December 6, 2014
A comprehensive collection of Little Red Riding Hood tale variants that really helps to chart her evolution from heroine to victim to villain. If you have any interest in how folktales evolve over time, this is a must read. On the other hand, it may ruin your childhood image of Little Red...
February 15, 2019
I found this extremely useful whilst writing my Thesis on the victimisation of women in fairytales.
January 2, 2025
Mind blown. I read through it breathlessly and I was left in awe at the end where he explains how women's liberation of the last few decades and women's increased sexual freedom is causing violence from men to rise. It's a paradox. Men should be happy that women are easier to reach and yet, men are more angry and violent. The idea that a woman wants s*x (and is not obligated to do it by society/norms/church) causes men to feel like they are losing their power and domination over women. That, in turn makes them violent. Insane.
September 30, 2018
I quite like Zipes, and while he has some interesting things to say, the content he has assembled is the real star of the story here. There's a pretty great variety and interesting ideas on display here.
December 24, 2018
A really good in depth exploration of the tale of Little Red Riding Hood, from its background and evolution to its purpose and popularity.
Read
June 17, 2022For my bachelor thesis, which are words i hope to never hear again
August 20, 2024
Read as part of Masters thesis.
Great look at the stages of LRRH and her iterations
Great look at the stages of LRRH and her iterations
February 10, 2025
A valuable resource for those interested the iterations of "Little Red Riding Hood."
Read
February 12, 2026review text for 1680
May 7, 2015
This is a fascinating study of the evolution of folktales by focusing on one: the Red Riding Hood (or Red Cap) story from its earliest appearance through the present (as of when the book was written). It includes both discussion and thirty seven examples from the 1697 Charles Perrault version to a couple from 1990, including The Company of Wolves, a strange 1979 story that was turned into an even weirder 1985 movie, which inspired me to re-read this book.
The discussion covers the way different writers in different periods dealt with the subjects and turned it from a story about the dangers of the forest and necessity of obedience to a warning about sexual predators to empowering women with many twists along the way to make political points. Another section discusses the way the illustrations portray both the girl and the wolf. Zipes discusses the way some versions have her and her grandmother handling the problem themselves, and sometimes they need rescuing, and they range from having the disobedient child (and foolish old woman) being eaten, to happy endings.
Some of the modern versions were just silly, but then again, so were some of the Victorian ones.
This has become an iconic story, and I enjoyed seeing that what seems like "obvious" symbolism in the 21st century had completely different meanings in other times and places. I'd gladly read a similar book on Cinderella or other popular stories.
The discussion covers the way different writers in different periods dealt with the subjects and turned it from a story about the dangers of the forest and necessity of obedience to a warning about sexual predators to empowering women with many twists along the way to make political points. Another section discusses the way the illustrations portray both the girl and the wolf. Zipes discusses the way some versions have her and her grandmother handling the problem themselves, and sometimes they need rescuing, and they range from having the disobedient child (and foolish old woman) being eaten, to happy endings.
Some of the modern versions were just silly, but then again, so were some of the Victorian ones.
This has become an iconic story, and I enjoyed seeing that what seems like "obvious" symbolism in the 21st century had completely different meanings in other times and places. I'd gladly read a similar book on Cinderella or other popular stories.
February 1, 2010
This is not a book for children, but for those who have a serious interest in the socio-political history of folk tales- Red Riding Hood tales in particular. I am a fan of Jack Zipes' body of work. I feel this early piece of academic writing is not his best, though it is the most comprehensive on this tale. My favorite work by Zipes is "Fairy Tale As Myth: Myth As Fairy Tale" where he examines how the values transmitted through fairytales have been accepted as myth in our culture- for instance, the belief in a "happily ever after" or that good girls will be rescued (by princes, no less).
In "The Trials and Tribulations" Zipes traces the changes from the oral to the written versions. He compares the values and morals in relation to the political climates at the time of their writing, and also the climates preceding the re-writings as the tales travelled across distance and time. He also spends plenty of time exploring the psycho-symbolic aspects of representation in interpreting the texts within a historical and contemporary context.
If, like me, you want to know about the role of fairy tales in shaping us as beings, read some of Jack Zipes' works. The writing is a little dense, but it is a rich and rewarding intellectual endeavor.
In "The Trials and Tribulations" Zipes traces the changes from the oral to the written versions. He compares the values and morals in relation to the political climates at the time of their writing, and also the climates preceding the re-writings as the tales travelled across distance and time. He also spends plenty of time exploring the psycho-symbolic aspects of representation in interpreting the texts within a historical and contemporary context.
If, like me, you want to know about the role of fairy tales in shaping us as beings, read some of Jack Zipes' works. The writing is a little dense, but it is a rich and rewarding intellectual endeavor.
March 5, 2011
In theory, this is a really interesting book. Zipes's argument at the beginning of the anthology was the most interesting. I'm so burnt out on Little Red Riding Hood now, though. All of the stories started to blend together by the end and I wasn't sure of the point of it all.
July 29, 2011
Different ways to look at folk tales that are useful in teaching residents psychotherapy--these are not new ideas, just different ways of looking at old ideas
June 10, 2013
It's very good collection of Little Red Riding Hood and very clear essay about society effect on tale. I love this and will read other work by Zipes
November 29, 2012
A little on the dense academic side at times but a great book.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews