goldilocks and the three bears original story

'The Story of the Three Bears' experienced two significant changes during its early publication history. Some maintain however that the story as well as the old woman originated with Southey. Southey possibly heard 'Scrapefoot', and confused its 'vixen' with a synonym for an unpleasant malicious old woman. In 1813, for example, Southey was telling the story to friends, and in 1831 Eleanor Mure fashioned a handmade booklet about the three bears and the old woman for her nephew's birthday, In 1894, 'Scrapefoot', a tale with a fox as antagonist that bears striking similarities to Southey's story, was uncovered by the folkloristJoseph Jacobs and may predate Southey's version in the oral tradition. The story of the three bears was in circulation before the publication of Southey's tale. Cundall believed there were already too many tales with old women playing roles in the narrative. In 1849, Joseph Cundall introduced a pretty little girl to the story and dispensed with the old woman. The same year, British writer George Nicol published a version in rhyme based upon Southey's prose tale, with Southey approving Nicol's attempt to give the story more exposure. The story was first recorded in narrative form by British writer and poet Robert Southey, and first published anonymously in 1837 in a volume of his writings called The Doctor. Wee Bear finds the old woman in his bed and cries, 'Somebody has been lying in my bed, – and here she is!' The old woman starts up, jumps from the window, and runs away never to be seen again. The climax of the tale is reached when the bears return.

Prowling about, she finds the bears' beds and falls asleep in Wee Bear's bed. The old woman eats the Wee Bear's porridge, then settles into his chair and breaks it. Assured that no one is home, she walks in. She looks through a window, peeps through the keyhole, and lifts the latch. She is described at various points in the story as impudent, bad, foul-mouthed, ugly, dirty, and a vagrant deserving of a stint in the House of Correction. As she has been sent out by her family, since she is a disgrace to them. One day they take a walk in the woods while their porridge cools. Each of these 'bachelor' bears has his own porridge bowl, chair, and bed. Southey describes them as very good-natured, trusting, harmless, tidy, and hospitable. In Southey's tale, three anthropomorphic bears – 'a Little, Small, Wee Bear, a Middle-sized Bear, and a Great, Huge Bear' – live together in a house in the woods. 'The Story of the Three Bears' is one of the most popular fairy tales in the English language. The story has elicited various interpretations and has been adapted to film, opera, and other media.

What was originally a fearsome oral tale became a cosy family story with only a hint of menace. The other major version brings Goldilocks to the tale (replacing the old woman), and an even later version retained Goldilocks, but has the three bachelor bears transformed into Papa, Mama, and Baby Bear. When the bears return and discover her, she starts up, jumps from the window, and is never seen again. She sits in their chairs, eats some of their porridge, and falls asleep in one of their beds.

The original tale tells of an ugly, old woman who enters the forest home of three bachelor bears whilst they are away. 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears' and the older 'The Story of the Three Bears' are two variations of an old fairy tale.

Goldilocks and the three bears original story