Little Red Riding Hood

The story has a long oral tradition in European countries. Some scholars believe it originated from an ancient Belgian poem in the 11th century, and its roots can even be traced back to Aesop's Fables in the 6th century BC. During its spread, it may also have been influenced by similar oriental stories such as Aunt Tiger. Before Charles Perrault, the story had never been written down in text; it was only passed down among people by word of mouth. In the early oral versions, the villain was not necessarily a wolf but might also be a man - eating monster or a werewolf, and the plot was quite dark and cruel, which was quite different from the later child - friendly versions.