A young girl, beloved by her grandmother, is given a red velvet cap and is affectionately called Little Redcap. One day, her mother sends her to deliver cake and wine to her sick grandmother, instructing her to stay on the path and not to dawdle. On her way, she encounters a wolf who, pretending to be friendly, tricks her into revealing the location of her grandmother's house. While Little Redcap picks flowers, the wolf races ahead, arrives at the grandmother's house, and devours her. He disguises himself in her clothes and lies in wait for Little Redcap. When she arrives, she feels uneasy but approaches the bed, noticing her grandmother's strange appearance. The wolf, revealing his true nature, eats Little Redcap as well. A huntsman passing by hears the wolf snoring and investigates. Discovering the wolf in the bed, he decides to cut it open, rescuing both Little Redcap and her grandmother. They fill the wolf's body with stones, ensuring it cannot escape when it awakens. The wolf dies, and the three celebrate their survival. Later, while delivering cakes again, Little Redcap encounters another wolf. Remembering her previous experience, she remains cautious and continues on her path. The wolf attempts to trick her but fails. Instead, he tries to sneak into the house from the roof, but the grandmother outsmarts him by having Little Redcap fill a trough with water. The wolf slips and drowns, allowing Little Redcap to return home safely, having learned the importance of heeding her mother's warnings.
By Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm · First published 1857 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Children's Literature, Fable