Goldilocks and the Three Bears

19th Century England

Story

Once upon a time, in a cozy cottage deep in the woods, lived a family of three bears – Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear. One morning, Mama Bear made delicious porridge for breakfast. But it was too hot to eat, so the bears decided to go for a walk while it cooled down.

While the bears were away, a curious little girl named Goldilocks found their cottage. She peeked inside and saw three bowls of porridge on the table. Goldilocks tasted the porridge in Papa Bear's big bowl and said, "Ouch! This porridge is too hot!" Then she tried Mama Bear's medium-sized bowl and said, "Brr! This porridge is too cold!" Finally, she tasted Baby Bear's small bowl and said, "Yum! This porridge is just right!" So, she ate it all up.

After eating, Goldilocks explored the living room and found three chairs – one for each bear. She sat in Papa Bear's big chair, but it was too hard. She sat in Mama Bear's medium chair, but it was too soft. Then, she sat in Baby Bear's small chair and said, "Oh no! This chair is too wobbly!" and it broke.

Feeling a little tired, Goldilocks climbed upstairs to find three beds. She tried Papa Bear's big bed, but it was too hard. She tried Mama Bear's medium bed, but it was too soft. Finally, she lay down in Baby Bear's small bed and said, "Ahh! This bed is just right!" Goldilocks fell asleep.

When the three bears came home, they saw the porridge bowls were disturbed, the chair was broken, and the bedroom was a mess. Baby Bear sniffed the air and said, "Someone's been eating my porridge!" Then, he looked at the broken chair and said, "Someone's been sitting in my chair and broke it!" Finally, he pointed to his bed and said, "Someone's been sleeping in my bed!" They tiptoed to the bed, and there was Goldilocks, still sleeping. Baby Bear said, "Someone's been sleeping in my bed, and she's still here!" Goldilocks woke up, saw the bears, and ran out of the cottage as fast as her legs could carry her.

History and Meaning

One of the earliest written versions of the story appeared in the early 19th century in England. It was included in Robert Southey's narrative poem collection titled "The Doctor," which was published in 1837. In Southey's version, the intruder was an old woman, and the three bears were three bachelor bears. The tale, however, was not intended for children; instead, it was a cautionary tale about respecting the property of others.

Over time, the story evolved, and by the mid-19th century, various adaptations had emerged, making it more suitable for children. The familiar version with a little girl named Goldilocks and three bears – Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear – gained popularity.

The term "Goldilocks" itself has become a cultural reference to describe a situation where something is just right or optimal. This association comes from Goldilocks' search for the "just right" porridge, chair, and bed in the fairy tale.