The traditional story of The Three Little Pigs is told from the perspective of the pigs, reflecting how they experience and interpret the events of the tale. The storyteller shares their viewpoint, focusing on their actions, fears, and ultimate triumph over the Big Bad Wolf.
Understanding Point of View (POV)
Point of view refers to the angle from which a story is told. It determines whose eyes the reader sees the story through, and whose thoughts and feelings are revealed. In literature, common points of view include:
- First-Person POV: The narrator is a character in the story and uses "I" or "we."
- Second-Person POV: The narrator addresses the reader directly using "you" (less common in fiction).
- Third-Person POV: The narrator is outside the story and refers to characters by name or as "he," "she," "it," or "they." This can be:
- Limited: Focuses on the thoughts and feelings of one character.
- Omniscient: Knows everything about all characters and events.
- Objective: Reports only what can be seen and heard, like a camera.
The Pigs' Perspective in the Classic Tale
In the classic rendition of The Three Little Pigs, the narrative centers on the experiences of the three porcine siblings. Readers learn about their individual choices in building their homes—straw, sticks, and bricks—and witness their reactions to the wolf's attempts to blow them down. The story emphasizes the pigs' struggle for survival and the cleverness of the third pig, making their perspective central to the plot's development and moral lesson.
Contrasting Perspectives: The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
It's interesting to note how perspective can completely change a story. While the traditional tale champions the pigs, another popular retelling, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, offers a drastically different viewpoint.
| Aspect | The Three Little Pigs (Traditional) | The True Story of the Three Little Pigs |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Narrator | An unseen storyteller | A. Wolf (the Big Bad Wolf) |
| Dominant Perspective | The pigs' viewpoint | The wolf's viewpoint |
| Wolf's Portrayal | Villainous, menacing, malicious | Misunderstood, suffering from a cold, innocent |
| Story Focus | Pigs' survival, wisdom, and victory | Wolf's side of events, accidental actions |
This contrast highlights how a shift in point of view can reframe characters and events, offering new interpretations and challenges to established narratives. The traditional story's impact largely comes from placing the reader squarely in the vulnerable, yet ultimately resilient, shoes of the pigs.
