The Three Bears

The beginning of Robert Southey’s classic fairy tale.

1837

King William IV 1830-1837 to Queen Victoria 1837-1901

Introduction

The story of the Three Bears is a classic children’s tale from 1837 that first appeared in The Doctor, a seven-volume miscellany by Robert Southey published in 1834-47. In his original, there was no naughty, flaxen-haired Goldilocks, just a spiteful old woman. What follows is the beginning of Southey’s story.

Once upon a time there were Three Bears, who lived together in a house of their own, in a wood. One of them was a Little, Small, Wee Bear; and one was a Middle-sized Bear, and the other was a Great, Huge Bear. They had each a pot for their porridge, a little pot for the Little, Small, Wee Bear; and a middle-sized pot for the Middle Bear, and a great pot for the Great, Huge Bear. And they had each a chair to sit in; a little chair for the Little, Small, Wee Bear; and a middle-sized chair for the Middle Bear; and a great chair for the Great, Huge Bear. And they had each a bed to sleep in; a little bed for the Little, Small, Wee Bear; and a middle-sized bed for the Middle Bear; and a great bed for the Great, Huge Bear.

One day, after they had made the porridge for their breakfast, and poured it into their porridge-pots, they walked out into the wood while the porridge was cooling, that they might not burn their mouths, by beginning too soon to eat it.

Précis
Robert Southey’s classic fairytale of the Three Bears begins with the Bear family in their home, pouring out three bowls of porridge: one large, one small, and one of medium size. Their chairs were also of three sizes, and so were their beds. As the porridge was still hot, the Bears took a walk while their breakfast cooled.
Sevens

Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.

Why didn’t the bears eat their breakfast straightaway?

Suggestion

Because they wanted to let it cool.

Jigsaws

Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.

The Bears cooked porridge. It was too hot to eat. They went for a walk.

See if you can include one or more of these words in your answer.

ICool. IITime. IIIWait.