Tima and the Not So Simple ‘Three Little Pigs’

Kids’ stories seem simple. But, they are deceptively complex.

Tima seemed a little jaded with the kids’ stories we’ve been reading. He is in his twenties. But, they’re a lot more fun than a textbook, and they’re better for learning in a lot of ways. Sometimes I forget that other people don’t see all of the meaning that I do. It’s a good idea to show people how to look deeper. There are entire cultures that miss the true meaning of their most famous and foundational stories. (I’ll do an article on the maiden tower stories from the Middle East at some point, which is a good example.)

“The Three Little Pigs” is a story that everyone knows. But I’ve never heard anyone other than me seriously discuss it. Here are some of the notes I took from the conversation Tima and I had about the story.

- — — — — — -

What’s the moral of the story?

Or, the meaning of the story?

build a strong house

don’t build a weak house

wolves like to eat pigs

don’t let go of your children at a young age

The world is a dangerous place, but you can stand up against it if you properly prepare.

it’s good to have friends

don’t think you can’t be stopped

the closest friends are family

you need to be able to run fast

It seems like a simple story, but it’s actually a complex story once you start thinking it through.

- — — — — — -

I was able to get Tima to pull most of those meanings from the story with only a little prompting. Some are simple, that’s true. But some are profound, and that’s a deeper truth. They are in the story, just below the surface.

________________________________________________

If you like this, check out JeffThinks.com or JeffreyAlexanderMartin.com