The Bear’s Tale (1940) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

The Wolf is already inside the Bears' cottage disguised in Grandma's nightgown, waiting to ambush who he thinks will come through the door. When Goldilocks arrives looking for the Three Bears, he realizes she's not the person he was expecting, so he quickly shoos her away to maintain his cover and avoid ruining his plot. He even lies about the Bears living two miles away.

Foreshadowing: The Wolf's disguised appearance in Grandma's clothes sets up the story crossover humor from the beginning.

• big bad wolf
• goldilocks
• bears cottage
• story crossover

Goldilocks entered the Bears' cottage while they were out and ate their porridge. The summary explicitly states she was upstairs feeling sleepy from eating too much porridge, confirming she consumed their breakfast while the Bears were cycling through the forest.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, the Bears discover their porridge is too hot and decide to wait outside, creating the opportunity for Goldilocks to enter.

• bears
• porridge
• goldilocks
• empty bowls

Papa Bear assumes Goldilocks is the intruder because she was the only person who had entered their home while they were away. The empty bowls made it clear someone had been inside, and based on the story they knew, Goldilocks was the logical culprit, not the Wolf who had sneaked in through a window.

Foreshadowing: The Wolf only arrived at the cottage after Goldilocks left, making his presence unknown to the Bears.

• papa bear
• goldilocks
• wolf
• confrontation

The Wolf writes in his note that he 'got tired of waiting' for Red Riding Hood and decided to go to the Bears' house to 'eat up Little Goldilocks' instead. This is a meta-humor twist that combines the two classic stories, Goldilocks and the Three Bears with Little Red Riding Hood, into one comedic narrative where the Wolf changes his plans.

Foreshadowing: When Goldilocks knocks, the Wolf initially says 'Come in Little Red...' before correcting himself, showing he was expecting Red Riding Hood.

• wolf
• goldilocks
• red riding hood
• story crossover

The Bears are terrified when Papa Bear discovers the Wolf hiding in Baby Bear's bed. Unlike a traditional scary version, this Wolf is played for laughs and the danger is cartoonish, but the Bears still react with primal fear, they hide under the table, then panic and flee the cottage in a comedic chase sequence.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Baby Bear's fear of crashing while pedaling the tricycle establishes the Bears as easily frightened characters.

• bears
• wolf
• escape
• scared

The Bears decide to go for a ride through the forest because their porridge is too hot to eat. They plan to wait for it to cool down while they take a leisurely tricycle ride through the woods. This simple decision creates the opportunity for both Goldilocks and the Wolf to enter their home.

Foreshadowing: Mama Bear's mirror check and the poridge sitting untouched establish the initial situation that triggers the entire chain of events.

• bears
• porridge
• forest
• leave cottage

Baby Bear is powering the tricycle out of fear. The summary states that Mama and Papa decide to take a break from pedaling, leaving Baby Bear to continue powering the vehicle 'out of fear of crashing.' This plays into the comedic dynamic that Baby Bear is the most anxious of the three.

Foreshadowing: This early display of Baby Bear's nervous nature foreshadows his role in the final chase scene where his pants fall down.

• baby bear
• tricycle
• parents
• fear

The Wolf is wearing Grandma's clothing as part of the story's meta-humor, combining the Little Red Riding Hood and Goldilocks tales. When Goldilocks knocks, the Wolf answers the door in Grandma's nightgown, expecting Red Riding Hood but getting Goldilocks instead, a comedic mix-up that drives the crossover narrative.

Foreshadowing: The Wolf's disguise links directly to the note he leaves for Red Riding Hood, revealing his original plan.

• wolf
• grandma
• nightgown
• disguise
• crossover

Red Riding Hood finds a note the Wolf left on her grandmother's pillow, explaining he has gone to the Bears' house to 'eat up Little Goldilocks.' Concerned for Goldilocks' safety, Red uses the phone to warn her about the Wolf's plan, demonstrating the crossover connection between the two storylines.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, the Wolf tells Goldilocks the Bears live 'two miles down the road,' showing his knowledge of her destination.

• red riding hood
• goldilocks
• phone call
• warning
• wolf note

As Baby Bear runs away during the chaotic escape, his pants slip down to reveal his bare bottom, a classic Tex Avery-style visual gag that closes the cartoon. The narrator humorously references this by saying the Bears fled with 'Papa Bear, the Mama Bear, and the little bare behind,' a pun on their names.

Foreshadowing: This running gag connects to Baby Bear's earlier nervous behavior throughout the story.

• baby bear
• pants
• bare bottom
• comedy
• tex avery