The "Big Bad Wolf" and chickens?

[Baker, John]

        Google Books does have earlier examples of the "big, bad wolf."
These are in full text and appear to check out.  I didn't see "Big Bad
Wolf," though.

        Li'l Bad Wolf was a regular in the pages of Walt Disney's Comics
and Stories, the Disney anthology comic book that has run since 1940.  I
seem to recall that in those stories Zeke did occasionally go after
chickens.

        "Li'l" and its variant, "Little," is a surprisingly common name
for children in the comics:  Little Lotta, Little Dot, Little Lulu, even
Li'l Abner.  Rarely seen in real life.


John Baker


-----Original Message-----
From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf
Of Jonathan Lighter
Sent: Friday, March 04, 2011 3:54 PM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Re: The "Big Bad Wolf" and chickens?

I dunno, Victor, Are you sure you're talking about Disney's Zeke "The
Big
Bad" Wolf?

My impression is that the Disney wolf & pigs cartoon was the earliest
source
to call the wolf "The Big Bad."

Specialists will recall the angst of his son, "Li'l Wolf," as he tried
to thwart his father with good deeds. Adding to his difficulties was
that he
was a boy named Li'l.

Where are you now, Li'l Wolf? We hope you have triumphed over your
tragic
upbringing.

JL

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