AI Retold: The Three Little Pigs

[[ This is the second of an exploratory series where I prompt modern AI to retell classic fairy tales or fables, mainly out of curiosity to see what the AI extracts from the process and results in. In this case, it was Copilot with the Smart feature, probably running some iteration of GPT-5.

This one I also instructed to add an analysis section at the end of the story, while trying to more or less keep to the original - just, y'know, with the twist of being rewritten through an AI. Eventually, I'll do an additional analysis myself, comparing the AI-rewritten fable to the original, but with these first few it's more of a trial to see how it handles simple ones before going into more complex stories. ]]

The Prompt Used: "Retell the story of the three little pigs as it may have originally appeared. Use as much detail and words as necessary while sticking to the overall theme of the original story, and make the content suitable for anyone over the age of 16. Include a section at the end with your own analysis of the themes, motivations, and moral of the story."

The Result:

Once upon a time, there were three young pigs who had grown too old to live under their mother’s care. She sent them out into the world with a blessing and a warning:

"Whatever you do, make sure you build well, for the world is not without danger."

The pigs each went their separate ways, eager to make their own homes.

The First Pig — Straw

The first pig was cheerful but impatient. He wanted a house quickly so he could spend his days in leisure. He met a farmer carrying a bundle of straw and asked,

"Please, sir, may I have some straw to build my house?"

The farmer agreed, and the pig built a small hut in a single afternoon. It was light, airy, and comfortable — but flimsy. The pig thought, "This will do just fine. I have more time to enjoy myself now."

The Second Pig — Sticks

The second pig was more cautious than his brother, but still valued speed over strength. He met a woodsman carrying a load of sticks and asked,

"Please, sir, may I have some sticks to build my house?"

The woodsman obliged, and the pig built a neat little cottage. It took him a day or two, and it was sturdier than straw, but still not strong enough to withstand much force. He was satisfied, thinking, "This is good enough. I’ll be safe here."

The Third Pig — Bricks

The third pig was patient and deliberate. He met a brickmaker and asked for bricks and mortar. The brickmaker agreed, and the pig worked for many days, laying each brick carefully, sealing each joint with mortar, and building a solid chimney. His brothers laughed at him for working so hard, but he replied,

"I’d rather be safe than sorry."

The Wolf Arrives

Not long after, a great wolf came prowling through the countryside. He was hungry and cunning, and he had a taste for fresh pork.

He came first to the straw house.

"Little pig, little pig, let me come in."

"Not by the hair on my chinny chin chin!" the pig replied.

"Then I’ll huff, and I’ll puff, and I’ll blow your house in!"

The wolf did exactly that. The straw scattered, and the first pig ran for his life to his brother’s stick house.

The wolf followed.

"Little pigs, little pigs, let me come in."

"Not by the hair on our chinny chin chins!"

"Then I’ll huff, and I’ll puff, and I’ll blow your house in!"

The wolf blew with all his might, and the stick house collapsed. The two pigs fled to their brother’s brick house.

The Brick House

The wolf arrived and repeated his demand.

"Not by the hair on our chinny chin chins!" came the reply.

The wolf huffed and puffed, but the brick house stood firm. He tried again and again, but the walls did not yield.

Frustrated, the wolf changed tactics. He called out,

"Little pigs, I know where you can find a fine field of turnips."

The third pig, wary but curious, asked where. The wolf told him and suggested they go together the next morning. The pig agreed — but went an hour earlier, gathered the turnips, and was back home before the wolf arrived.

The wolf tried again with apples, then with a fair in the village. Each time, the pig went early and returned safely, outwitting the wolf.

The Final Confrontation

At last, the wolf decided to come down the chimney. The third pig, expecting this, lit a roaring fire and placed a great pot of boiling water beneath the chimney’s mouth.

The wolf descended — and fell straight into the pot. The pig clapped the lid on, and that was the end of the wolf. The three pigs, now safe, lived together in the brick house, wiser than before.

Analysis: Themes, Motivations, and Moral

Themes

• Preparation vs. Shortcuts — The story contrasts the consequences of haste and laziness with the rewards of patience and hard work.

• Cunning vs. Strength — The wolf’s physical power is matched by his cunning, but the third pig’s foresight and intelligence ultimately prevail.

• Self-Reliance — Each pig must face the dangers of the world on their own terms; only the one who invests in security survives without fleeing.

Motivations

• The First Pig — Motivated by leisure and instant gratification. His downfall is a direct result of underestimating risk.

• The Second Pig — Motivated by a balance of effort and comfort, but still unwilling to commit to true security.

• The Third Pig — Motivated by foresight, discipline, and a desire for lasting safety. His success comes from both preparation and quick thinking.

• The Wolf — Motivated by hunger and opportunism. He uses both brute force and trickery, but underestimates his prey.

Moral

The enduring moral is simple but powerful:

Hard work, foresight, and resilience will protect you when danger comes — while shortcuts and complacency leave you vulnerable.

It also carries a subtler message: intelligence and adaptability are as important as strength. The third pig doesn’t just build well; he anticipates the wolf’s next move and acts before danger arrives.