This story has references to characters from many different fairy tales. In fact, every sentence besides the first makes reference to a different character. The key to solving the puzzle is identifying these characters.
| Character | Source |
| Baba Yaga | Slavic folklore |
| Ivan Tsarevitch | Russian folk lore, referencing Tsarevitch Ivan, the Firebird and the Gray Wolf |
| Goldilocks | Goldilocks and the Three Bears |
| Boy Who Cried Wolf | The Boy Who Cried Wolf (Aesop) |
| Ali Baba | Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (Arabian Nights) |
| Dog | The Town Musicians of Bremen (Brothers Grimm) |
| Woodcutter | The Honest Woodcutter (Aesop) |
| Hansel | Hansel and Gretel (Brothers Grimm) |
| Aladdin | Aladdin (Arabian Nights) |
| Tortoise | The Tortoise and the Hare (Aesop) |
The first letters of the clued characters, with spaces added at the paragraph breaks, spell out BIG BAD WHAT. A common figure in many fairy tales is the Big Bad WOLF.