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First off, great work on this article! Short story articles are not easy to work on here (and I know first hand). I have a few comments, if you don't mind:
I wonder if it's worth adding the more well-known name of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" right in the first line and bolded (I did something similar for "The Masque of the Red Death"). This might necessitate some minor re-writing of the third paragraph in the lead. I also might recommended linking "children's story" to children's literature. The second paragraph is a bit awkward when I read it. Try reading it aloud and see how you feel about it.
I see what you're saying in the "rule of three" link here, but I'd like to suggest it's not appropriate here. According to the rule of three wiki page: The rule of three is a principle in English writing that suggests that things that come in threes are inherently funnier, more satisfying, or more effective than other numbers of things. This is not plot summary but interpretation. I would recommend finding a reliable source that makes the connection that this story is funnier, more satisfying, etc., and mentioning it as such under the Interpretation section.
I made a few minor adjustments in this section myself, too.
I think a quick mention that the story existed before Southey wrote it down is important here. For example, the phrase the reading public assumed it to be original with Southey needs some qualification as for why they shouldn't have (though the story had previously been told for years?). It implies something but doesn't get there quick enough.
Regarding referencing: In 1837, the British poet Robert Southey recorded "The Story of The Three Bears" in narrative form, and inserted it into volume four of his anonymous collection of linked essays, The Doctor does not seem likely to be challenged but has two footnotes. Scholarly opinion holds he was simply retelling a popular tale is much more likely to be challenged but has only one. Any reason why?
The naming and renaming of the character seems repetitive. Maybe centralize the discussion of the name more closely or something like that.
Another footnote in here might help. There's a decent-sized chunk of text that does not have one.
It's best to put a footnote immediately after a quote so it's a bit more reliable. There are a couple instances where you could do this (even if you're doubling up the footnote for the next piece of info immediately after). I'd put one after "promise of future happiness awaiting those who have mastered their Oedipal situation as a child" and "remarkably anal".
I'd convert this section to prose rather than a bulleted list. Personally, I'd also probably move all the unsourced stuff into a different paragraph. In this section, I'm also left wanting more information about, for example, how prevalent the story is today. Do you have a source that says something even as basic as, "Lots of children are introduced to this story at a young age today"
It might be worth going in and changing the redirects to this article, i.e. anything that links to "Goldilocks and the Three Bears".
You drop a few names, like George Nicol and Eleanor Mure - a quick note about who they are would help (i. e. "writer George Nicol", etc). One is only a last name, it seems ("Routledge").
Let me know what you think of these suggestions. I will put the article on hold and await your response! --Midnightdreary (talk) 20:06, 28 February 2009 (UTC)
The only thing I'm really thinking now is that the Analysis section relies only on two sources, which could meet with future concerns over verifiability. A couple more footnotes thrown in would help, preferably from previously-unused sources. The more, the better (of course). How do you feel about the article right now? --Midnightdreary (talk) 16:27, 2 March 2009 (UTC)
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Some final notes:
Nevertheless, I'm very happy to pass this article as "Good". That makes only five articles (that I know of) on short stories which have passed the GA process. Well done! --Midnightdreary (talk) 14:14, 3 March 2009 (UTC)