Final answer:
In 'Little Red Riding Hood', the big, bad wolf is best described as a literary archetype, representing the villain figure in the story.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the story “Little Red Riding Hood,” the big, bad wolf is a character with predictable actions and traits that embody what is considered evil or antagonistic. This character is an example of a literary archetype, which is a term used to describe a typical example of a certain person or thing in literature. An archetype may be a character, a theme, a symbol, or even a setting. In this context, the wolf represents the archetype of the villain, opposing the protagonist and displaying characteristics that are commonly associated with such a figure. When looking at the options provided: bad guy, rival, archetype, and hero, the correct term to describe this kind of character is archetype.