Cross Cultural Cinderella

Introduction

This week we will introduce the genre of folktales. A folktale is a popular story that originated in spoken ​form and was passed down from one generation to the next. Every culture of the world has their own set of folktales. Usually the author is unknown and there are often many versions of the tale. It is also common to find the same folktale in many different cultures. Folktales are an expression of a culture's values and behavioral expectations. They are used to justify the rituals, moral values, and institutions of a culture. While fables focus on animals/inanimate objects and clearly stated morals, folktales usually focus on ordinary human protagonists and do not always state the moral explicitly.

Common features of folktales include:

  • The story begins with “Once upon a time...", “Long, long ago", etc.

  •  Things are often grouped in threes. 

  • The story emphasizes a lesson or moral.

  • Explores what is Good and evil or  Right and wrong

 

Task

In this activity, you will compare different versions of Cinderella, a universal story of unjust oppression and triumphant reward. You will follow the following steps in the process section:

1st: Read the article about the origins of the Cinderella folktale. Discuss the questions about it.

2nd: Read different versions of the Cinderella folktale. Use the discussion questions to help you analyze the stories.

3rd: Compare and contrast. Discuss how the different Cinderella stories are similar or different. How do these similarities and differences help us understand the ways that European cultures in the 17th and 19th centuries viewed class and gender?

If you complete all three steps in the process section, you should complete the evaluation and conclusion activities.

Process

Step 1: Historical background about Cinderella

Read the article and discuss the questions at the end of the article.

Link to article and discussion questions: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13fSqnxst-auKCQWiadJnS2ylEMkrNJZDC8R_qC5Eemg/edit?usp=sharing

 

Step 2: Read and analyze 2 different Cinderella stories

Read the German Cinderella story, then analyze the story.

Link to German Cinderella:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XZWWB3q56mcGJQ6uwjpKoIKsZt_FfY-QB75augLUT5o/edit?usp=sharing

Link to analysis questions: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1y0zD9sBvFlGoIEybXsBcJs7aL60bghPYfrVWK441Lb4/edit?usp=sharing

Read the French Cinderella story, then analyze the story.

Link to French Cinderella: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OvaB_zFStc009SOtL0l5sIdxiZ5KJrXnOzjh08J7hnM/edit?usp=sharing

Link to analysis questions: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1y0zD9sBvFlGoIEybXsBcJs7aL60bghPYfrVWK441Lb4/edit?usp=sharing

 

Step 3: Compare and contrast the stories

It's time to compare how the 2 versions are similar to or different from each other.

Go to the Cinderella Webquest post on google classroom to complete and submit the Cinderella Comparison Activity.

Discuss the following discussion question.

How do these similarities and differences help us understand the ways that European cultures in the 17th and 19th centuries viewed class and gender?

 

Evaluation

Complete this quiz if you finish all of the tasks in the process section: https://forms.gle/tQ12SHmh57NwXuEY7

Conclusion

Discuss the following bonus questions if you have finished reviewing the introduction, task, process, and evaluation sections.

  1. Some people critique the Cinderella story for promoting unrealistic romantic ideals such as “love at first sight.” Do you believe that people can fall in love at first sight? Why or why not? 

  2. In Cinderella, living happily ever after means marrying someone who can help you move up the social and economic ladder. What does happily ever after mean to you? Does it match the vision in Cinderella or is it something else? 

  3. Some people critique the Cinderella story for promoting a passive attitude or a victim mentality. Do you agree or disagree with this critique?

  4. In some versions of Cinderella, the wicked stepmother and stepsisters are punished. In some versions Cinderella chooses to forgive the people who mistreated her. Which type of ending do you prefer and why? 

  5. If you could read the Cinderella story from the perspective of any character besides Cinderella, which character would you choose and why?

  6. If you were going to share the Cinderella story with a young child in your life, which version would you choose to share with them and why?

  7. If you were going to adapt the classic Cinderella plot for a contemporary audience, what traditional elements of the story would you keep and what elements would you change? Also, would you choose to emphasize the traditional morals or would you update the story to teach a new type of lesson?

  8. Which genre would you most like to see Cinderella combined with: horror, romantic comedy, drama, science fiction, historical drama, or a musical?