A Quest for the Cinderella Story

http://put.the.URL.here.html
by

Christopher P Dier

Introduction | Task | Resources | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion

 

In today's ever changing and diverse world, even our most steadfast, dependable resources have become undependable. Not to suggest this is a negative or unnatural phenomena, my goal is instead to introduce the importance of difference. You may have heard, or seen the story of Cinderella, or should I say the Disney version of Cinderella. If you could draw on your memory of that story for a brief moment, do you remember the step sisters cutting off their toes and heels in order to fit their feet in the shoe/slipper. Of course not, Disney would never allow such gruesome dismemberment, but the Brother's Grimm would. The Grimm Brothers and Walt Disney are not the only authors of a Cinderella story, in fact there are over 340 known versions of this tale of transformation. Mexico has provided it's own version titled La Cenicienta Huasteca. The former Soviet Union has given us the story of Baba Yaga. China has supplied Yeh-Shen while Vietnam is responsible for their own, The Brocaded Slipper.

The purpose of this quest is to explore several different versions of the Cinderella story, paying particular attention to the differences of the stories. Perhaps the most interesting portion of this task in fact the discovery of differences, for this is also perhaps the most interesting portion of life. After exploring a few of these stories you will be asked to write your own, version 341, 342, 343 and so on. Good luck, and happy hunting, or discovery, or reading, which ever is the most appropriate.

Your task will include the following:

• an understanding of the cultural implications and importance of folklore (class discussion)
• the exploration of the history behind and evolution of fairy tales
• the reading and understanding of at least 3 published versions of the Cinderella story
• the completion of 2 Similarities and Differences diagram
• the reading of 1 example student Cinderella story
• brainstorming/ outline of ideas for your own Cinderella story
• the writing of Cinderella #341, or what ever title you desire

1. Start by visiting the Dark Goddess @ Fairy Tales: Origins and Evolution. Be sure to look at and take notes on the Introduction and the Evolution of Tales pages, specifically as they relate to Cinderella

2. You've taken notes, now it's time to select a Cinderella story to read. Take a look at these:

• Allerleirauh: a German fairy tale similar to Cinderella, but not written for children
• Ashes, Blood and the Slipper of Glass, by Terri Windling, a lengthy story but just reread the title
• Cinderella: this would be the French version as written by Perrault, in translation of course, and with music
• Cinderella: The perviously mentioned Brothers Grimm version
• Tattercoats: an English version of the Cinderella tale linked from an extremely cool web page, Tales of Wonder
• The Princess and the Golden Shoes: a Scottish version of the Cinderella tale also taken from the Tales Of Wonder web page

3. I believe you may be ready for the Similarities and Differences diagram now

4. All finished with the diagrams? Both of them? Good, now you can check out some examples of student created Cinderella tales, among other things. Click on World Literature and feel free to roam through what you find, just make sure you read Houng V. and Lonnie W's fairy tales so that you'll be able to tell me what you liked about them.

1. CinderellaQuest will begin with a discussion of folklore in general, considering possible significance of fairy tales and other stories to individual cultures as well as culture as a whole, defining oral history through examples, and discovering the richness of life and history to be found in literature
2. Following the discussion, you will access and explore Fairy Tales: Origins and Evolution, taking notes on what you find as a means of learning, reference and proof
3. Once you've browsed Fairy Tales: Origins and Evolution, browse the list of resources, select 2 stories to read. Read both stories taking your time to view the pictures and links (if applicable)
4. Return to this page to print out the Similarities and Differences diagram. Complete the diagram based on your interpretation of the 2 stories you've read thus far, listing the 5 greatest or most important differences in the spaces provided ( the teacher will answer any question regarding the completion of the diagram).
5. After completing the first diagram, return the list of resources on this page to select a third Cinderella story to read. Read and explore the third selection.
6. Having read a third Cinderella story you may now complete the second Similarities and Differences diagram, comparing the third story with 1 of the previous 2 read. Again list the 5 greatest or most important differences on the spaces provided
7. To start the writing process, you should visit World Literature and read the fairy tales written by Huong V. and Lonnie W., feel free the look through the other student works, but remember we are looking specifically at Cinderella stories. Prove your visitation and parasol of these stories by telling me one thing you liked about each of them. Keep these descriptions with the diagrams and notes you've already completed.
8. Add to you growing pile of research, a brainstorm of story ideas, an outline ordering ideas or some other type of prewriting exercise. It is of the utmost importance that this step not be overlooked considering the vast amount of information you've processed thus far. Keep your thoughts organized by keeping them on paper.
9. I've seen your prewriting and checked off all other quest material? Good, now get to writing a Cinderella masterpiece, I hear Disney is looking for another version to remake, maybe Brandi could play Cinderella again. But then again, horror sells too, just not to Disney.

 

Any question regarding the evaluation process can hopefully be answered by the following rubric. If more specific questions arise, feel free to ask. Notice, no grade below a "2" will be given, instead you will be asked to revise the work. Anyone wishing to better their grade, will be allowed to do so through revision upon request.

Conclusion

By the conclusion of this activity you will have come to an understanding of what folklore is and why it is important to our cultural identities. You will have also taken a glimpse into one aspect of life as told by various cultures. And, to save the best for last, through writing your own Cinderella story, you will have left your mark on the world. Stories are nothing more than expression of who we are, where we live and what we do. Your stories then will become symbols of life in 1998.

If you have any further interest in Cinderella and her many lives may I suggest you check out this place: The Cinderella Project