Cinderella Stories and Culture Studies

Overview: Cultural values are aspects of a culture that portray what is important and acceptable in
the lives of people, such as honesty, respect, belief in a higher power, etc. As a result of these values,
many popular stories develop differently from culture to culture. From these differences we can
discern what each culture values.
Prompt: How are a cultures values reflected in literature? After reading versions of Cinderella from
different cultures, write an essay that discusses the similarities and differences between each story
and evaluates how the stories reflect which values are most important in that culture. Be sure to
support your position with evidence from the texts.
Make a Plan:
IN YOUR OWN WORDS briefly explain what the prompt is asking you to do?

What do you need to know and know how to do to accomplish this task?
What materials will you need to accomplish this task?
Which text structure best fits this task?
Readings/Cultures:
Culture

Chinese
Egyptian
British
European
French ( traditional version)
German
German
Italian
Korean
Norweigan
Russian
Russian
Russian
Scottish
Romanian
Vietnamese

Title
Yeh-Shen, The Chinese Cinderella (author unknown)
The Egyptian Cinderella, Rhodopis (author unknown)
Tattercoats by Joseph Jacobs
Cinder Maid by Joseph Jacobs
Cinderella by Charles Perrault
Cinderella by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm (1812, 1st Edition)
Ashputtel by Jacob and Wihelm Grimm (1857, 7th Edition)
Cinderella by D.L. Ashliman
Korean Cinderella by Shirley Climo
Katie Woodencloak by Peter Christen Asbjrnsen and Jrgen Moe
Vasilissa the Beautiful by Heidi Anne Heiner
The Babba Yaga by Aleksandr Afanasyev
The Wonderful Birch by D. L. Ashliman
Rashin-Coatie by D. L. Ashliman
The Old Man and His Daughter by Marguerite L. M. Wolf
The Story of Tam and Cam by D.L. Ashliman

Comparing Cultures in Cinderella Stories

Record the title of your assigned story and use the graphic organizer to record facts about each
culture.
Cinderella by Perrault
Geography
o Set in France
o Used horses/carriages for transportation
o Rich and nobles live in lavish homes while
lower class lived simply
o Great distance between homes
o Kingdom was spread out

Geography

Culture and Customs

o Slept on a straw mattress
o Had a fireplace/cooked in the kitchen
o Had to carry water in a bucket
o Women wear only dresses; men dress
elaborately (coats, vests, stockings, etc.)
o Grow food in gardens
o Royalty has large celebrations called balls
o Some people believe in magic (fairy
godmother, magic spells)
o Proper behavior important (ladies curtsy
and men bow)
o Tell stories to teach a lesson or moral (fairy
tales)

Culture and Customs

Government and Economy

o Had a rich monarchy (king, prince)
o King lived in a palace and had a court
(many servants)
o Social groups commoners, nobles,
royalty
o Kingdoms were guarded

Government and Economy

Other

Other

Outline: Introductory Paragraph

Hook
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Major topics to be covered:
What are three similarities between your assigned version and the traditional version of Cinderella?

What are three differences between your assigned version and the traditional version of Cinderella?

What do these similarities and differences tell you about your assigned culture?

Thesis Statement
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Outline: Body Paragraphs
Body Paragraph #1
Topic Sentence
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Similarities Supporting Details
1. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Body Paragraph #2
Topic Sentence
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Differences Supporting Details
1. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Body Paragraph #3
Topic Sentence
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
What do these similarities and differences tell you about your assigned culture? Supporting Details
1. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Conclusion
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Comparing Cultures in Cinderella Stories

Your Partner:

Peer Reviewer (You):

______________________________

______________________________
Peer Review Checklist

Directions:
o
o
o
o

LISTEN to your partner read his/her letter ALOUD to you.

As you listen, point out any words or phrases that are unclear, and help your partner FIX them.
READ your partners paper QUIETLY to yourself.
Place a YES or NO on each blank according to whether or not its included in the paper.

Organization:
____Is there a heading with a name and date?
____Is there a centered title?
____Is there an introductory paragraph?
____Are there three body paragraphs?
____Is there a concluding paragraph?
Content:
Introductory Paragraph:
____Is there a clear topic sentence that addresses the prompt?
____Does the paragraph explain what culture is?
____Does the paragraph explain what a fairy tale is?
____Does the paragraph end with a clear thesis statement?
Body Paragraph 1:
____Is there a topic sentence that addresses similarities?
____Are there at least three similarities provided?
____Does the paragraph end with a transition sentence?
Body Paragraph 2:
____Is there a topic sentence that addresses differences?
____Are there at least three differences provided?
____Does the paragraph end with a transition sentence?

Body Paragraph 3:
____Is there a topic sentence that addresses culture?
____Are there at least three examples of culture?
____Are the examples supported with evidence from the text?
____Is there a concluding sentence that sums up the essay?
Concluding Paragraph:
____Did the writer restate the thesis statement?
____Does the paragraph restate what culture is?
____Does the paragraph restate what a fairy tale is?
____Does the paragraph end with a concluding sentence that addresses the prompt?
Conventions:
____Does each sentence have a capital letter and the correct end punctuation?
____Are all words spelled correctly? (Circle any misspelled words.)
____Is each paragraph indented?
____Are there any sentences that begin with AND, OR, BUT, SO, or BECAUSE?
Provide two suggestions for improving the organization, content, or conventions of the paper.
1. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Give this page to your partner so he/she can make revisions for the items you marked as NO.