Toni Barker October 21, 2014 Genre: Traditional Literature Alternate 2

Literary Analysis
Bibliographic Information:
Climo, S. (1989). The Egyptian Cinderella. New York, NY: Thomas Y. Crowell Junior Books.
Plot:
Original Plot: Even though this story is an alternate version of the Western folktale Cinderella,
the plot is very original. It does not follow the traditional Western Cinderella story line. The
main character is Rhodopis. She is a Greek slave living in Egypt who is tormented by the
Egyptian girls rather than an evil stepmother and stepsisters.
Will the children learn to respect their own cultural groups? And other groups that they
may not meet in their daily lives? : Rhodopis was kidnapped as a child for Greece and was sold
in Egypt. The Egyptian household servant girls tormented Rhodopis because she was a slave and
because she looked different. This story line would help children respect different cultural groups
by realizing that those from different cultures should not be treated negatively because of their
differences.
Setting:
Location: The story takes place in Egypt, long ago, where the green Nile River widens to meet
the blue sea. (Authors note- 570-536 B.C.)
Universal Implications: In 320 B.C., Alexander the Great conquered Egypt in his conquest of
the Persian Empire. The story is a foreshadowing based on the tension and judgment that the
Egyptians have toward Rhodopis because she is Greek.
Theme:
Identifiable Theme: The main theme I observed is discrimination because of difference. The
antagonists use Rhodopiss difference in physical appearance and birthplace to mistreat and bully
her. Other themes include the tension between Egypt and Greece (as previously stated) and
triumph. Rhodopis overcomes the obstacles of being different and eventually marries the
Pharaoh, whom embraces her differences.
Emerging Theme: Discrimination because of difference is an obviously identifiable theme.
However the tension between Greece and Egypt is not a theme that is stated obviously. Without
prior background knowledge, this connection may not even be made.
Characterization:
Credible Characters: The most convincing and credible character is Rhodopis. This story is a
mixture of fact and fable. A factual part of the story is that a Greek girl, Rhodopis, married the
Pharaoh Amasis and became his queen (Dynasty XXVI, 570-526 B.C.)
Revealing of Characters: The author reveals the characters through narration. The author also
reveals background descriptions of the factual characters and the characters commonly described
within the old fable.
Style:
Derogatory: The text contains many derogatory overtones, though are necessary in telling the
story. Their skin glowed like copper, but her pale skin burned red beneath the sun. That was
how she got her name, for Rhodopis meant rosy-cheecked in Greek (Pg. 2)
Appropriate Style: This book is written with a large amount of description. This is necessary in
telling this old story with the utmost authenticity.
Point Of View:
Appropriate Point of View: The story is told in third person. Being told from this point of view
is purposeful because it reads in the natural way that a reader expects from a folktale. The
purpose of folktales is to tell a story that is later retold many times again. The author states that it
is one of the worlds oldest Cinderella stories, therefore changing the point of view would seem
unnecessary.
Characteristics Specific to Genre:
Mentioning of original source of folktale: At the end of the story, the author includes in her
note that the tale of Rhodopis and the rose-red slippers is one of the worlds oldest Cinderella
stories. It was first recorded by the Roman historian Strabo in the first century B.C. She also
states the folktale is both fact and fable because there was in fact a Greek slave girl named
Rhodopis that married the Pharaoh Amasis between 570 and 526 B.C.
Cultural Norms: The Egyptian Cinderella represents cultural norms within Egypt during this
time period. As previously stated, there is fact to this folktale. In addition, both the author and
illustrator researched this time period on Egypt in order to accurately to the story according to
norms. The only thing that the author changed was that the slipper was taken by a falcon,
whereas most of the versions describe the bird as an eagle.
Reflections:
So far, The Egyptian Cinderella has been my favorite Cinderella story. I fancy it more
because the protagonist is mistreated because of what she looks like and where she comes from
rather than just from having a mean stepmother and stepsisters. This contains a more meaningful
life lesson of not mistreating others because of where they come from.
I would use this book in third to fourth grade. It would be a great book to read as a class
in order to teach students to be kind to others and not to mistreat others because of what he or she
looks like. It could also be used as a lesson for the factual aspects of the story.