Cinderella
Puss in Boots
Sleeping Beauty in the Wood
Year Published: 1697
Reading Level: 9-12
http://www.surlalunefairytales.
com/authors/perrault.html
Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper
Genre: Fairy Tale
Summary:
A man remarried after his wife died and the woman he married was the most proud lady in all the land. She had two daughters who were just as proud as their mother. The man had one daughter who had the sweetest temper and had unparalleled goodness. The stepmother made the girl do all the house work and let her daughters spend their time enjoying themselves. When the girl was done with her work, she would go to the corner and sit in the cinder ashes, which gave her the name of Cinderwench, or Cinderella. Eventhough she wore less fine clothing, she was still far more beautiful than her step sisters.
The King's son gave a ball and invited everyone of fashion to it. Cinderella's step sisters were both invited and spent a long time figuring out what they would wear and Cinderella got their clothes ready and dressed their hair. Cinderella wanted to go to the ball and after her step sisters left, she cried until her fairy god mother appeared. Her fairy god mother turned a pumpkin into a coach, six mice into horses, a rat into a coachman, and six lizards into footmen. She also turned Cinderella's rags into a silver and gold gown and gave her a pair of glass slippers. Her fairy godmother warned her to leave before midnight because then her dress would turn back into rags.
The prince was her escort that night, he never let her leave his side until she left at 11:45. When she got home, she thanked her fairy god mother. Her step sisters came home and told Cinderella of the beautiful princess who was at the ball. There was another ball the next night and Cinderella went again, but her dress was even more beautiful than the night before. She lost track of time and ran out of the ball when the clock struck midnight. The guards were asked if they had seen a princess leave the gates, but they had only seen a girl in rags running out the gates. The two step sisters came home and told Cinderella that the beautiful princess and run out of the ball room at midnight and the prince chased after her, but all he found was her glass slipper.
The prince sent the slipper out to all the kingdom, swearing to marry the woman who's foot fit the shoe. The shoe came to Cinderella's house, and while her stepsisters tried on the shoe, which was too small for either one, Cinderella suggested she try on the shoe. The gentleman who was sent said that he had orders for every maid to try it on. The step sisters were astonished when the shoe fit, but even more so when she pulled out the other shoe from her pocket. Cinderella's godmother came in and touched Cinderella with her wand, and turned her dress into a beautiful gown. The two step sisters, when they realized that Cinderella was the beautiful princess, begged forgiveness for all the mistreatment they had shown her. Cinderella forgave them and married the prince. Cinderella was very good and kind and gave her step sisters lodgings in the palace and matched them with two great lords of the Court.
Recommendations and Conflicts:
My conflict with this is that evil is rewarded. The step sisters who were cruel to Cinderella end up with two men who are well off, that is contrary to the nature of fairy tales. I would recommend this fairy tale to any child, because it is a happily ever after Cinderella.
Reactions:
I clashed with the end of this fairy tale, because in every version I've read, the step sisters and mother don't get a happily ever after; their eyes are plucked out, they are barred from the palace, they have to be servants and so forth. I found it interesting that the language used to tell this story is very formal, it uses thou's, and shalt's.
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