Georgia Milestones ELA Narrative Response Practice Task The Story of “Cinderella” Goes Back 2,000 Years Sep 17, 2018 Ian Harvey For many people, Cinderella immediately brings to mind the images created by Disney back in 1950 – the fairy Godmother, the sweeping blue ball gown, the glass slipper, and the singing mice. The story, as told in the animated film, is a pretty watered-down interpretation. Cinderella’s story is much older than Disney’s adaptation. In fact, it can be traced back to stories that date back as far as 2,000 years ago, according to Vox. Cinderella Fleeing the Ball by Anne Anderson. Greek “Cinderella” The story of Cinderella, at its most basic, is of overcoming oppression and crossing class lines. The first iteration of the story can be traced to Greece, during the sixth century B.C. In the Greek version of the tale, a young woman named Rhodopis has her shoe carried away by an eagle. The eagle takes it across the Mediterranean and drops it in the lap of an Egyptian king. The king goes looking for the shoe’s owner, and eventually finds Rhodopis and marries her, lifting her from her previous station in life and making her a queen.

Pair of ancient leather sandals from Egypt. Chinese “Cinderella” Another very old version of the story exists in China and is the tale of Ye Xian. According to Ancient Origins, she was the motherless daughter of a cave-dwelling chieftain. There is a very similar cast of characters to the Cinderella myth we recognize today, including an evil stepmother and unkind step-sister. In place of a fairy godmother, Ye Xian has the magical bones of a fish, which grants her wishes. The story of Ye Xian reflected the admiration for small feet in ancient China. Foot binding later became a common practice to prevent feet from growing.

When her father dies, she becomes the servant to her step-family who wish to degrade her and keep her from outshining her stepsister, Jun-Li, who is significantly less attractive than Ye Xian. When her family goes to a festival celebrating the New Year, she is left behind. With help from the magic bones, she goes to the festival wearing a beautiful gown and golden shoes resembling fish scales. She is well received by everyone at the party, but is afraid of being recognized by her family and flees, leaving behind a shoe. Cinderella shoe. The shoe trades hands several times, eventually coming into the hands of a king. The king is fascinated with the shoe’s very small size and has it put on display in a pavilion. Ye Xian eventually makes her way to the pavilion, convinces the king to let her try on the shoe, and the usual happy ending occurs. German, French, and European “Cinderellas” Across Europe, there are more than 500 versions of this same basic theme. Among the most famous are the tales of Aschenputtel, written down by the Grimm brothers, and Giambattista Basile’s La Gatta Cenenterolla. While both of these are remarkably more violent than our beloved Disney version, they are based on older — and darker — folk tales. The version of the story most of us know best, the one that would define Cinderella for the next 400 years, originated in France in the 17th century and was called Cendrillon.

Charles Perrault’s version of the fairy tale, published in 1697, is the first to include the pumpkin, fairy godmother, and a few friendly animals who help poor Cendrillon find her prince. Common Themes Across Cultures All the versions of this very old story have some themes in common. The first is women of beauty suffering in privation, poverty, and/or the lower classes and being raised into the realm of royalty and, usually, love. Another is that all versions of the story reflect the social and political powerlessness of women relative to men during much of history. Cinderella is largely a passive figure. All the things that prove to be her salvation come from sources other than herself. In the modern versions of the story, she is portrayed as being the privileged child of a wealthy man until her father’s death strips away her status. Her status and security are regained only through the prince. No matter which of these interpretations you choose, though, modern society’s story is the result of a tale retold through the eyes of various time periods and cultures.

“Cinderella” Copyright 2016 by Jon Gutmacher Cinderella Cinderella Glass slipper left by the stair She dreams about a different life This one – doesn’t seem real fair But now back to her humdrum life and work that never ends She takes it with a joyful heart the birds and mice, her friends And then a royal announcement a ball at castle far to find a bride for Prince Charming no matter who you are Drizella and Anastasia are almost in a swoon but their mother , Lady Tremaine locks Cinderella in her room “No ball will you be going!” “You have much work to do!” And ends the dreams of Cinderella as her hopes all fall askew But Gus and Jaq, her pet mice the birds from all around take thrown out clothe and ribbons where ever can be found And make a gown for Cinderella that lights the room aglow her beauty comes from inside that’s clear to all, who know But evil Anastasia finds out and tears the dress she and her sister, Drizella their hate will have no rest They leave Cinderella crying her gown torn into so many shreds and to the ball they leave her alone, without a friend But then an amazing thing happens Her fairy godmother does appear “I’ll not let you suffer in this way” “Of this, you’ll have no fear!” A beautiful gown surrounds her it magically appeared with jewels and pure glass slippers to stop Cinderella’s tears She wears it, ah, so perfect her beauty is so great her eyes light up with hope and joy the ball – but she’ll be late “But, how? Oh, Fairy Godmother?” “Can I make it to the ball?” “It’s miles away. Too far to walk.” “In fact, it’s quite a haul.” Her fairy godmother takes her wand out and “Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo!” Turns a pumpkin into a grand carriage with Gus and Jaq, there too. “But the spell will end at midnight!” “I warn you of this, true!” “You must leave before the stroke of twelve!” “This is something you must do!” And the carriage takes her magically to the castle miles away and when Prince Charming sees Cinderella arrive everyone would later say: He fell in love immediately they danced, and danced all night but when the clock first chimed its bells Cinderella ran off in fright “But, where are you ever going?” the Prince shouted as she ran “How will I ever find you?” “I’ll never stop! I’ll find you if I can!” Cinderella ran to her carriage and sped off through the night

but the carriage turned into a pumpkin her Fairy Godmother was surely right But in her haste she’d lost a slipper made of crystal glass there was nothing ever like it not then, nor in the past The Prince he found the slipper He swore he’d never stop until he finds the girl he loves A search he’ll never drop And so to each house humble and on to each house great the Prince, his Duke and all his men ride out to find his fate They knock at doors til midnight and search throughout the land No, never will they stop their task they do all that they can And now a house, two sisters the Prince, he does arrive but Cinderella kept in a room she’s soundly locked inside For evil was her step mom and evil sisters, two and locked her there so much afraid of everything they knew Anastasia and Drizella bowed to Prince Charming at their door but though they tried the glass slipper He said to them: “No more!” “Is there not another?” “Who lives in this great house?” And Gus and Jaq, those mice so great get Cinderella out She came down stairs a running the Prince was almost gone But when he saw Cinderella He stopped, and had her try that slipper on It fit her, ah, so perfect Together, now, at last and kissed her then upon her lips a kiss that would always last They lived happily ever after in the castle far away with Gus and Jaq and all her pets At least that’s what they say