bCinderella: Perrault vs.

Grimm
After reading both the Grimm and Perrault versions of Cinderella, complete the tables below. The boxes will expand as you type in them. Each
answer is worth 3 points. (42 pts.) After you fill in this chart, scroll to page 2 where you need to summarize your findings. (8 pts.)

Plot Element Perrault's Cinderella Grimm's Cinderella

Setting    Cinderella's room is very dirty with cinders

Family Structure  Stepmom and older mom both hate  Mother passes away,Cinderella goes to
Include a description of the family structure, Cinderella, younger sister isn’t as full of grave everyday, Rich father who marries
the family names, and the character types hate. Father would scold her for step mom with two daughters.
represented in the family. complaining.
At the end of the story, the family
apologizes and Cinderella forgives her.

Problems/Conflicts of Heroine   Step mom hates her, gives her bad   The step daughters make fun of her and
Include examples of bad treatment by the chores, gets a bad bed and room, make her do hard work. Can't go to the ball
family, restrictions on Cinderella's lifestyle, Cinderella isn’t allowed to go to the ball unless she picks the peas out of the
tasks, unequal treatment, etc. while her sisters can, has to leave before cinders. Even after that she must pick two
11. At 12 she turned back, ran before she bowls of peas out of the cinders. Even after
transformed because she didn't notice the that, she still can't go to the ball. The prince
time, she dropped her slipper as she ran wants to help her home, but she doesn't
(the slipper didn't turn back?) want him to know she's cinderella. Father
and mother tries to get cinderella to not try
on the shoe (he does anyways)

Responses/Actions of Heroine She is patient and does not act out in not Begged her step mom to go to the ball. calls
Include her feelings and the actions she being allowed to go to the ball, she then for the birds to help her with the picking of
takes to maintain good spirits, to defend cries when she is alone. Doesn’t get too the peas both times. Asks the tree to give
herself, and to improve her situation.
cocky her nice clothes. Runs away from the prince

Plot Outcome Cinderella gets the prince and the Cinderlla gets the Prince, the step sisters
Explain the outcome of the plot; identify problems with the family resolve. get punished by getting their eyes poked
rewards/punishments. out
 Magical Interventions Godmother(a fairy) asking her what is Turns the twig into the tree, she asks and
Focus on magical events and characters, wrong. Turns a normal pumpkin into a the birds help and they do. The birds give
but include unbelievably fortunate trailer. Turns mice into horses. Turns rat her nice clothes to go to the ball.
coincidences as well.
into coachman. Turns a lizard into
footmen. Turns dirty clothes into
beautiful rich clothes. All turn back to
normal at midnight

Ordinary Objects with Magical Powers See some of the above, Slipper (only fits
Fairy tales often include ordinary objects that the Twig grows into a magic tree. Solves the
have magical powers, like the glass slipper challenges that the Step mom gives. Bird
that fits only Cinderella's foot or the tree that
causes most of the magical interventions
produces a silver dress. Find examples of
ordinary objects that have magical powers
and describe those powers.

Part 2 (8 pts.)

In a short paragraph, explain which elements of the story remain consistent across the two versions. Which ones are
different? Expand on those similarities and differences and explain which version is more effective in developing themes and
characters.

There are many elements that remain consistent across both versions of Cinderella. The biggest common element is the main
story of the step family being mean to Cinderella, her using magic to be able to get to the ball, the slipper being lost, and her
getting the prince. A large difference is Perrault's Cinderella is much more light hearted than Grimm's Cinderella, Grimm has
more shown cruelty from the step family and much more punishment delivered to them, while Perrault has more fantastical
magic, a fairy godmother, mice turning to men, and turning a pumpkin into a carriage. The version that is more effective in
developing themes and characters is Grimm’s Cinderella, we see the step family being more cruel,meaning we also see
cinderella endure much more, and we see the punishment be enforced much more. Grimm doesnt hold back on sending the
message.