Cinderella Stories - Multicultural
Cinderella Stories - Multicultural
Cinderella Stories - Multicultural
AUTHOR
Jewell Reinhart Coburn
Ai-Ling Louie
Shirley Climo
Susan Jeffers
Erica Siverman
Rafe Martin
Penny Pollock
Robert D. San Souci
Shirley Climo
Robert D. San Souci
Jewell Reinhart Coburn
Bernadette Watts
John Steptoe
COUNTRY
Cambodia
China
Egypt
France
Jewish
Algonquin Indian
Native American
Caribbean
Persia
American South
Mexican
English
African
Shirley Climo
Marianna Mayer
Rebecca Hickox
Charlotte Huck
Helen Ketteman
Ireland
Russian
Middle East
British Isles
Fractured Texas Tale
Charles Perrault
Grimm
France
Germany
Portugal
Norway
Finland
Iceland
Japan
Cinderella stories originated through the oral tradition of storytelling. That is one of the
reasons there are more than 1500 versions of this tale. They can be found in more parts of
the world, told in more languages, and in more different ways than any other folktale.
The power of Cinderella is its universality. This story shows that within everyone there
are common longings and fears. No matter what the culture, the characteristic elements
are the same: a young girl (sometimes a young boy) is mistreated by her family, she
overcomes this problem with magical help or by her own wits, her true good nature is
revealed, in the end good triumphs over evil and she is rewarded. The main differences
lie in the tasks the girl is given to perform, the magical power that helps her, and how her
rescuer ultimately finds her.
These tales were not originally for children. The first Cinderella story to be written down
was the Chinese tale of Yeh-shen. The idea of tiny feet possibly originated from this tale.
The French tales are known as castle tales because they deal mainly with the aristocracy.
The German tales are cottage tales because they center on the common people. The idea
or Cinderella being a childrens story came through the English. The most popular
Cinderella story is Walt Disneys version which came from the French writer Charles
Perrault. The unique aspect of the Cinderella stories is that they assume the flavor of the
culture in which they are set. From the beautiful illustrations to the customs to simple
words in the story, students are able to catch a glimpse of the culture in which the story
takes place.
An excellent activity for middle school students is to compare the various Cinderella
stories, noting the cultural aspects inherent in the stories. The students would complete
their own analysis, but the following analyses were done by other world language
teachers.
Domitila Mexico
Yeh-Shen China
Mufaros Beautiful Daughters Africa
The Rough-Face Girl Algonqun Indian (Ontario, Canada)
Tattercoats England
Cinderella France
Baba Yaga and Vasilisa the Brave Russia
The Talking Eggs American South
Cenrilln island in the Caribbean Sea
The Egyptian Cinderella Egypt Nile
The Irish Cinderlad Ireland
Raisels Riddle Jewish
The Persian Cinderella Persia
The Golden Sandal Middle East
Cinderella Activity
Story Title
Author
Retold by
Setting
Characters
Hero/Heroine
Villain
Problem
Solution
Magic by
Cultural Aspects
Cultural Aspects
Words
Cinderella Activity
Story Title
Author
Retold by
Domitila
Jewell Reinhart Coburn
Characters
Domitila
Chief cook
Timoteo eldest son of
the Governor
Problem
Domitila must help her
poor family.
She must serve the evil
stepmother.
Hero/Heroine
Domitila
Cultural Aspects
-adobe house made
from bricks of soil,
water and straw
-leather making
-girl helps her family to
buy food by working
-show respect
-Do every task with
care, and always add a
generous dash of love
-foods include tortillas,
enchiladas, tamales,
chili rellenos
-great love for family
and home
-jugs balanced on heads
Cultural Aspects
-baskets on arms with
tortillas and other foods
-rancho in Mexican
state of Hidalgo
-eating nopales, edible
cactus
-shawls of the women
-serape for the men
-Hidalgo Fall Festival
-beautiful illustrations
-proverbs
Solution
She marries the
Governors son.
Setting
Rancho state of
Hidalgo, Mexico
Villain
Malvina
Pereza, her daughter
Magic by
Smell of the nopalitos.
Mothers spirit appears
to her
Influence of family
inspiration
Words
abuela grandmother
adobe brick
arbusto bush
Buenos das
casa house
chili rellenos
enchiladas
fiesta party
malvina bad person
mantn shawl
nopales cactus
pereza lazy one
pueblo village
rancho ranch
serape
seor Mr.
Seora Mrs.
Seorita Miss.
Sierra Madre
tortilla
Cinderella Activity
Setting
Story Title
Yeh-Shen
Author
Retold by
Ai Ling Louie
dim past
Southern China
Characters
Yeh-Shen
Stepmother
Stepsister
Wu
Prince
Spirit man fish
Hero/Heroine
Yeh-Shen
Villain
Stepmother
Problem
Stepmother kills her
only friend, the fish
Solution
Yeh-Shen goes to the
festival, loses her
slipper which the King
finds.
King marries her.
Stepmother and sister
are crushed to death in
shower of stones.
Cultural Aspects
-illustrations in the
book
- festival meet the
person to marry
-tiny feet
Magic by
Fish bones
Cultural Aspects
-during the Tang
dynasty
-father had two wives
-importance of the fish
-spring festival
-living in caves
-written in panels like a
folding painted screen
-fish illustration on
every page
Words in Spanish
mgico magic
madrastra stepmother
hermanastra stepsister
amigo friend
ropa fina fine clothes
zapatilla slipper
rey king
pez fish
pies feet
Cinderella Activity
Story Title
Mufaros Beautiful
Daughter
Author
Retold by
Setting
Small village in Africa
John Steptoe
Characters
Mufaro father of
daughters
Manyara and Nyasha
daughters
King
Nyoka - snake
Hero/Heroine
Nyasha
Villain
Manyara
Problem
King wants a wife and
Manyara sets out to be
chosen
Manyara is selfish, badtempered and spoiled
and mistreated her sister
Solution
Nyasha gave food to a
small boy, gave seeds to
the old woman, and due
to her kindness married
the King.
Magic by
The people needing
help along the way and
the small snake are all
different forms of the
King.
Cultural Aspects
-grew millet,
sunflowers, yams and
vegetables on small plot
of land
-living in a village
-moral is what comes
around goes around
-African clothing in
pictures
-hard work
Cultural Aspects
-helping others
-sibling rivalry
-weavers prepared cloth
for wedding garments
-great wedding feast
-bread prepared from
millet
Words
hijas daughters
hermosa beautiful
bueno good
malo bad
padre father
rey king
reina queen
pueblo village
serpiente - snake
Cinderella Activity
Story Title
The Rough-Face Girl
Author
Retold by
Rafe Martin
David Shannon
Setting
Algonqun Indian
Ontario, Canada
Characters
Rough Face Girl
Her father
Two older sisters
Invisible Being
Sister of the Invisible
Being
Hero/Heroine
Rough Face Girl
Villain
Two older sisters
Problem
The sisters want to
marry the Invisible
Being.
Rough Faced Girl was
mistreated by two older
sisters.
Solution
Rough Face Girl went
in humble clothing and
scarred skin. She saw
the Invisible Being in
the beauty of nature.
Magic by
Washing in the water of
the lake transforms the
body and hair of Rough
Face Girl into the
beautiful wife of the
Invisible Being.
Cultural Aspects
-wigwam homes
-importance of nature
-idea of spirits
-tending the fire
-traditional clothing of
buckskin dresses,
moccasins, beaded
necklaces etc.
-traditional tools such
as bow and arrows
Words
ropa clothing
familia family
padre father
hermanas sisters
naturaleza nature
cielo sky
nubes clouds
tierra earth
lago lake
pueblo village
Cinderella Activity
Setting
Castle by the sea in
England
Story Title
Tattercoats
Author
Retold by
Flora Annie Steel
Characters
Tattercoats
Lord (grandpa)
Nurse
King
Prince
Servants
Gooseherder
Hero/Heroine
Tattercoats
Gooseherder
Problem
Lord rejects Tattercoats
as his daughter died in
childbirth
Solution
Magic by
Hold a dance to find the Gooseherder plays a
wife for the Prince.
magical flute and turns
Tattercoats into a
beautiful woman.
Cultural Aspects
Villain
Lord
Grandfather
Words
abuelo grandfather
rey King
nieta granddaughter
esposa wife
hijo son
mgico - magic
baile dance
mujer woman
hermosa beautiful
Cinderella Activity
Story Title
Cinderella
Author
Retold by
Charles Perrault
Setting
Aristocracy
France
Characters
Cinderwench
(Cinderella)
Widower
Stepmother
Two stepsisters
Problem
Cinderella is mistreated
by stepmother and
sisters.
At first cant go to the
ball because she has no
fine clothing.
Hero/Heroine
Cinderella
Villain
Stepmother
Stepsisters
Solution
The glass slipper fits
Cinderella, and she
marries the Prince.
Magic by
Fairy Godmother
Cultural Aspects
-sit among the cinders
in the chimney corner
-Kings son gave ball
and invited aristocracy
-dress laced gowns
with petticoats, hair
ornaments and slippers
-coach with horses
-illustrations in the
book
-aristocracy
-kindness of Cinderella
-word selection is more
British than American
English
Words
madrastra stepmother
hermanastras
stepsisters
caballos horses
ratones mice
rata rat
medianoche
midnight
zapatilla slipper
buena good
cruel cruel
ropa fina fine clothing
trabajo work
calabaza pumpkin
Cinderella Activity
Story Title
Baba Yoga and Vasilisa
the Brave
Setting
Author
Retold by
Characters
Baba Yaga
Stepmother
Two stepsisters
Vasilisa
Doll
Problem
Vasilisa mistreated by
cruel stepmother and
stepsisters.
Stepmother needed to
get rid of Vasilisa so
her daughters could
marry.
Get light from Baba
Yaga.
Cultural Aspects
-Baba Yaga is a witch
-lacemaking
-light was by a candle
-stepmother is a witch
also
-foods kasha,
pancakes called blinis,
beet soup called
borscht, turnovers
called piroshki
-sorting the chaff from
the wheat
-other ethnic foods
included a hot
Hero/Heroine
Vasilisa
Villain
Stepmother
Baba Yaga
Solution
She worked for Baba
Yaga who gave her a
skull for light. The
skull killed her
stepmother.
She went to live with a
kind woman and made
fabric. Eventually
married the Tzar.
Cultural Aspects
sauerkraut soup called
shchi, a golden bread
called coulibiac filled
with onion and
mushrooms
-spinning of thread into
cloth
-tzar
-violent ending for the
stepmother
Magic by
Doll made by her
mother before she died.
The doll was alive.
Faithful knights
Skull
Words
madrastra stepmother
hermanastras
stepsisters
comida food
calavera skull
bruja witch
tela cloth
caballos horses
trabajo work
malo bad
mgico magic
mueca doll
blanco white
negro black
rojo red
Cinderella Activity
Story Title
Author
Retold by
Cultural Aspects
-farm raise chickens,
beans and cotton
-expressions such as
it looked like the tail
end of bad luck sharp
as forty crickets like
pigs after a pumpkin
-used iron filled with
hot coals
-chopped cotton
-trail-train dresses
-spirit if do right, God
Setting
poor farm in the
American South
Hero/Heroine
Blanche
Villain
Mother and Rose
Solution
Blanche meets an old
lady who takes her to
her magical home. She
obeys the old lady and
becomes a grand lady
who lives in the city.
Magic by
Aunty
Cow with two heads
that brayed like a mule
Took off head to braid
hair
One grain of rice
becomes a lot
Talking eggs
Words
huevos eggs
pollos chickens
vaca cow
sopa soup
pobre poor
mala bad
buena good
casa house
mgico magic
trabajo work
agua water
cabeza head
Cinderella Activity
Story Title
Author
Retold by
Cendrillon
Robert D. San Souci
Setting
Island in the Caribbean
Sea, Martinique
Characters
Cendrillon
Madame Prosperine
Godmother (Nannin)
Monsieur
Vitaline
Hero/Heroine
Cendrillon
Problem
Cendrillon was
mistreated by her
stepmother and sister.
Solution
Magic by
Godmother through her
Godmother used her
wand to help Cendrillon wand.
Villain
Stepmother
Vitaline
Cultural Aspects
-family carriage
-prayed to Bon-Di
(Good God)
-birthday fet (party or
celebration)
-fruit a pain breadfruit
-to, to, to
-women wear turbans,
shoulder scarves
-Godmother becomes
the chaperone as suited
for a proper young lady
-chocolate sherbet
-wedding lasted 3 days
-gwo-ka lively dance
Words
beb baby
lavandera
washerwoman
Buenos das
Good day
fiesta party
gran casa great house
Seor Mr.
Madrina Godmother
pobre poor
vara wand
mgico magic
boda wedding
(at the end of the story
are many words in
French)
Cinderella Activity
Story Title
The Egyptian
Cinderella
Characters
Rhodopis
Servant girls
Amadis Pharaoh
Falcon
Master
Animal companions
Problem
The servant girls teased
Rhodopis, and she had
to work for them.
Author
Retold by
Setting
Shirley Climo
Egypt Nile
Long ago
Hero/Heroine
Rhodopis
Villain
Servant girls
Solution
A falcon steals
Rhodopis special
slipper and takes it to
the Pharaoh. The
Pharaoh finds the owner
She was left behind
of the slipper and
when others went to
makes her is queen.
see the Pharaoh.
Cultural Aspects
Cultural Aspects
-driving chariots
-taken by pirates from
-follow the will of the
Greece to Egypt
-sold as a slave in Egypt gods
-washed clothes in river -pyramids in the desert
-one of oldest
or gathered reeds
-hair, skin and eye color Cinderella stories
-based on a true story
-servants higher place
of a girl who traveled
than slaves
with Aesop
-Pharaoh
-Pharaoh wore double
-poled raft along the
crown for Two Egypts
river
-falcon was the symbol
of the god Horus
-Pharaoh held court for
his subjects with music,
dancing and feasting
Magic by
Falcon who represented
Horus, the Egyptian sky
god.
Words
pelo hair
ojos eyes
caf brown
verde green
rosa rose
chicas girls
esclava - slave
animales animals
falcon halcn
pjaro bird
mono monkey
hipoptamo hippo
zapatilla slipper
trabajo work
ro river
reina queen
Cinderella Activity
Story Title
Author
Retold by
Setting
Ireland old times
Hero/Heroine
Becan
Villain
Stepmother and sisters.
Giant and dragon
Solution
Becan saved Princess
Finola, and they were
married.
Magic by
Tail of the bull
Cultural Aspects
-cattle thought to have
come from the sea and
to have unusual powers.
-illustrations
-overcomes great
obstacles to find true
love
-rainbow
-food included sausage,
boiled turnips, partridge
pie, oaten cakes with
honey
Words
chico boy
pies grandes big feet
pelo rojo red hair
vacas cows
toro bull
oveja sheep
burro donkey
cola tail
amigo friend
food comida
adis good-bye
gigante giant
dragon dragon
Cinderella Activity
Story Title
Raisels Riddle
Erica Silverman
Characters
Raisel
Grandfather
Rabbi
Cook
Rabbis son
Beggar woman
Problem
Grandfather died and
Raisel sought work.
Cook of the Rabbi
mistreated her.
Cultural Aspects
-grandfather was a poor
scholar/wise man
-people paid wise man
for guidance
-Zaydeh
grandfather
-learning is more
precious than rubies,
more lasting then gold
-taught granddaughter
from the ancient texts
-brought food to family
of dead person
-synagogue and rabbi
-Holiday of Purim
Setting
Author
Retold by
Village in Poland
once upon a time
Hero/Heroine
Raisel
cook
Solution
Raisel worked at home
of the Rabbi.
Magic by
Old beggar woman
granted three wishes.
Villain
Words
abuelo grandfather
nieta granddaughter
hijo son
conocimientos
knowledge
cocinera cook
trabajo work
deseos wishes
adivinanza riddle
comida food
vieja old woman
Cinderella Activity
Story Title
Author
Retold by
Hero/Heroine
Settareh
Neglected by her
family.
Nothing to wear to No
Ruz
Jealousy of stepsisters
Solution
Setting
Persia
Long ago
Villain
Stepsisters
Magic by
Little blue jug
Words
primas cousins
tas aunts
madrastra stepmom
hermanastras
stepsisters
familia family
ropa clothing
joyas jewelry
jarra jug
azul blue
ferico fairy
deseos wishes
Ao Nuevo new year
Cinderella Activity
Story Title
Author
Retold by
Cultural Aspects
-fried dried dates
-fisherman
-Allah says kindness
never goes unrewarded
-before wedding all
women gather to sing
and celebrate
-brides arms and feet
painted with red henna
- mothers chose brides
for their sons
-women carry heavy
water jugs
-sit on cushions
-place of honor next to
bride
Setting
Rebecca Hickox
Hero/Heroine
Maha
Solution
Tariqs mother found
the girl with the golden
slipper, Maha. They
were married and lived
happily ever after.
Cultural Aspects
-bread oven
-Tariqs mother paid
stepmother a purse of
gold
-perfumer makes potion
-wedding procession
carried bride on litter
-sign wedding contract
before see bride
Villain
Stepmother
Magic by
Red fish
Words
rojo red
pez fish
pescador fisherman
deseos wishes
trabajo work
ro river
ayuda help
brazos arms
pies feet
sandalias sandals
ropa fina fine clothes
caballo horse
gallo rooster
bolsa de oro purse of
gold
Cinderella Activity
Story Title
Bubba the Cowboy
Prince A Fractured
Texas Tale
Characters
Bubba
Stepbrothers (Dwayne
and Milton)
Stepdaddy
Miz Lurleen
Problem
Did all the work on the
ranch for stepdaddy and
brothers
Cultural Aspects
-western brand of
language and humor
-Git them doggies,
fer, purtiest
-hard and lonely work
of ranching
-expressions such as
cute as a cows ear,
gussied up in their
finest duds
-bolo tie
-ride to the pasture to
check on the herd
Author
Retold by
Setting
Texas ranch
Helen Ketteman
Hero/Heroine
Bubba
Villain
Stepdaddy
Stepbrothers
Solution
Miz Lurleen finds
owner of boot and they
ride off into the sunset
and live happily
everafter.
Magic by
Fairy godcow
Cultural Aspects
-cowboy dress with
Stetson hat, boots, jeans
-hoedown
-ruckus
-rode off into the sunset
Words
hermanastros stepbrothers
hacienda ranch
vacas cows
vaquero cowboy
caballos horses
baile dance
botas boots
serpiente de cascabel rattlesnake
tormenta storm
relmpago lightening
ayuda help
sombrero hat
mgico magic