Ron Clynard Uranza

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03 eLMS Activity

1. Who are the characters in the story? Where are the settings?
Cinderella is a classic fairy tale that has been enjoyed by generations of readers. The story
revolves around the character of Cinderella, who is a young girl living with her cruel stepmother
and stepsisters. However, there are many other characters in the story that play important roles.
Firstly, there is the Fairy Godmother who helps Cinderella attend the ball and ultimately find her
prince charming. Then there is Prince Charming himself, who falls in love with Cinderella at the
ball and searches for her after she flees at midnight. The stepmother and stepsisters are also
important characters as they provide conflict for Cinderella to overcome. Finally, there are the
animals that help Cinderella throughout the story such as the mice and birds that help her make
her dress for the ball. Each character plays an important role in shaping the story of Cinderella
and helping her achieve her happy ending.
2. Would you know another story similar to the theme of the story? What does the theme of the
story tell us?
One such story is the Greek myth of Psyche and Eros. Like Cinderella, Psyche is a beautiful young
woman who suffers at the hands of her jealous sisters. She is forced to complete impossible
tasks, including sorting a mountain of grain and fetching water from a river guarded by dragons.
However, with the help of Eros, the god of love, she overcomes these challenges and ultimately
finds happiness. Another similar story is the French fairy tale "Donkeyskin." In this story, a
princess must flee her kingdom after her father tries to marry her following her mother's death.
She disguises herself in the skin of a donkey and works as a servant for a prince until he falls in
love with her true identity.
3. Where do you think the story came from? Who originally wrote the story? Where do you think
the story is derived from?
The origins of this story are unclear, but it is believed to have originated in ancient Greece or
China.
One theory suggests that Cinderella was inspired by the Greek myth of Rhodopis, a slave girl
who marries the king of Egypt. Another theory suggests that it was based on the Chinese tale
"Yeh-Shen," which also features a young girl who overcomes adversity with magical assistance.
The most well-known version of Cinderella comes from Charles Perrault's 1697 book "Histoires
ou contes du temps passé," which included many popular fairy tales. However, there are also
versions from other cultures, such as "Aschenputtel" from Germany and "Cendrillon" from
France.
4. What are the commonalities and differences from the different versions of the story?
Cinderella is a classic fairy tale that has been retold and adapted numerous times throughout
history. Despite the various versions, there are commonalities and differences that can be
observed. One of the most notable commonalities is the presence of a young girl who is
mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters. She dreams of attending a royal ball but is unable
to do so until she receives help from a fairy godmother or other magical being. She attends the
ball, meets a prince, loses her shoe, and eventually reunites with him. However, there are also
differences between versions. For example, in some versions, Cinderella's father is still alive
while in others he has passed away. The fairy godmother may be replaced with other magical
Ron Clynard Uranza
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creatures such as birds or fish. The setting may vary from medieval Europe to ancient China.
Despite these differences, the core message remains the same - perseverance and kindness will
ultimately lead to happiness and success. Cinderella continues to capture our hearts because it
teaches us valuable lessons about love, hope, and determination that transcend time and
culture.